We’ve got the teams. We’ve got the first round schedule. Now we have the officials.
The sixteen teams are set for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs — and so are the 44 officials. Here are the 22 NHL Referees and 20 NHL Linespersons chosen to work the National Hockey League postseason:
Referees
Francis Charron, Tom Chmielewski, Gord Dwyer, Eric Furlatt, Trevor Hanson, Jean Hebert, Steve Kozari, Frederick L’Ecuyer, Pierre Lambert, Chris Lee, T.J. Luxmore, Peter MacDougall, Wes McCauley, Jon McIsaac, Kendrick Nicholson, Dan O’Rourke, Garrett Rank, Kyle Rehman, Chris Rooney, Graham Skilliter, Francois St. Laurent, and Kelly Sutherland.
First-Timers: Tom Chmielewski, Pierre Lambert, Peter MacDougall
Returning from Prior Seasons: Francois St. Laurent (injured in 2023)
Out from 2023: Jake Brenk, Kevin Pollock (retired)
Standby Refs: Jake Brenk, Michael Markovic
Nice to see referee Steve Kozari on this list. Kozari hasn’t worked a game since his center-ice collision with Tampa’s Haydn Fleury; good to see the league expects him to be able to return for the opening round.
Linesmen
Shandor Alphonso, Steve Barton, Devin Berg, David Brisebois, Scott Cherrey, Michel Cormier, Ryan Daisy, Kyle Flemington, Brandon Gawryletz, Travis Gawryletz, Ryan Gibbons, Trent Knorr, Matt MacPherson, Jesse Marquis, Bevan Mills, Kiel Murchison, Jonny Murray, Bryan Pancich, Mark Shewchyk, Andrew Smith, Libor Suchanek, and James Tobias
First-Timers: None
Returning from Prior Seasons: Ryan Daisy (injured in 2023), Trent Knorr, Mark Shewchyk
Out from 2022: Brad Kovachik
Standby Officials: Tyson Baker, Julien Fournier
First-Timers
With the NHL increasing the playoff staff from 40 to 44, we have some additional spots opening up. Referees Tom Chmielewski, Pierre Lambert, and Peter MacDougall will al be making their playoff debut.
Who’s Missing
Brian Pochmara and Justin St. Pierre have both been out with injuries.
Referee Kevin Pollock and linesman Ryan Galloway both retired during the regular season; retiring officials don’t work the postseason.
Referees not taking part in this year’s playoffs include: Brandon Blandina, Mitch Dunning, Ghislain Hebert, Carter Sandlak Chris Schlenker, Brandon Schrader, Furman South, and Corey Syvret.
Linesmen out of the postseason include Caleb Apperson, Jonathan Deschamps, Tommy Hughes, Dan Kelly, Brad Kovachik, Joe Mahon, Kilian McNamara, C.J. Murray, Derek Nansen, Ben O’Quinn, and Travis Toomey.
Officials splitting time between the AHL and NHL — referees Cody Beach, Riley Brace, Beau Halkidis, Graedy Hamilton, Justin Kea, Morgan MacPhee, Jordan Samuels-Thomas, and Michael Sullivan, along with linesmen Brandon Grillo, Mitchell Hunt, Ryan Jackson, and Justin Johnson — are also off the playoff roster.
Career Numbers
Kelly Sutherland leads all active officials in playoff games worked (230), ahead of Wes McCauley (201), Dan O’Rourke (187), Eric Furlatt (168), and Chris Rooney (155). Sutherland also leads all refs in Stanley Cup Final appearances (10) and Cup Final games worked (27).
Sutherland is fourth all-time in playoff games officiatied, behind Bill McCreary (297), Don Koharski (266), and Kerry Fraser (254).
On the lines, the active leader for playoff games is Brad Kovachik (200), who’s not working this postseason. He’s trailed by Jonny Murray (175), Scott Cherrey and Steve Barton (tie, 143), and Michel Cormier and Matt MacPherson (tie, 96)
Playoff Salaries
Officials get paid per round in the postseason, with referees earning $27,000 and linesmen $17,250. 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 bumps to $1,775 if they take the ice.
As in previous seasons, the league will cut down on the pool of officials after each round of the playoffs.
