The officials have been selected for the 2026 Paralympics Sled Hockey tournament. The on-ice officiating crew represents nine countries; these officials have worked a combined 12 Paralympic Winter Games with 116 World Para Ice Hockey appointments.
Referees: Bobby Esposito, Matt Fergenbaum, Pat Myers, Jan Vanek, and Kevin Webinger
Linespersons: Pavel Blazek, Dylan Dauphinee, Tibor Fazekas, Brendan Lewis, Andreas Lunden, Lari Nittyla, Marius Hermansen Oswold, Tony Rundstrom, and Alex Weist
Ontario Hockey League referee Pat Myers is making his Paralympics debut after working in the sport for 12 years.
“They expect you, as an official, to get closer to the play because a quick little hold or a hook or someone grabbing the sled is harder to see because they are lower to the ice,” Myers said. “Your skating lanes are a bit different in para hockey than they would be able-bodied hockey because of the way the sleds move and what they can do and what you’re supposed to catch and see and make sure you don’t miss.”
Esposito and Lewis are both USA Hockey officials:
Esposito will serve as a referee, having pervious international officiating experience at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. He has also held the same role at the last three World Para Ice Hockey Championship tournaments.
Lewis is set to serve as a linesperson and has done so at the last three World Para Ice Hockey Championship tournaments. He was selected as an official for the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games but could not attend due to COVID-19 protocols.
Per World Para Ice Hockey regulations, on-ice officials do not wear numbers on their jerseys.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Sled Hockey tournament runs through Sunday, March 15.
