Numbers are easy. Perhaps that’s why the NHL officials only sport digits on the backs of their stripes. It’s the names — and their pronunciation — that can be tricky.  Whether you’re a broadcaster looking to properly pronounce the officials’ names or a fan who wants to heckle accurately, it’s all about getting the names right.

Here’s the updated pronunciation guide for the 2022-23 NHL officials.

All pronunciations provided by the National Hockey League, with some light editing. We’ve made a few changes based on our experiences and personal verification, and simplified the guide to exclude some of the more common names whose pronunciation is already familiar to most.  (Pronunciation key included at the end)

 

Referees

Reid Anderson (AN-dur-suhn)
Cody Beach (BEECH)
Brandon Blandina (blan-DEE-nuh)
Jake Brenk (BREHNK)
Francis Charron (FRAN-sihs sha-RAHN)
Tom Chmielewski (shihm-ehl-ESS-kee) – that’s a silent ‘W’ there
Mitch Dunning (DUHN-ihng )
Gord Dwyer (DWIGH-uhr)
Eric Furlatt (fur-LAHT)
Beaudry Halkidis (BOH-dree hal-KEE-dihs)  also ‘Beau’ (BOH)
Trevor Hanson (HAN-suhn)
Ghislain Hebert (ZHIHZ-lehn  AY-bair)
Jean Hebert (ZHAWN AY-bair)
Marc Joannette (zhwawn-EHT)
Justin Kea (KEE-uh)
Steve Kozari (koh-ZAHR-ee)
Frederick L’Ecuyer (LAY-KWEE-ay)
Pierre Lambert (pee-AIR lam-BAIR)
Chris Lee (LEE)
T.J. Luxmore (LUHX-mohr)
Peter MacDougall (mac-DOO-guhl)
Morgan MacPhee (mac-FEE)
Michael Markovic (MARK-oh-vitch)
Wes McCauley (muh-KAHL-ee)
Jon McIsaac (muhk-IGH-zihk)
Kendrick Nicholson (NIH-kuhl-suhn)
Conor O’Donnell (oh-DAHN-uhl)
Dan O’Rourke (oh-ROHRK)
Brian Pochmara (pahk-MAHR-uh)
Kevin Pollock (PAHL-uhk)
Garrett Rank (RANK)
Kyle Rehman (RAY-muhn)
Chris Rooney (ROO-nee)
Jordan Samuels-Thomas (SAM-yewlz-TAH-muhs)
Carter Sandlak (SAND-lak)
Chris Schlenker (SHLEHNK-uhr)
Brandon Schrader (SHRAY-duhr)
Graham Skilliter (SKIHL-ih-tuhr)
Furman South (SOWTH)
Francois St. Laurent (frahn-SWAH SAINT-loh-RAHNT)
Justin St. Pierre (SAINT-pee-AIR)
Kelly Sutherland (SUH-thuhr-luhnd)
Corey Syvret (sih-VREHT)
Ian Walsh (WAWLSH)

 

Linesmen

 

Shandor Alphonso (SHAN-dohr al-FAHN-so)
Caleb Apperson (KAY_lehb AP-uhr-suhn)
Tyson Baker (BAY-kuhr)
Steve Barton (BAHR-tuhn)
Devin Berg (BUHRG)
David Brisebois (BREEZ-bwah)
Scott Cherrey (CHEHR-ee)
Michel Cormier (mih-SHEHL KOHR-mee-ay)
Ryan Daisy (DAY-zee)
Jonathan Deschamps (day-SHAWMP)
Kyle Flemington (FLEHM-ihng-tuhn)
Julien Fournier (FOORN-yay)
Ryan Galloway (GAL-oh-way)
Brandon Gawryletz (GAHR-lehtz)
Travis Gawryletz (GAHR-lehtz)
Ryan Gibbons (GIH-buhnz)
Tommy Hughes (HEWZ)
Mitchell Hunt (HUHNT)
Ryan Jackson (JAK-suhn)
Justin Johnson (JAHN-suhn)
Dan Kelly (KEHL-ee)
Trent Knorr (K’NOHR) (The K is not silent)
Brad Kovachik (koh-VAH-chihk)
Matt MacPherson (mak-FUR-suhn)
Joseph Mahon (MAY-uhn)
Jesse Marquis (mahr-KEE)
Kilian McNamara (MAK-nuh-mar-uh
Bevan Mills (MIHLZ)
Kiel Murchison (KIGH-uhl  MUHR-chih-suhn)
CJ Murray (MUHR-ree)
Jonny Murray (MUHR-ree)
Derek Nansen (NAN-sehn)
Ben O’Quinn (oh-KWIHN)
Bryan Pancich (PAN-sihch)
Mark Shewchyk (SHOO-chihk)
Andrew Smith (SMIHTH)
Libor Suchanek (LEE-bohr  soo-CHAN-ehk)
James Tobias (toh-BIGH-uhs )
Travis Toomey (TOO-mee)

 

Pronunciation Key

AY – long A as in mate
A – short A as in cat
AI – nasal A as in air
AH – short A as in father
AW – broad A as in talk

EE – long E as in meat
EH – short E as in get
UH – hollow E as in ‘the’
AY – French long E with acute accent as in passé
IH – middle E as in pretty
EW – dipthong as in few

IGH – long I as in time
EE – French long I as in machine
IH – short I as in pity

OH – long O as in note
AH – short O as in hot
AW – broad O as in fought
OI – dipthong as in noise
OO – long double OO as in fool
U – short double O as in foot
OW – dipthong as in how

EW – long U as in mule
OO – long U as in rule
U – middle U as in put
UH – short U as in shut or hurt

K – hard C as in cat
S – soft C as in cease
SH – soft CH as in machine
CH – hard CH or TCH as in catch
Z – hard S as in bells
S – soft S as in sun
G – hard G as in gang
J – soft G as in general
ZH – soft J as in French version of Joliet
KH – gutteral CH as in Scottish version of Loch