COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Hockey announced today that referees Sean Fernandez (Traverse City, Mich.) and Jeremy Tufts (Exeter, N.H.) and linesmen William Hancock III (Huntington Woods, Mich.) and Brent Hooks (Phoenix, Ariz.) have been selected as the game officials for the fourth annual CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game.
The event, which will feature 42 of the top American-born prospects eligible for the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft, is set for Thursday, Sept. 24, at First Niagara Center, home of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.
“Just like the players, these officials have been selected for this game based on their ability to be successful at higher levels of hockey,” said Matt Leaf, director of officiating education for USA Hockey. “The chance to officiate this game is both a reward for their past efforts and a showcase to the NHL and other leagues of what their potential can be.”
Fernandez is entering his first season as a full-time referee in the Southern Professional Hockey League. He will also partake in the East Coast Hockey League after previously working in the North American Hockey League, United States Hockey League and Tier III junior leagues. Tufts will be a full-time referee in the ECHL for the first time after spending the last two years in the SPHL and USHL. His experience also extends to the NAHL.
Hancock officiated in the American Hockey League, SPHL and USHL a season ago. He also has experience in the ECHL and NAHL. Hooks served as a linesman in the ECHL last season. Additionally, he has officiated in the AHL, NAHL, SPHL and USHL.
All four are products of the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program, which educates and assigns officials for Tier I, II and III junior leagues in the United States.
For more information on the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, or to purchase tickets, visit AllAmericanProspectsGame.com.
NOTES: Derek Plante (Cloquet, Minn.) and Jeremy Roenick (Boston, Mass.) will serve as head coaches at the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game … Tickets for the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game are on sale now at AllAmericanProspectsGame.com … For the full roster of the 42 players competing in this year’s game, click here … Players selected to compete in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game were chosen by USA Hockey in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting … The Buffalo Sabres and First Niagara Center are hosting the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game for the second consecutive year and third time overall. Last year, Team Grier defeated Team Olczyk, 6-3. On Sept. 29, 2012, Team McClanahan beat Team Housley, 5-2, in the inaugural event.
