The NHL announced 10 new officials for 2026-27: 4 promotions and 6 hires. Here's the breakdown of the new faces in stripes this season: 🧵
11
23
22
132
50,745
First, the math. Five full-time slots opened with the retirements of referees Steve Kozari and Chris Lee, plus linespersons Steve Barton, Brad Kovachik, and Bryan Pancich.

Sep 16, 2026 · 5:39 PM UTC

13
5
26
56
95,143
RelevantRecentLikes
The four promotions all split last season between the NHL and AHL: • Ref Beau Halkidis (#22, was #48) - 184 NHL games • Ref Stephen Hiff (#33, was #46) - 67 games • Liney Dylan Blujus (#57) - 49 games, former Lightning draft pick • Liney Jeremy Faucher (#97) - 56 games
1
2
19
5,564
The fifth full-time slot goes to linesperson Anthony Lapointe (#63). The 27-year-old Montreal native worked the World Juniors gold medal game and back-to-back Calder Cup Finals before getting the call.
2
16
3,732
Headline hire: Onni Hautamaki (#62) is the FIRST Finnish official in NHL history. He worked the Olympic gold medal game (USA vs. Canada) in February. Seven years in Liiga, three World Championships, and 5 AHL games last season.
1
1
27
2,999
Fun one: incoming AHL/NHL referee Hayden Verbeek (#40) is another former player turned official. And no — his dad isn't Pat Verbeek. The "Little Ball of Hate" is his uncle.
4
1
1
21
3,243
Rounding out the part-time hires: refs Nick Isaacson (#46) and Austin Rook (#48), plus linesperson Chris Martenet (#78) — a Memorial Cup champ with the London Knights who played alongside Mitch Marner, Matthew Tkachuk, Evan Bouchard, and Robert Thomas.
1
2
1
19
12,748
Full bios, sweater numbers, and backgrounds on all 10: scoutingtherefs.com/2026/09/… Watch for the new stripes in preseason. 🏒

NHL Promotes Four, Hires Six New Officials for 2026-27

The NHL has promoted two referees and two linespersons and hired six new officials to join the league’s officiating roster for the 2026-27 season.

scoutingtherefs.com
1
11
4,044
Kozari’s finally gone?! LET’S GOOOOO!!!
2
415
Kozari and Lee were definitely gambling check the bank accounts
1
277
Please bounce Rank back to the AHL, guy is a tool
1
10
787
Kozari and Lee gone? Hockey got so much better!
23
Steve Kozari retired? There’s some great news.
2
761
Chris Lee retired 🎉🎉🎉
223
@DrakeMT check it out, that idiot Chris Les is retired lol
1
7
539
Yay, no more chris lee!
10
374
Good riddance, Chris. You fucking slug.
1
165
Wish nothing but the worst for Chris Lee, cock sucker
2
161
Lee and Kozari retired
2
200
Load more replies