While the torch has gone out on the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, the athletic competitions continue.
The 2018 Paralympics kick off on March 9, with the para ice hockey tournament starting the following day. The Gold Medal Game is slated for March 18, with the US going for their third straight Paralympic gold.
From Paralympics.org:
The officials carry a range of Para ice hockey experiences from Games, World Championships and regional competitions. Among the referees is Johnathan Morrison from the USA. In addition to on-ice experiences in the United States Hockey League and American Hockey League, Morrison has called six World Championships A-Pool, and PyeongChang 2018 will be his fourth Paralympics.
Nine other officials return to Gangneung after handling the 2017 World Championships A-Pool in April, when the competition also served as a Test Event: referees Kevin Webinger from Canada, Austria’s Kristijan Nikolic and Norway’s Owe Luthcke; and linesmen Jan Vanek from the Czech Republic, South Koreans Young-jin Chae and Youl Han, Canada’s Matthew Fergenbaum, Sweden’s Andreas Lunden and Austria’s David Nothegger. The fifth referee is Sotaro Yamaguchi from Japan. Linesman, Leon Wesley from the Czech Republic and Matt Clark from Canada complete the officiating team for PyeongChang2018.
Referee Johnathan Morrison will be officiating his fourth and final Paralympics.
“I never expected to do one, let alone four Paralympics,” Morrison said. “There’s now other people we have ready to get involved in the US at this level, so I can say with a lot of confidence that I’ll still remain in the sport, but this will be my last Paralympics as an on-ice official.”
Referees
Johnathan Morrison (USA)
Kevin Webinger (CAN)
Kristijan Nikolic (AUT)
Owe Luthcke (NOR)
Sotaro Yamaguchi (JPN)
Linesmen
Jan Vanek (CZE)
Young-jin Chae (KOR)
Youl Han (KOR)
Andreas Lunden (SWE)
Matthew Fergenbaum (CAN)
Matt Clark (CAN)
David Nothegger (AUT)
Leon Wesley (CZE)
Congratulations to the referees and linesmen selected to work this year’s tournament!
If you’re new to the sport, check out the Para Ice Hockey rulebook.