Four teams advance to the Conference Finals. Sixteen officials will join them.
Here are the eight NHL Referees and eight NHL Linesmen advancing to the Conference Finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Referees
Trevor Hanson, Jean Hebert, Steve Kozari, Chris Lee, Wes McCauley, Dan O’Rourke, Chris Rooney, and Kelly Sutherland
First-Timers: Trevor Hanson advances to the Conference Finals for the first time.
Out from Round 2: Gord Dwyer, Jon McIsaac, Kyle Rehman, Graham Skilliter
Standby Ref: Gord Dwyer
Linesmen
Steve Barton, David Brisebois, Scott Cherrey, Brad Kovachik, Matt MacPherson, Bevan Mills, Kiel Murchison, and Jonny Murray
First-Timers: Bevan Mills is working his first Conference Finals
Out from Round 2: Shandor Alphonso, Devin Berg, Michel Cormier, Bryan Pancich
Standby Linesman: Shandor Alphonso
Who Made – and Missed – The Cut?
Three ref pairings have seen both officials move on: McCauley/O’Rourke, Hanson/Sutherland, and Kozari/Lee. Two have been split, with Hebert and Rooney – paired up for Kraken/Stars Game 7 – moving on, while their prior partners, Kyle Rehman and Graham Skilliter, respectively, fail to advance. Expect to see Rooney and Hebert paired up for this round.
Hebert and Rehman previously worked SEA/DAL game 1, NJD/CAR Game 2, VGK/EDM Game 3, and FLA/TOR Game 5. Rooney and Skilliter teamed up for FLA/TOR Game 2, DAL/SEA Game 3, and VGK/EDM Game 4.
The pairing of Dwyer/McIsaac – together since round 1 – did not advance; during the Conference Semifinals, they handled EDM/VGK Game 1, CAR/NJD Game 3, TOR/FLA Game 4, and DAL/SEA Game 6.
Referee Chris Rooney is the only American-born official moving on to the Conference Finals.
Wes McCauley is working his 14th straight Conference Final. Sutherland has handled 11 straight and 15 overall. They’re trailed by refs Dan O’Rouke (12 Conference Finals), Chris Rooney (11), Steve Kozari (8), Jean Hebert (6), Chris Lee (5), and Trevor Hanson – making his first trip to the Conference Finals.
Linesman Bryan Pancich was injured in his last appearance; no word on if his injury has kept him from advancing to the Conference Finals.
Playoff Payouts
The officials moving on all get a nice playoff bonus. Referees and Linesmen are paid by round – not by game – in the playoffs. Referees earn $27,000 and linesmen $17,250, so advancing is not only a big honor, but a financial bump. Standby referees earn $1000 for being on call, with an increase to $2,750 if they get into the game; linesmen pick up a $650 check which jumps to $1,775 if they take the ice.
Referees selected to work the Conference Final are already tacking on an additional $81,000 this postseason, with linesmen making the third round earning an extra $51,750.
