The Manitoba Association of Basketball Officials is pleased to announce that longtime Manitoba basketball official Rick DeGagne has been named the 2026 recipient of the Ted Earley Memorial Award by the Canada Basketball Officials Commission.
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The Ted Earley Memorial Award is CBOC’s highest honour and recognizes an official who has demonstrated superior ability on the floor, significant national and international experience, extensive service to the basketball community, leadership at the provincial and national levels, and meaningful contributions to education and interpretation within the game.
A native of Kenora, Ontario, and longtime resident of Brandon, Manitoba, Rick has been part of the basketball community since 1977. His impact spans nearly five decades as a player, coach, official, clinician, evaluator, mentor and administrator.
A former Brandon University Bobcat, Rick played three seasons from 1977 to 1980 and was named the Bobcats’ Rookie of the Year in 1977-78. He was later inducted into the Brandon University Sports Wall of Fame as part of the 1979-80 Bobcats team and also recognized in the Community Leadership category. In addition to this national recognition, Rick will also be part of the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, with his induction tied to the Brandon University Bobcats program. The induction is scheduled to take place this fall and will recognize both his playing career and his longstanding contributions to the sport in Manitoba as a builder and leader within the basketball community.
As an official, DeGagne has built one of the most accomplished resumes in Manitoba and Canadian basketball history. He began officiating in 1977 in the Brandon Senior Men’s League and has been a MABO member since 1978, working high school games for 48 years and university basketball for the past 46 years. He has officiated more than 1,000 university-level games, more than 100 GPAC and Canada West playoff games, and received 16 national championship assignments, including four gold medal games.
Internationally, DeGagne represented Canada in 37 games as a FIBA official and worked some of the sport’s highest-profile events, including the 1999 and 2003 Pan American Games, the 2001 FISU Games, a 1999 Olympic Qualification Tournament, the Jones Cup in Taiwan, the Nike Hoop Summit and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. At the Sydney Olympics, his assignments included the men’s quarter-final between the United States and Russia, the women’s semi-final between the United States and Korea, and served as the alternate for the men’s gold medal game between the United States and France. Of note, all of Rick`s international assignments were comprised of games with a crew of only two officials.
Beyond his work on the court, DeGagne has made a major contribution to the development of officials across Manitoba and Canada. He has served as a MABO clinician and evaluator, a national referee coach, a Canada Basketball/CBOC NOCP Learning Facilitator, a Canada West referee coach and observer, and as director and clinician at the inaugural Impact Officiating Camp in Winnipeg. He has also served in leadership roles with MABO, the Westman Basketball Officials Association, and national officiating education committees.
DeGagne’s contribution to the game also includes coaching nearly 30 basketball teams between 1979 and 2011, including school and community teams in Brandon and Boissevain. His teams included MHSAA provincial finalists and champions, and he helped launch the West-Fit Wildcats girls club program.
“Rick DeGagne’s career represents the very best of basketball officiating in Manitoba and Canada,” said MABO President Reid Kenyon. “His on-court accomplishments are exceptional, but his broader impact as a mentor, clinician, evaluator and builder is what has helped shape generations of officials. This national recognition is well deserved and reflects a lifetime of service to the game.”
MABO congratulates Rick DeGagne on receiving the 2026 Ted Earley Memorial Award and thanks him for his continued leadership, service and commitment to basketball officiating in Manitoba and across Canada.
Pictured above is Rick with his children, Danielle and Matt, who have followed him into the officiating pathway