ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

, an

official An official is someone who holds an office (function or Mandate (politics), mandate, regardless of whether it carries an actual Office, working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority (eithe ...

is responsible for enforcing the rules and maintaining order. On-ice officials are present on the ice during the game, and traditionally wear a shirt with black and white vertical stripes. The

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

(NHL) currently employs four on-ice officials in each game—two referees and two linespersons (also known as linesmen). Referees are identified by their red or orange armbands. They are responsible for the general supervision of the game, assess penalties, and conduct

face-off A face-off is the method used to begin and restart play after goals in some sports using sticks, primarily ice hockey, bandy, floorball, broomball, rinkball, and lacrosse. During a face-off, two teams line up in opposition to each other, and the ...

s at the beginning of each period and after a goal is scored. When play is stopped for another reason, the face-offs are conducted by the linesmen. The linesmen are primarily responsible for violations involving the centre line and blue lines, such as icing and offside infractions. NHL officials wear identifying numbers on the back of their jerseys. From the 1977–78 season until the 1994–95 season, they wore name bars instead of numbers.

Current officials

Referees Linesmen

Former NHL officials

{{columns-list, colwidth=40em, * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Don Adam * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Derek Amell * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Reid Anderson * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Blaine Angus * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Neil Armstrong Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and aerospace engineering, aeronautical engineer who, in 1969, became the Apollo 11#Lunar surface operations, first person to walk on the Moon. He was al ...

* {{flagicon, ENG {{hockey team player, name=Malcolm Ashford * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=George Ashley (October 14, 1941 – April 8, 2024) – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= John Ashley – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Ron Asselstine * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Stephane Auger * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Charlie Banfield * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= David Banfield * {{flagicon, CAN {{Hockey team player, name=

Bill Beagan William Thomas Beagan (born December 1, 1937) is a Canadian retired ice hockey administrator and ice hockey referee. He served in the Canadian Army for thirteen years, before refereeing in the National Hockey League (NHL) for two seasons. He ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Claude Bechard (November 2, 1938 – July 5, 2007) – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Bob Best * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Ken Bodendistel (1940 – November 21, 2013) – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Wayne Bonney * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Ryan Bozak * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=

Gord Broseker Gord Broseker (born July 8, 1950, in Baltimore, Maryland) is a retired National Hockey League linesman. His career started in 1973 and ended in 2002. During his career, he officiated nine Stanley Cup finals, 1,863 regular season games, 227 playof ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=John Brown * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Vern Buffey (December 26, 1928 – September 11, 1990) – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Darcy Burchell * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Lonnie Cameron Lonnie Cameron (born July 15, 1964) is a Canadian retired National Hockey League linesman, who wears uniform number #74. He has worked more than 1500 NHL games including the NHL All-Star Game and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was selected to work ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Brent Casselman * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=

Bill Chadwick William Leroy "The Big Whistle" Chadwick (October 10, 1915 – October 24, 2009) was the first US-born referee to serve in the National Hockey League (NHL). Despite being blind in his right eye, his on-ice officiating career spanned the greater p ...

– Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Pierre Champoux * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Jim Christison (September 13, 1946 – November 30, 2016) – Deceased * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Chris Ciamaga * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

King Clancy Francis Michael "King" Clancy (February 25, 1902 – November 8, 1986) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, referee, coach and executive. Clancy played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Ottawa Senators and Toronto ...

– Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=David Clutsam * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name= Kevin Collins * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Mike Cvik * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Angelo D'Amico * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= John D'Amico – Deceased * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name= Pat Dapuzzo * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Bernard DeGrace * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Greg Devorski * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Paul Devorski Paul Devorski (born August 18, 1958) is a retired National Hockey League referee, who wore uniform number 10 beginning in the 1994–95 NHL season. He refereed his first NHL game on October 14, 1989, and has been wearing a helmet while refereein ...

* {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Steve Dowling * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=James Doyle * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Scott Driscoll * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Ron Ego * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Chaucer Elliott Edwin Smith "Chaucer" Elliott (August 20, 1878March 13, 1913) was a Canadian sportsman and a Hall of Fame referee and linesman. He was the grandfather of Bob Elliott, one of Canada's most respected sports writers. Early life and education Bo ...

– Deceased * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Joe Ernst * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name= Mark Faucette * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Ron Finn * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Paul Flaherty * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Wayne Forsey * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Ron Fournier Ron Fournier (born 1963) is an American business executive and former journalist. Until 2018, he was the publisher and editor of ''Crain's Detroit Business''. Previously he worked at ''Atlantic Magazine'' and the ''National Journal'' and as Was ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Bob Frampton – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Kerry Fraser * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Bill Friday — Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Ryan Galloway * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Gerard Gauthier Gerard is a masculine forename of Proto-Germanic origin, variations of which exist in many Germanic and Romance languages. Like many other early Germanic names, it is dithematic, consisting of two meaningful constituents put together. In this cas ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Doug Geiger * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Darren Gibbs * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Roger Gilbertson * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Lloyd Gilmour (August 19, 1927 – August 11, 2010) – Deceased * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=John Grandt * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Terry Gregson Terry Gregson (born November 7, 1953) is a retired NHL Referee. Gregson served as the National Hockey League Director of Officiating from 2009 through 2013. He was formerly a referee in the NHL from 1979 until 2004. He wore a helmet from the mid-1 ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Conrad Hache * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Bob Hall * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Ron Harris – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Wally Harris — Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Mike Hasenfratz — Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= George Hayes – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Don Henderson Donald Francis Henderson (10 November 1931 – 22 June 1997) was an English actor. He was known for playing both "tough guy" roles and authority figures, and is remembered for his portrayal of detective George Bulman between 1976 and 1987 in ...

* {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Bob Henry * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Bobby Hewitson – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Shane Heyer * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Scott Hoberg * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Bob Hodges * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Ron Hoggarth * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Bruce Hood – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Mickey Ion Frederick James "Mickey" Ion (February 25, 1886 – October 26, 1964) was a Canadian professional lacrosse player and ice hockey referee. He was referee-in-chief of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) and later the referee-in-chief of the ...

– Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Dave Jackson * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Marc Joannette * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Greg Kimmerly * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Swede Knox – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Don Koharski Don Koharski (born December 2, 1955) is a retired professional ice hockey referee in the National Hockey League. He resides in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, with whom he has two sons. Starting with the 1994–95 NHL season, he wore uniform number ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Tom Kowal * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Bob Langdon * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name= Dennis LaRue * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Brad Lazarowich * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Mike Leggo Mike Leggo (born October 7, 1964) is a retired National Hockey League referee. His career started in the 1996–97 NHL season, and he wore the uniform number 3. He was selected to work games in the ice hockey men's tournament at the 2014 Winter ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Alfie LeJeune (September 19, 1945 – October 17, 2012) – Deceased * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Mark Lemelin * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Bryan Lewis * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Dave Lewis * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Bob Luther * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Brian Mach * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Dan Marouelli Dan Marouelli (born July 16, 1955, in Edmonton, Alberta) is an ex-National Hockey League referee, who wore uniform number 6 from the 1994–95 NHL season until his retirement. Career Marouelli's NHL career started on November 2, 1984, and wore a ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Rob Martell * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Bill McCreary * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

John McCauley Air Marshal Sir John Patrick Joseph McCauley, KBE, CB (18 March 1899 – 3 February 1989) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1954 to 1957. A Duntroon ...

– Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Dan McCourt - Deceased * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Andy McElman * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Michael McGeough – Deceased * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Pat Meehan * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name= Brad Meier * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Steve Miller * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Randy Mitton * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Denis Morel * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Jean Morin * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Dean Morton * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Brian Murphy * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Bob Myers * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Kory Nagy * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name= Thor Nelson * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Dave Newell (February 25, 1945 – December 16, 2018) – Deceased * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Mike Noeth¹ * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Will Norris (died April 2025) * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Tim Nowak * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Conor O'Donnell * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Dan O'Halloran * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Mark Pare * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Dennis Parish * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Baron Parker * {{flagicon, NLD {{hockey team player, name=Jerry Pateman * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Matt Pavelich Matt Pavelich (born March 12, 1934) is a Canadian retired former National Hockey League ice-hockey linesman, the first to ever be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987. After his career as an NHL linesman, Pavelich served as Supervisor of O ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Tim Peel * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Kevin Pollock Kevin Pollock (born February 7, 1970) is a retired Canadian Official (ice hockey), ice hockey official. He worked in the National Hockey League from the 1999–2000 NHL season until the 2023–24 NHL season, and officiated in ice hockey at th ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Stephane Provost – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Pierre Racicot * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Lance Roberts * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Mike Rodden Michael James Rodden (April 24, 1891 – January 11, 1978) was a Canadian sports journalist, National Hockey League referee, and Canadian football coach, and was the first person elected to both the Hockey Hall of Fame (1962) and the Canadian Foo ...

– Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Vaughan Rody Vaughan Rody (born December 13, 1968, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a retired Canadian National Hockey League linesman, who wore uniform number #73. Vaughan officiated 1,232 NHL games during his 23-year career in the league, and his highlights includ ...

* {{flagicon, RUS {{hockey team player, name=Evgeny Romasko * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Ian Sandercock * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Troy Sartison * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Ray Scapinello Raymond Angelo Joseph Scapinello (born November 5, 1946) is a former National Hockey League linesman, known for having the longest on-ice career of anyone in the history of the NHL. Early life Ray Scapinello grew up in Glen Christie, Ontari ...

* {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=

Dan Schachte Daniel John Schachte (July 13, 1958 – September 6, 2022) was an American linesman in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was the first American-born official to oversee 2,000 NHL games. Early life Schachte was born in Madison, Wisconsin, o ...

– Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Jay Sharrers * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Lyle Seitz * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Anthony Sericolo * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Jamie Seward * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Randy Shantz * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Pat Shetler * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Harry David Shewchyk * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Rob Shick Rob Shick (born December 4, 1957, in Port Alberni, British Columbia) is a retired National Hockey League referee beginning with the 1985–86 NHL season. He retired in March 2009. He wore uniform number 16 since the 1994–95 NHL season.http://w ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Sam Sisco * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Art Skov – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Cooper Smeaton James Cooper Smeaton (July 22, 1890 – October 3, 1978) was a Canadians, Canadian professional ice hockey player, referee (ice hockey), referee and head coach. He served referee-in-chief of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1917 until 1937. ...

– Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN{{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name= Ag Smith – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Craig Spada * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name= Paul Stewart * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Leon Stickle Leon Evan Stickle (born April 20, 1948) is a Canadian former National Hockey League linesman. His officiating career started in 1969 and ended in 1998. Early life Stickle is the son of Ivan Stickle and his wife Bernice, and has a sister Gail. Bo ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Red Storey Roy Alvin "Red" Storey, (March 5, 1918 – March 15, 2006) was a Canadian athlete, referee and broadcaster. He played football, lacrosse and ice hockey. While active as an athlete, he turned to officiating in all three sports, and continued as ...

– Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Justin St. Pierre * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Ted Topping (September 27, 1923 – May 24, 2016) – Deceased * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Richard Trottier * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Frank Udvari Frank Joseph Udvari (January 2, 1924 – August 13, 2014) was an NHL referee from 1952-53 until 1965-66. Udvari was born in Militic, Yugoslavia and raised in Guelph, Ontario. He was the presiding referee during the game which initially sparked the ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Andy Van Hellemond Andy Van Hellemond (born February 16, 1948) is a Canadian former National Hockey League referee and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame since 1999. He is also a former municipal politician, serving on city council for the City of Guelph, On ...

* {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Don Van Massenhoven * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Mark Vines * {{flagicon, SWE {{hockey team player, name= Marcus Vinnerborg * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Cameron Voss * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Stephen Walkom Stephen Walkom (born August 8, 1963) currently serves as vice president and director of officiating for the National Hockey League (NHL). This is his second stint in that position, having previously served from 2005 to 2009. From 1990 to 2004, a ...

* {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name= Ian Walsh * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Dean Warren * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name= Brad Watson * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Ken Wheler * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=Mark Wheler * {{flagicon, CAN {{hockey team player, name=

Ron Wicks Ronald "Ron" Wicks (September 22, 1939 – April 1, 2016) was a National Hockey League referee. His career started in 1960 and ended in 1986. During his career, he officiated five Stanley Cup finals and 1,400 regular season games. Wicks died of c ...

– Deceased{{cite news, last1=Csillag, first1=Ron, title=NHL referee Ron Wicks witnessed game's highs and lows, url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/nhl-referee-ron-wicks-witnessed-games-highs-and-lows/article29809631/, website=The Globe and Mail, access-date=10 December 2017, date=29 April 2016 * {{flagicon, USA {{hockey team player, name=Scott Zelkin :¹ Noeth was hired to NHL contract at age 20, at that time the youngest referee ever hired by the NHL.

Officials in the
Hockey Hall of Fame The Hockey Hall of Fame () is a museum and hall of fame located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League (NHL) records, memorabilia and National Hockey Le ...

{, class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width:40%;" ! style="width:25%;" , Year inducted ! style="width:50%;" , Name ! style="width:25%;" , Nationality , - , 1958 , , {{sortname, King, Clancy{{efn, Inducted as a player. , , {{flag, Canada , - , 1961 , , {{sortname, Chaucer, Elliott , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1961 , , {{sortname, Mickey, Ion} , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1961 , , {{sortname, Cooper, Smeaton , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1962 , , {{sortname, Mike, Rodden , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1963 , , {{sortname, Bobby, Hewitson , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1964 , , {{sortname, Bill, Chadwick , , {{flag, United States , - , 1967 , , {{sortname, Red, Storey , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1973 , , {{sortname, Frank, Udvari , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1981 , , {{sortname, John, Ashley, dab=ice hockey , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1987 , , {{sortname, Matt, Pavelich , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1988 , , {{sortname, George, Hayes, dab=ice hockey , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1991 , , {{sortname, Neil, Armstrong, dab=ice hockey , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1993 , , {{sortname, John, D'Amico, dab=ice hockey , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1999 , , {{sortname, Andy, Van Hellemond , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 1999 , , {{sortname, Scotty, Morrison{{efn, Inducted as a builder. , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 2008 , , {{sortname, Ray, Scapinello , , {{flagicon, CAN , - , 2014 , , {{sortname, Bill, McCreary, dab=referee , , {{flagicon, CAN

Notes

{{Notelist

References

{{Reflist

External links

National Hockey League Officials Associationold website
*NHL Records
Referees
an
Linespersons
{{IceHockeyPositions {{NHL topics {{DEFAULTSORT:Nhl On-Ice Officials National Hockey League officials

Officials An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless of whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority (either their own or that of the ...