MISSION STAFF MONDAY – Willy Saari

The first of our sport staff to be featured, Willy Saari is to a veteran of the Canada Winter Games. He has participated two times before, first in Grande Prairie in 1995 as linesmen for male ice hockey and the second in 2003 as the Referee-In-Chief for male ice hockey in Bathurst/Campbellton. This year will be Willy’s first time on Mission Staff.

 

Willy has over 30 years’ experience as part of the Hockey Canada officiating program, both as an official and an administrator. (WHAT WHAT! Go Willy!)

 

In Red Deer, Willy will be working with our men’s and women’s hockey programs. He is a wealth of knowledge and experience and we are sure he will be a valuable asset to both teams.

 

Want to get to know him better? We thought so.

 

Fun Facts about Willy:

 

• Favourite Colour: Green (like money? or trees? or both – why choose!) 
• Favourite Food: Steak
• Favourite Sports Team: Team Canada Hockey
• Nickname: Big Country (WE FOUND BIG COUNTRY! – don’t get it? See here) 
• What’s the best Halloween costume you’ve ever had: Robot

 

What movie or TV show best describes your week?

Mission Impossible (in a ‘I can’t get anything done kind of way’, or in a ‘I am jumping from building to building and suspending from wires so thin they might break’ kind of way?)

 

What do you take the most pictures of?

Outhouses – lots of work pictures of camp grounds… (do you find they vary much??)

 

What advice do you have for the athletes going to Red Deer?

Have Fun (we couldn’t have said it better ourselves!)

 

Moving away from the officiating, Willy has taken on some more diverse roles in the hockey world of late. In the last three years he has been Venue Manager for the Four Nations Cup, Second Venue Manager for the World Women’s Hockey Championships and this past winter he was the Director of Venues for the BC Winter Games in Kamloops.  Willy is looking forward to this new experience and all the challenges and opportunities that come with an event like this.    

 

Except… wait…

 

What is your most-used emoji?

Sad face (WHY WILLY – WHY!)

 

Also…

 

What is your favourite quote?

“Whatever makes you happy” (well that’s more like it!)

 

Everyone send smiles to Willy today (and yes, we know it is Tuesday… sorry (insert sad face))