Number 33 was planning to ride off into the sunset at the end of the season, but not like this.
Referee Kevin Pollock reportedly suffered a career-ending knee injury last month during a game between the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres, TSN’s Gord Miller reported earlier today.
The veteran official was injured when he was kocked down in the corner by a sliding Jordan Greenway. Pollock appeared to suffer an injury to his right knee. He left the game, leaving referee Brandon Blandina to finish the game as the lone ref alongside linesmen Dan Kelly and Andrew Smith.
Pollock was slated to retire at the end of the 2023-24 NHL season, he just didn’t expect his final game to be in February.
Retiring officials typically get to select the crew for their final game. Pollock will no longer have that opportunity.
Pollock, 54, made his NHL debut on March 28, 2000, working a game between the New York Islanders and Nashville Predators. The Kincardine, Ontario, native has gone on to work 1,608 regular season games – most among active officials – and 219 playoff matches. He sits sixth all-time in regular season games worked, behind Kerry Fraser, Don Koharski, Bill McCreary, Paul Devorski, and Dan Marouelli. Pollock likely would’ve eclipsed the latter two this season had he avoided injury.
Pollock worked two Stanley Cup Finals: 2015 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks, and 2017 between the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s also officiated the inaugural Heritage Classic game between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens, the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, the 2011 NHL All-Star Game, and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
From the NHLOA:
Pollock was born in Kincardine, a small town on the shore of Lake Huron, Ontario. The former defenseman played all of his minor hockey in his hometown and his journey as an official started at the young age of 12. His father Clarke was heavily involved into officiating which gave him an appreciation for the men wearing the black and white uniforms. During his first few years as an official, Kevin worked a lot of minor hockey games, mostly all around Kincardine. He would also be asked at times to work the lines for his dad and other senior referees in the WOAA senior loop.
After spending a couple of seasons in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) in the early 90’s, Pollock went on to work the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for three seasons as a linesman (1993 to 1996). He was also hired during that time to work the Colonial Hockey League (COHL); first as a linesman for his first season (1994-1995) before becoming a referee in his second campaign. His passion and dedication for officiating pushed him to accept a full-time referee position with the ECHL in the summer of 1996. He spent a total of two seasons with the ECHL where he was selected both times to work the Kelly Cup Finals. He returned to the OHL in the summer of 1998, but this time wearing the orange bands. His hot streak kept going and the following spring he was selected to work the prestigious Memorial Cup in Ottawa (1999). His performance during the spring tournament earned him to be assigned to work the Championship game. Kevin was also under the NHL training program from 1997 to 1999.
The National Hockey League recognized his talent and potential in the summer of 1999 when they offered him a NHL minor league contract as a referee. Pollock only worked under the minor league status for one season before being promoted to a full-time NHL referee contract in the summer of 2000.
While he’s coming off the ice, the veteran official will remain close to the game. He’s working with the PWHL, overseeing Coach’s Challenges and video reviews.
