The NHL has selected the referees and linespersons who will be joining forces with the IIHF officials to work the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
The officiating team will be a mix of stripes from the NHL and the IIHF, as it was in 2014, the last time NHLers participating in the Olympics.
Representing the NHL will be refs Gord Dwyer, Wes McCauley, Brian Pochmara, Kyle Rehman, and Chris Rooney, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, who mentioned that the formal announcement has been delayed due to injuries.
Referee Chris Rooney has yet to work an NHL game this season, with his last on-ice appearance coming in Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers.
Brian Pochmara last skated at Seattle Kraken vs. Montreal Canadiens on October 14; no word on his injury nor timetable for his return. Update: Pochmara returned to action on December 13.
The international officials will include referees Andris Ansons (Latvia), Michael Campbell (Canada), Christopher Holm (Sweden), Michael Holm (Sweden), Jan Hribik (Czechia), Sean MacFarlane (USA), and Andre Schrader (Germany), as well as linesmen Albert Ankerstjerne (Denmark), Nick Briganti (USA), Jake Davis (USA), Onni Hautamaki (Finland), Daniel Hynek (Czechia), and Tarrington Wyonzek (Canada).
No word yet on the NHL linespersons working the tournament.
The NHL and IIHF held an officiating camp in September, right after the NHL completed its officiating training camp. All 26 prospective Olympic officials were in attendance, as was IIHF Officiating Manager (and three-time Olympic referee) Danny Kurmann.
“We are delighted that the top NHL players will be part of the upcoming Olympic Games,” said Kurmann. “In partnership with NHL officials, we are committed to ensuring the best possible conditions for these hockey players. We expect an invaluable exchange of experience and knowledge, both on and off the ice, not just for this tournament but for future IIHF events as well.”
“We are starting from a foundation of solid experience, but it is crucial to fine-tune the details and address the subtle differences in game management,” Kurmann explained. “Our goal is to ensure consistent philosophy and interpretation across both leagues, so there will be discussions and training focused on these points. Team building is also a big part of our mini-camp in August—getting to know each other, building trust, and preparing together as a unified group. It’s all important to the end goal, which is to produce seamless officiating next February.”
Officials will be assigned based on performance and scheduling. Not all games will be handled by a split crew of two NHL officials and two IIHF officials. Additionally, there are no restrictions by county; an official is free to be assigned to games played by the team representing his home country.
