Bill Spohn was born and raised in Madison.  He played youth hockey for the Lakewood Lakers, the predecessor of the Madison Capitols.  Spohn began his officiating career in 1967 and has strived since that time to improve the game of hockey and the performance of on-ice and off-ice officials.

Spohn has worked as an on-ice official at all levels of amateur hockey both nationally and internationally.  He spent 15 years working as an NCAA on-ice official in the WCHA, and 31 years in the high school ranks with the WIAA.  His credentials in the development of the officiating program include serving as the USA Hockey Central District Referee-in-Chief, and the USA Hockey National Referee-in-Chief.  Spohn was elected Director Emeritus by USA Hockey in 1994.  Spohn serves as an Instructor and Supervisor of Officials for the USA Hockey Officiating Program, and is the President of the Wisconsin Hockey Officials Association (WHOA), the Database Coordinator for WHOA and is the Scheduler for the USA Hockey Junior Development Officiating Program.  Spohn is currently a member of the USA Hockey Playing Rules Committee and the USA Hockey Playing Rules Handbook Committee.

Two of Spohn’s many accomplishments were in the development of national training camps and the Playing Rules Situation Handbook.  Spohn has been at the forefront, leading the development and implementation of communication and technology to aid in the development of the officiating program.  He fostered the development of the current Level 4 officiating program, and helped develop the concept of evaluating officials to promote skill development and advancement.