Manawatū hockey stalwart and umpiring guru Dave Craven has sadly passed away at the age of 88. Dave, who was deeply passionate about hockey, dedicated over 60 years of his life to the sport. He was a respected umpire and umpire coach, leaving a lasting impact on the hockey community.
Dave held the esteemed position of patron of Hockey Manawatū and was honored as a life member of the association in 1998. In recognition of his contributions, he was appointed as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2012. Additionally, he was inducted into the Manawatū Legends of Sport in 2017.
After realizing that he wasn’t cut out to be an elite player, Dave turned to umpiring following a poorly officiated match in 1957. Seeking guidance, he approached Harry Turner, a renowned umpire and brother of hockey legend Bruce Turner. Harry’s advice to Dave was simple yet profound: ‘Throw your rule book away.’ This shifted Dave’s perspective, allowing him to focus on the essence of the game rather than nitpicking mistakes.
Dave’s umpiring career flourished, and he had the opportunity to officiate international teams, primarily on grass as turf matches were rare in New Zealand at the time. He traveled to Australia and Asia, overseeing tournaments and evaluating umpires. In total, he umpired 15 international matches.
Dave’s impact extended beyond umpiring. He served as a mentor to numerous umpires in Palmerston North and held leadership positions such as Hockey Manawatū chairman and Hockey New Zealand’s umpires council chairman. He also played a pivotal role in the National Hockey League, serving as the tournament director from its inception in 1996 until 2009.
When Dave reached the age limit of 45 for international umpiring, he transitioned to coaching junior umpires. He discovered his talent for coaching during the primary schools national tournament, where he noticed the umpiring standard was lacking. Dave’s ability to guide and instruct others surpassed his own skills on the field. He found joy in coaching umpires and organizing tournaments both nationally and internationally.
In his later years, Dave shifted his focus to mentoring young umpires through conversations rather than formal coaching. He emphasized the importance of making sensible decisions rather than fixating on the technicalities of the rule book.
Outside of hockey, Dave had a successful career in the field of computers. He worked with Unisys from 1953 until the late 1970s and later played a key role in managing Massey University’s computer centre until his retirement.
Dave Craven’s legacy as a hockey stalwart and umpiring guru will forever be cherished by the hockey community. His passion, dedication, and mentorship have left an indelible mark on the sport. He will be deeply missed.