Stephen Thomson is moving on up.  Thomson has been hired by the American Hockey League as Manager of Hockey Operations and Player Safety.

Thomson’s responsibilities will include managing the AHL’s staff of on-ice officials, as well as serving on the league’s newly formed Player Safety Committee.

The former AHL and ECHL referee has spent the past four seasons as the ECHL’s Manager of Officiating.

“We would like to thank Stephen for his hard work, dedication and efforts to the ECHL and the ECHL officiating staff over the last four season,” said ECHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Ernst. “We would like to congratulate him and wish him the best of luck with the AHL.”

Thomson spent four years in stripes in the ECHL, officiating over 250 regular season games along with trips to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2017 and 2018.  The following season, he moved up to the league offices.

The New York native also officiated over 50 games in the American Hockey League from 2016-2018, along with stints in both the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) and United States Hockey League (USHL).