The NHL officiating lineup is set for the 2025-26 season. We’ve got some new names, some retirements, some releases, and number changes. Here’s what’s new for the NHL referees and linespersons for the 2025-26 season:
New Names
The NHL has hired three new linespersons. Dylan Blujus, Jeremy Faucher, and Shawn Oliver will be splitting time between the NHL and AHL this season. More on the league’s new trio of lineys.
Promotions
The NHL has promoted referee Jordan Samuels-Thomas and linesperson Ryan Jackson to full-time officiating roles. Both officials worked in both the AHL and NHL last year. While Jackson will keep his #84, Samuels-Thomas will be making a change…
New Numbers
Samuels-Thomas moving to full-time means he needs to pick a new number; he switches to #37 from #42, as numbers 41-49 are typically reserved for NHL/AHL referees. Ref Kyle Rehman last wore #37 before switching to #10 back in 2016.
Referee Cody Beach will also be swapping his sweater, going from #32 to #12 for the upcoming season. That number was previously worn by Justin St-Pierre, who retired prior to the 2024-25 season; before that, those were Don Koharski’s digits.
Retirements
Linesperson Derek Nansen has hung up his whistle after 23 years and 1,532 NHL games.
Referee Ghislain Hebert has retired from the NHL, but headed overseas to continue his officiating career in Germany’s DEL.
Releases
AHL/NHL linespersons Mitchell Hunt and Justin Johnson have been released by the NHL.
Here’s the full National Hockey League officiating roster for 2025-26:
