Season 7, Episode 25
February 20, 2026

 
On this week’s #RefsPodcast, plenty of Olympic hockey on tap:

  • Too many Czechs on the ice – but what can we do about it?
  • Why can’t you challenge a too many men penalty
  • And, yes, the officials can count to six, as Canada found out in their next game
  • Keep an eye – and a skate – on those faceoffs
  • USA’s Britta Curl’s major penalty vs. Canada reduced to two minutes
  • Penalty shot at Switzerland vs. Sweden
  • Goaltender interference for Canada’s Sam Bennett vs. Finland
  • A close call on a Coach’s Challenge on Canada’s game-winning goal to get them to the gold medal game

 

 

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The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We’ll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was – or wasn’t – handed out. 

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs. 

Josh Smith is the managing editor of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls.