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Josef Kompalla


Born March 13, 1936 in Katowice, Poland. Defenseman and Referee. Josef Kompalla's first involvement with ice hockey began as a player, beginning with Gwardia Katowice in 1951 and later Gornik Katowice before leaving for the German Federal Republic, to play for Prussen Krefeld in 1958 where he retired after 11 seasons in 1969. Internationally, Kompalla suited up for a couple of games with the national B-teams of both Poland and Federal Republic of Germany. After his playing career, Kompalla began his magnificent career as a referee, which saw him officiating more than 2000 games in the German Bundesliga and Oberliga. His international career included three Olympic Winter Games in 1976, 1980 and 1984, nine IIHF World Championships, three IIHF World Championship Pool B tournaments and two IIHF World U20 Championships. He totalled 157 national team games as referee. Josef Kompalla refereed the famous 1972 Summit Series between the former Soviet Union and NHL Allstars as well as 1974 series between the former Soviet Union and WHA Allstars. More recently, Kompalla was member of the IIHF Referee Committee from 1994 to 1998, and has been assigned Referee-in-Chief duties during numerous IIHF championship tournaments. Josef Kompalla has received the Cross of German Federal Republic for his services in sports and has also been inducted into the German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.

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