The 2019 NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City will feature officials from the ECHL as well as invitees from the NHL Officiating Exposure Combine.
Thirteen ECHL officials will take part in the annual tournament, which includes prospects from the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs. The tournament, which runs September 6-10, includes a three-day round-robin tournament followed by placement games and a championship match on the final day.
Officials are selected and scheduled for the tourney by ECHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Ernst and ECHL Manager of Officiating Stephen Thomson.
“It is an honor for the ECHL and our officiating staff to be working such a well-respected tournament,” said Thomson. “The experience of officiating such high-level players prior to the start of our ECHL season is invaluable to their development and will be a great test for each of them personally after a long summer of training.”
“The tournament also provides time for myself and Joe Ernst to teach and get to know our staff better off the ice prior to the start of our regular season. I know it will be another great experience for all officials involved.”
Traverse City Prospect Tournament Officials
Referees
- Justin Kea (NHL Officiating Combine)
- Kyle Lekun (ECHL, 1st season)
- Sean MacFarlane (ECHL, 3rd season)
- Maxime Primeau (ECHL, 1st season)
- Brett Roeland (ECHL, 2nd season)
- Steven Sailor (ECHL, 2nd season)
- Casey Terreri (ECHL, 1st season)
- Riley Yerkovich (ECHL, 1st season)
Linesmen
- Marc-Antoine Beaulieu (ECHL, 1st season)
- Brady Fagan (ECHL, 1st season)
- Chad Fuller (ECHL, 1st season)
- Shane Gustafson (ECHL, 2nd season)
- Kendall Hanley (NHL Officiating Combine)
- Ian McCambridge (NHL Officiating Combine)
- Kilian McNamara (ECHL, 2nd season)
- Tarrington Wyonzek (ECHL, 1st season)
Referee Justin Kea and linesmen Kendall Hanley and Ian McCambridge are coming to the tournament right from the NHL Officiating Exposure Combine camp. Kea recently wrapped up a minor-league career that saw him play 74 games in the AHL and 212 in the ECHL, where he finished past season with the Toledo Walleye. McCambridge has a lengthy resume in stripes, having worked the lines in the AHL, ECHL, IIHF, and NCAA. Hanley also has an impressive background; she’ll be the first woman to officiate the Traverse City Tournament.
Hanley is entering her 12th season of officiating and is a licensed linesman with the IIHF, NCAA women’s hockey (Divisions I and III) and the National Women’s Hockey League. She is also entering her fourth season as a linesman in USA Hockey’s Officiating Development Program, where she has officiated in the USHL, NAHL and NA3HL junior hockey leagues. The 35-year-old played Division III varsity hockey for Elmira College from 2005-07 and SUNY Oswego from 2007-09 while completing her Bachelor of Science in zoology.
“My passion and love for the game started at a young age and after college I was not quite ready to hang up my skates,” said Hanley, who will officiate at the 2019 NHL Prospect Tournament, which runs Friday through Monday in Traverse City.” I met some amazing people in Texas who were very involved in officiating who supported and mentored me early on. Officiating provides a team environment, great comradery and competition and helps me give back and support the game I love.”
In addition to the Traverse City Tournament, ECHL officials are also working other prospect tournaments across the league.
Anaheim gets ECHL refs Andrew Wilk, Carter Sandlak, and Jake Rekucki. Referees Anthony Tapper, Alex Ross, and Riley Page will be in Belleville.
