(Photo of Brian Oliver From USA Hockey)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today that 30 American officials have been selected to serve as referees or linesmen for International Ice Hockey Federation events in 2018-19.
“We’re thrilled to see so many American officials earn the opportunity to officiate at the highest level,” said Matt Leaf, USA Hockey officiating program director. “Each one of them has worked hard to get to this point and I’m confident that they will represent the U.S. well on the world stage.”
American officials will take part in 18 IIHF events this season, including the IIHF World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 5, 2019, in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, the IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship Jan. 6-13, 2019, in Obihiro, Japan, the IIHF Women’s World Championship April 4-14, 2019, in Espoo, Finland, and the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship April 18-28, 2019, in Ornskoldsvik and Umea, Sweden.
Nine of the 30 Americans chosen to officiate during the upcoming season have previous experience working in top-level IIHF events, including two who officiated at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, New York, and two at the 2018 IIHF Men’s World Championship in Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark. Seven Americans have received their first IIHF assignment, while six will make their debut in IIHF pool A tournaments this season.
Assignments for the IIHF Men’s World Championship May 10-26, 2019, in Bratislava and Kosice, Slovakia, will be determined in late February.
For a full list of American officials and their assignments, please see below.
NAME
EVENT
LOCATION
HOMETOWN
Riley Bowles
WM18
Ornskoldsvik and Umea, Sweden
Otis Orchards, Wash.
Sean MacFarlane
WM18
Ornskoldsvik and Umea, Sweden
Otis Orchards, Wash.
Nicholas Briganti
WM18IA
Grenoble, France
Newington, Conn.
Sean Fernandez
WM18IIA
Elektreai, Lithuania
Novi, Mich.
Jonathan Sladek
WM18IIIA
Sofia, Bulgaria
Naperville, Ill.
Andrew Bruggeman
WM20
Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia
North Mankato, Mich.
Brian Oliver*
WM20
Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia
Rochester, N.Y.
Jeremy Tufts*
WM20
Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia
Brentwood, N.H.
Kenneth Anderson*
WM20
Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia
New Hope, Minn.
William Hancock II*
WM20
Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia
Chicago, Ill.
Patrick Richardson
WM20IIA
Tallinn, Estonia
Syracuse, N.Y.
Kevin Briganti
WM20III
Reykjavik, Iceland
Newington, Conn.
Jake Davis*
WMIB
Tallinn, Estonia
Wyandotte, Mich.
Andy Thackaberry
WMIIB
Queretaro, Mexico
Canton, Mich.
Justin Cornell
WMIIB
Queretaro, Mexico
Sterling Heights, Mich.
Andrew Wilk
WUG
Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Costa Mesa, Calif.
Erika Greenen
WUG
Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Nashville, Tenn.
Laura White
WUG
Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Runnemede, N.Y.
Jackie Spresser*
WW
Espoo, Finland
Thornton, Colo.
Jamie Huntley-Park*
WW
Espoo, Finland
La Jolla, Calif.
Jestina Vichorek
WW18
Obihiro, Japan
Carlton, Minn.
Kaylen Erchul
WW18
Obihiro, Japan
Duluth, Minn.
Kristin Moore
WW18
Obihiro, Japan
Broomfield, Colo.
Chelsea Rapin*
WW18IA
Radenthein, Austria
Burlington, Vt.
Kendall Hanley
WW18IA
Radenthein, Austria
Minneapolis, Minn.
Melissa Doyle
WW18IB
Dumfries, United Kingdom
White Bear Lake, Minn.
Sara Strong
WWIA
Budapest, Hungary
Chicago, Ill.
Kristine Langley*
WWIB
Beijing, China
Hopkins, Minn.
Jennifer Cameron
WWIIA
Dumfries, United Kingdom
Northborough, Mass.
Kelly Cooke
WWIIB
Brasov, Romania
Brighton, Mass.
*have previous experience working top-level IIHF events