The National Hockey League has made some moves to its officiating roster in advance of the 2022-23 season.

In addition to a handful of promotions, the league has also added four new officials: Morgan MacPhee, Tommy Hughes, Ryan Jackson, and Joseph Mahon.  Here’s more on the new recruits:

 

Referee Morgan MacPhee #43

MacPhee officiated in the OHL, AHL, and ECHL last season. Internationally, he handled the 2022 World Juniors when the tournament started in December, but was not part of the August reboot — likely to his upcoming participation in NHL training camp.  MacPhee also previously worked the World Under-17 Championship where he was selected for the Gold Medal Game between the US and Russia.

MacPhee is expected to continue to referee in the American Hockey League, likely making his NHL debut later this season.

 

Linesman Tommy Hughes #65

Hughes worked the Ontario Hockey League’s Championship Series in 2022, during his first season as a league official.  He previously spent time with the OHL’s London Knights, where he was part of their back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013 alongside Max Domi, Bo Horvat, Josh Anderson, Nikita Zadorov, and current NHL linesman Kyle Flemington.  He went on to play in the AHL for six seasons, suiting up with the Hartford Wolf Pack and Hershey Bears. Hughes also played for the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays and the EIHL’s Nottingham Panthers.  His final pro season came in 2019-20.

Hughes will be working full-time in the NHL this season; expect his league debut in October.

 

Linesman Ryan Jackson #84

Jackson, the son of retired NHL referee Dave Jackson, saw his playing career take him to Manhattanville College (NCAA Division III), followed by two seasons in the SPHL with the Fayetteville Marksmen (2019-20) and Birmingham Bulls (2020-21). He signed with the ECHL’s Maine Mariners in 2020, but the team sat out the 2020-21 season.

Jackson will be splitting time between the AHL and NHL this season.

 

Linesman Joseph Mahon #89

Mahon spent time in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks and Calgary Hitmen before donning stripes in the Dub. He knows the penalty box inside and out, having racking up 215 penalty minutes over 97 games in the league.

Mahon talked about going from player to official when he made the jump in 2019:

“Obviously when I was here I got into most of the fights, now I’m working on breaking them up,” Joe said. “It is a little bit of a mindset change. There are some tweaks that you notice after skating that you notice linesmen do. There is a lot more to it than just calling offsides and icings — where to go, get out of the way of the play.”

Mahon worked in the WHL and AHL last season.  He’ll work in both the AHL and NHL for 2022-23.

All four new officials are Canadian.

 

Congratulations to the latest officials joining the National Hockey League!