Hockey Officials

Like in most sports, hockey uses officials to regulate gameplay and enforce the rules. At each professional game, there is a crew of on-ice and off-ice officials making sure that all regulations are followed. Keep reading to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of ice hockey officials.

Officials and Referees

In hockey, the referees and officials are responsible for interpreting the rulebook for different parts of the game. The referee always has the final say in a ruling if there is a disagreement. In general, the main duties of referees and officials are to ensure the game is played fairly and enforce rule violations.

The referee's crease is part of the ice hockey rink. It's where game officials gather to discuss penalties and challenges. During play, referees skate with the flow of the game, but this is where they typically gather after a stoppage in play that needs a review.

Types of Hockey Officials

There are a few different types of referees and officials that each has their own role on the ice.

On-Ice Officials

On-ice officials in hockey are in charge of interpreting the rules and maintaining fair play on the ice. They make calls on penalties, rule infractions, and goals. The two types of on-ice officials are referees and linesmen. The NHL and AHL use a four-official system, which employs two referees and two linesmen in each game.

Referees

Referees are responsible for assessing penalties and dropping the puck at the opening face-off. They communicate with off-ice officials in the penalty box to assess penalties and goals to players. Referees are the officials primarily responsible for starting and stopping play. One referee covers each side of the ice.

Linesmen

Linesmen, also known as assistant referees, are in charge of looking for infractions such as offsides and icing. Linesmen can’t call penalties, but they report violations to the referees, who then call the penalties. Linesmen can stop play in certain situations. Like referees, one linesman is assigned to cover each half of the ice.

Off-Ice Officials

Professional hockey games also utilize a variety of off-ice officials to help enforce the rules and keep score. These officials have specific duties such as timekeeping and judging whether goals are legal.

Goal Judges

The goal judges, who are positioned behind each net, make the initial decision as to whether a goal was scored or not. They are in charge of turning on the red light behind each goal when a goal is scored.

Game Timekeeper

The game timekeeper is responsible for starting and stopping the game clock. They are in constant contact with the on-ice officials to discuss time discrepancies.

Penalty Timekeeper

The penalty timekeeper, much like the game timekeeper, is in charge of starting and stopping the penalty clock, as well as displaying the correct amount of penalty time on the scoreboard.

Penalty Box Attendants

Penalty box attendants are responsible for opening and closing the doors to the penalty box. When a player’s time in the penalty box is up, the penalty box attendant will immediately open the door for them to exit.

Official Scorer

The official scorer is in charge of keeping track of all statistics on the official scoresheet. After each game, all on-ice officials will read over and sign the scoresheet to ensure the statistics have been properly recorded.

Video Replay Judge

The video replay judge is responsible for reviewing all disputed calls when requested by on-ice officials. In the NHL, video replay is sent to the NHL Hockey Operations Department in Toronto, where the final call will be made and relayed to the on-ice officials.

Referee Penalty Signals

The main responsibility of on-ice referees is to make penalty calls and communicate these calls to other game personnel. After blowing their whistle to stop play and signaling a penalty, hockey referees use a range of signals to communicate different calls to scorers, coaches, players, and fans. Most of these signals involve the referee using their hands and arms to visually communicate in loud arenas, and each penalty has a corresponding hand signal.

Delayed Penalty Signals

When there is a delayed penalty on a play, the referee will raise their non-whistle arm straight up in the air. When a player on the team who committed the penalty touches the puck, the referee will blow their whistle to halt play and lower their arm. They will then assess the penalty to the offending player, who will take a trip to the penalty box.

Hockey Referee Types List

Here is a list of the different types of hockey referees and officials that each have their own role on the ice:

• Referees
• Linesmen
• Official Scorer
• Goal Judges
• Game Timekeeper
• Penalty Timekeeper
• Penalty Box Attendants
• Video Replay Judge

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