Referee Dan O’Halloran is continuing to rack up the miles — and the games.
The veteran official is slated to work his 1,500th NHL regular season game tonight in Montreal as the Canadiens host the Anaheim Ducks. He’s just the seventh NHL referee to reach that milestone.
O’Halloran made his NHL debut in 1995, working a game between the Ducks and Penguins. He leads all active officials in games worked, including 212 playoff games and 10 trips to the Stanley Cup Finals. He also officiated the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. O’Halloran refereed the Gold Medal game between the US and Canada alongside referee Bill McCreary and linesmen Jean Morin and Stefan Fonselius.
From the NHLOA:
As a young boy, his father, Fred, was for several years the President and Convenor of the Essex, Ontario minor hockey program making the old Essex Arena his second home every winter. He started officiating at a young age but really started to be more serious about it after his Junior “C” playing days were over. He went on and worked countless local hockey games and junior games around his hometown during his officiating journey before reaching the now defunct International Hockey League (IHL) a few years later. At that time, several NHL teams had an affiliated team in the old International Hockey League which had O’Halloran working and being in contact with several officials under contract with the NHL. With NHL officiating supervisors/managers attending some of his games along the way, his officiating skills were recognized one summer when he was ask to report and participate at the next NHL Officials training camp. He went on and signed a minor league referee contract with the National Hockey League in the summer of 1992.
O’Halloran, 55, is expected to hang up his skates at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.
