[1][3] Trumble began his career as an ice hockey referee by officiating high school and college level games.

[4] He was chosen to referee ice hockey at the 1968 Winter Olympics, and was put in charge of the final games which decided the gold, silver and bronze medals.

[3] He later served as the technical director for the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) referee committee from 1972 to 1982.

[7] He successfully pursued players on military duty to play on the national team, including Stuart Irving, Dick McGlynn and Henry Boucha; and also chose future National Hockey League (NHL) players Mark Howe and Robbie Ftorek.

[1][3] Trumble later managed the American men's national team at the 1983 World Ice Hockey Championships Pool B in Tokyo.

[10] Trumble also made AHAUS the sole governing body for ice hockey in the country, which included representing the interests of the United States Olympic Committee.

[3] During his tenure, AHAUS became a member of the IIHF, and the men's national team won the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics, on home ice in Lake Placid, New York.