Two teams. Eight officials; four referees, four linesmen. 

Here are the officials who’ve made the final cut of the National Hockey League season. The officials adjudged to be at the top of their game. The NHL Referees and Linespersons working the 2024 Stanley Cup Final: 

 

Referees

  • Jean Hebert #15 – 13 seasons, 96 playoff games, 2nd Cup Final
  • Steve Kozari #40 – 18 seasons, 148 playoff games, 5th Cup Final
  • Dan O’Rourke #9 – 23 seasons, 199 playoff games, 7th Cup Final
  • Chris Rooney #5 – 22 seasons, 167 playoff games, 7th Cup Final


Out from the Conference Finals: Eric Furlatt, Garrett Rank, Francois St. Laurent, and Kelly Sutherland.  Rank and St. Laurent are still looking to make their first Cup Final appearances. This is the first time Sutherland has failed to reach the Cup Final in seven seasons; Sudsy leads all active officials in Playoff Games worked (242) and Stanley Cup Final games (27). 

First-Timers: None. Hebert (2022), Kozari (2014, 2019, 2020, 2023), O’Rourke (2011, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2023), and Rooney (2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023) have all been here before. 

Referee Wes McCauley made the cut for Round 2, but never worked a game after Golden Knights/Stars Game 7 in the opening round due to a reported hamstring injury. This is the just the second Cup Final since 2013 without McCauley in stripes; he also missed 2021 due to injury. 

With McCauley sidelined, O’Rourke is expected to pass him in playoff games officiated, moving into the top ten – or possibly top nine, depending on how many games the series goes – all-time.

While referee Dan O’Rourke is working the NHL’s Stanley Cup Final, his son Austin was selected to officiate the ECHL’s Kelly Cup Final.

After going with five officials for the final round, the NHL is back to four referees for the Final. Expect two pairs to rotate through the first six games… and the best two combining forces for a possible Game 7.

 

Linespersons

  • Devin Berg #87 – 8 seasons, 71 playoff games, Cup Final debut
  • Ryan Daisy #81 – 7 seasons, 34 playoff games, 2nd Cup Final
  • Matt MacPherson #83 – 12 seasons, 108 playoff games, 3rd Cup Final
  • Jonny Murray #95 – 22 seasons, 188 playoff games, 7th Cup Final


Out from the Conference Finals: Shandor Alphonso, Steve Barton, Scott Cherrey, and Ryan Gibbons

First-Timer: Devin Berg. After three trips to the Conference Finals over the past six seasons, Berg is working his first Stanley Cup Final.

Ryan Daisy (2022), Matt MacPherson (2018, 2020), and Jonny Murray (2012, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023) all have Cup Final experience under their respective belts. 

Murray’s 188 playoff games lead all active linesmen, as do his 6 Cup Final appearances and 15 Cup Final games officiated. 

 

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 continue to cut down on the pool of officials after each round of the playoffs.