Retired NHL Linesman Thor Nelson was recently honored as the winner of USA Hockey’s Mark Rudolph Officiating Achievement Award. 

Nelson, who hails from Minot, North Dakota, is currently a supervisor with the NCHC. 

“The NCHC is lucky to have Thor. He has been a valuable resource for our staff since he started in 2022,” said NCHC Director of Officiating Mike Schmitt. “Thor is one of the biggest advocates for youth and the city of Minot, and I’m honored to present him with our Mark Rudolph Award.”

Nelson spent nearly 20 seasons working over 1,000 games in the National Hockey League, along with two trips to the Winter Olympics (Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010).  He was forced to retire in 2013 for concussion-related reasons after getting punched in the head while trying to break up an altercation.

After retiring from the NHL, Nelson stayed close to the game. He is USA Hockey’s referee-in-chief for North Dakota, and in 2022, joined the NCHC officiating staff as a supervisor. 

“Thor has been a great addition to the NCHC officiating staff over the last few years. As a longtime NHL linesman, he has been beneficial to our on-ice officials and has increased officiating expertise and credibility within the conference,” Weems said. “Beyond college hockey, Thor is one of the most selfless people I know. The time and resources he gives to youth and adaptive sports in Minot, as well as his state and national engagement with hockey officiating, are extensive. He is the consummate team player and community advocate.”

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Through his involvement with USA Sled Hockey, Nelson helped bring the men’s and women’s sled hockey teams from the USA and Canada to Minot, N.D., for training camp and games. As referee-in-chief, he also works tirelessly developing youth hockey officials in North Dakota.

Outside of hockey, Nelson is the president for the Minot Girls Fastpitch program and the Minot Storm Fastpitch travel team in North Dakota. With Nelson in charge, participation numbers have grown close to 400 girls in the fastpitch program. He was also instrumental in fundraising for a new building and turf fields for Minot Girls Fastpitch.

Nelson is married with four kids; his son Odin is currently a linesman in the ECHL. 

The NCHC’s Mark Rudolph Officiating Achievement Award is named in honor of Mark Rudolph, a longtime official and distinguished administrator who established USA Hockey’s national officiating program, among many other accomplishments. The award was officially established prior to the 2014-15 season.

Criteria for the Mark Rudolph Award recipient shall be an individual who, through dedicated effort and service, both on and off the ice, has achieved a distinguished accomplishment during the previous NCHC season, and who by his actions has significantly enhanced the NCHC and its officiating program. The award is not necessarily presented annually.

Past NCHC Mark Rudolph Officiating Achievement Award Winners
2013-14 – John Philo
2014-15 – Paul Carnathan
2015-16 – Joe Sullivan
2016-17 – Timm Walsh
2017-18 – Ron Foyt
2018-19 – Justin Hills
2019-20 – Geno Binda
2020-21 – Mike Schmitt
2021-22 – Josh Fenton
2023-24 – Thor Nelson

 

Image via NCHC.