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Published by Scouting the Refs
Scouting The Refs follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports; a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio, he’s also worked for TSN and Sportsnet as a host/anchor. Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent resource related to hockey officiating. #RefsPodcast
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Enter the 32 Teams! The NHL is back from summer break and so is the Scouting the Refs Podcast. There's not much summer reading to catch up on with only one change to the NHL rulebook. Like Wu Tang said, protect ya neck! On this week's show: Five retiring NHL officials Four promotions Six new hires join the NHL stripes The lone rule change in the NHL rulebook Three rule changes in the WHL, including one that could revolutionize overtime NHL players offer their suggestion on rule tweaks, and we weigh in on what might work and what might never happen Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Facebook , Instagram , Threads , BlueSky , and Twitter/X . Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast
That's a wrap on the 2025-26 NHL season, as the Carolina Hurricanes claimed the Stanley Cup in Game 6 over the Vegas Golden Knights. Wrapping up: Referee Golfin' Garrett Rank takes a tumble Canes' Jason Blake gets called for tripping. A marginal tripping call? In the Stanley Cup Final? Tomas Hertl pushes the puck to win a draw. "You can't do that," says Rule 67 (and liney Trent Knorr, who saw it all happen) An AHL penalty shot call sends the announcer into a frenzy. Listen to him complain about it... and then undermine his argument! Congrats to the ECHL's Kelly Cup Champion Florida Everblades, who won - and got dumped. and what topics might be on tap at the upcoming NHL Board of Governors' meetings? Rule changes, perhaps? ... --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast
The NHL Stanley Cup Final is in full swing! This week: No call on Golden Knights' Eichel for dumping Canes' Staal Vegas's Stone sticks Chatfield up high, prompting an official discussion and a video review. How did that work, exactly? Game 3 has two challenges against Vegas - one for offside against Howden, one for goaltender interference on Barbashev A Cup Final Penalty Shot courtesy Wes McCauley! Breaking down the call and the criteria Not-quite-buzzer-beater by McNabb Carolina's Stankoven gets crosschecked by Dowd. It was a minor penalty - should it have been more? Puck over glass! Puck over glass! Puck over glass! When was the last time a team was whistled for three puck-over-glass penalties?! Breaking down the ref pairs and the stats in the Cup Final. Which pair favors one team over the other... and why? What do we need to do to get the NHL to hand out some hardware to the officials? A Golden Whistle would be nice, but we have some other trophy suggestions. --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast
We've made it through the NHL Conference Finals and Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final with plenty to discuss on this week’s Refs Podcast: The NHL's Final Four refs and linespersons Ghislain Hebert gets a new gig up north The ref cam is back! Referee Chris Rooney kicks off the Cup Final with some words of encouragement Icing, icing, baby... or is it? Breaking down a controversial icing call that led to a Carolina Hurricanes goal in Game 1. Why the whistle? Did the referee lose sight of the puck? Or was it goaltender interference? Logic says the latter as Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella challenged -- losing both the challenge and the game. What happened on that play? And, hang on, did we get an official post-game comment from the NHL Officiating team on that call!? --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast
We’ve got a jam-packed week of Stanley Cup action to run down on this week’s Refs Podcast: Canadiens’ Dobson delivers a high-stick from his knees A clear spear from Montreal’s Texier on Canes’ Miller gets called a slash. What? Carolina’s Hall hits Hutson Dorofeyev’s Golden Knights goal gets disallowed for being batted in with a glove… or was it deflected by a high stick above the crossbar? Or both? Canadiens’ Caufield goes offside… but the faceoff goes way back Was that a missed call for Too Many Men against Montreal in overtime? Vegas’ Hertl takes out the Canes’ Necas on what should’ve been a penalty At the Memorial Cup, Chicoutimi Sagueneens’ Jordan Tourigny gets ejected - and suspended - for stomping the skate of Kitchener’s Christian Humphreys. --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast
On this week's playoff-penalty-filled episode: Six for McAvoy's lumberjack attack Habs' Xhekaj pays up for punch Avalanche's Manson puts his butt-end where it doesn't belong, gets a fine and a penalty -- but should've gotten more Sabres' Malenstyn steamrolls Habs' Dobes A double-goal-review at Canadiens vs. Sabres that goes from no goal, to goal, and back to no goal... Golden Knights' McNabb plows Ducks' Poehling into the boards for the rare interference major penalty Minnesota's McCarron bats it in. Nice try, Mike. Vegas goaltender Carter Hart throws off his helmet to get a stoppage after losing a skate blade. He gets the whistle -- and a penalty for delay of game Referee Garrett Rank goes up top for a bird's-eye-view of the play. --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast
On this week's playoff-penalty-filled episode: Senators' Grieg gets two Montreal's Matheson misses the puck Habs’ Demidov may not be to blame for his goaltender interference penalty Bruins’ McAvoy is ready for baseball season… and a suspension Flyers’ Foerster lowers the hatchet Carolina’s Martinook’s self-inflicted high stick Why the officials made the right non-call on an icing play that led to the Vegas Golden Knights’ game-winner against the Anaheim Ducks Your playoff reminder that officiating ain’t easy, with one liney dumped into the bench and another taking a punch Avs’ Burns with a distinct kicking motion right into Kiriil Kaprizov’s crotch Philly’s Drysdale interferes on Staal... or is that the other way around? Canes’ Brind’amour gets fired up - and penalized - on the bench Flyers’ Sanheim boarded by Hurricanes’ Hall: did the refs get it right? --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast
This week: Third jersey rules... and superstitions Sens' Greig goes for the sucker-punch Pens' Rust hair-pulling Flyers' Martone Over the line... or not? Plenty of controversy at Oilers vs. Ducks on a goal-line play with the puck partially obscured by a skate Vegas scores twice in OT after their first game-winner came back for an offside Bruins' Zadorov get fined for a cross-check during a stoppage... he should've gotten more Stars' Benn lowers the lumber on Wild's Ryan Hartman, picking up his fourth fine or suspension in the last five postseasons. He also deserved more for this one. Ducks' Kreider gets away with boarding Habs' Hutson causes a high stick on himself from Tampa's Point Pens' Lizotte goes spearfishing Oilers' Hyman with the most distinct kicking motion we've seen all year Carolina's Rod Brind'amour offers his thoughts on how the league can improve officiating and cut down on diving and embellishment. --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast
This week: A goal line stop - or was it - at Canes vs. Senators Game 1 Habs’ Anderson takes out Bolts’ D’Astous and sees his penalty reduced from a major to a minor… and then has his goal wiped out on a stick that was too damn high Tampa’s Hagel hits Montreal’s Guhle, resulting in a high stick on Brayden Point. That doesn’t seem fair… Goaltender interference at Kings vs. Avalanche Mammoth’s Durzi is out there doing head butts Strange one at Senators vs. Hurricanes where a penalty shot is awarded for a hook that never happened after a goal is disallowed for an offside zone entry. Did you get all that? Down goes Crosby! A career first for Sid the former Kid, picking up an embellishment penalty prior to a faceoff against the Flyers’ Garnet Hathaway More chaos at Flyers vs. Pens as Rust and Konecny go at it with unpenalized elbows - and maybe a kick - as the refs break out the riot pads Stars’ Benn goes high on an unsuspecting Boldy, picking the head… another accidentally on purpose play from the Dallas captain? Carolina’s Hall takes out Ottawa’s Jake Sanderson with an illegal check to the head. --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast
This week: 23,596 penalty minutes... how do you measure a year? Liney Steve Barton hangs 'em up NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Officiating - how do they pick the officials and how does it work in the postseason? A high-sticking penalty review turns into a non-call. It's the right interpretation under the rule book... so is the rule just WRONG? Stick fouls abound at Sabres vs. Stars as Radek Faska gets penalized for causing a self-inflicted high-stick Jordan Greenway sends Ilya Lyubushkin's stick flying Another Colorado Avalanche offside controversy... and we're not sure we agree with the call on this one. --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast
This week: Ben Betker's NHL Refereeing Debut McAvoy's flying stick gets two minutes High sticking fines for Luostarinen and Strome Flyers' Michkov fined for diving Learning what is - and is not - goaltender interference at Bruins vs. Canes, after a goal is allowed after contact in the crease and Bussi drops to sell an elbow Mammoth's Weegar gets bailed out by the Utah video coach Calgary's Zary clearly has a 'distinct kicking motion' but the NHL allows this goal to stand Sharks' Askarov flips his net... but the goal still counts --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast
This week: Linesman Brad Kovachik's final NHL game Stars' Bichsel steals Karlsson's stick Sabres' Thompson penalized after his stick is deflected by Detroit's Edvinsson's follow-through Leafs' Domi goes after Ducks' Gudas Toronto's Pezzetta called for abuse of officials Panthers' Paul Maurice says "STFU" Goalie fight! Markstrom vs. Shesterkin Panthers' Gregor takes out Sens' Yakemchuk Ottawa's Tkachuk takes a slashing penalty from the bench Flyers' Marton has rookie run-in with ref Jets' Pionk goes low Chris Pronger weighs in on Player Safety --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast
On this week's show: Caught in the crossfire as liney Kilian McNamara catches a high stick during a scrum Panthers' AJ Grees suspended three games for boarding Flames Connor Zary Goaltender interference?! You don't say! Breaking down NHL Situation Room decisions at Penguins vs. Jets, Jackets vs. Islanders, Wild vs. Lightning, and Avalanche vs. Penguins. Looking for consistency here... but will we find it? Rangers' Miller breaks Sens' Chabot's arm with a cross-check -- no penalty, no fine Ducks' Sennecke gets fined $2000 for diving Match penalty but no fine or suspension to Pierre-Luc Dubois for bulldogging Blues' Thomas and once again, Tom Wilson is whistled for a questionable hit. --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.
Pens' Evgeni Malkin gets five games for slashing Islanders' Bo Horvat fined $2500 for poking a Shark No call, not fine after Isles' Mat Barzal picks Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks It's a wild one at Sabres vs. Lightning with plenty of goals and penalty minutes Tampa's Brandon Hagel gets four minutes for a one-sided attack on Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin; he deserved quite a bit more than that from the refs Ducks' Johnston takes out Blues' Holl from behind Was it a hand pass? Sens' Pinto deflects the puck with his glove, leading to a goal that held up after a Coach's Challenge Mack goes bowling! Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon gets ejected for running over Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram -- but was it even his fault? --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.
This week, Todd and Josh tackle: Olympic recap of the Gold Medal Game between USA and Canada Another Too Many Men... or was it? Bennett sticks 'em up Wilson blows up Larkin NHL officials earn their stripes at Milan Cortino Upgraded cameras for the NHL Maple Leafs go 2-0 on Coach's Challenges What else can we automate? --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.
Plenty of Olympic hockey on tap this week: Too many Czechs on the ice - but what can we do about it? Why can’t you challenge a too many men penalty And, yes, the officials can count to six, as Canada found out in their next game Keep an eye - and a skate - on those faceoffs USA’s Britta Curl’s major penalty vs. Canada reduced to two minutes Penalty shot at Switzerland vs. Sweden Goaltender interference for Canada’s Sam Bennett vs. Finland A close call on a Coach’s Challenge on Canada’s game-winning goal to get them to the gold medal game --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.
On this week's Olympic edition of the #RefsPodcast, we cover the rule differences between the NHL and Olympics, including goaltender interference, illegal checks to the head, penalty shots, situation room vs. on-ice official reviews, fighting, and more. Team Canada's Tom Wilson makes his presence felt in Milano Cortina after an injury to Kevin Fiala of Switzerland, then drops the gloves in a game against France -- who said there was no fighting at the Olympics?! Stateside, we've got a three-game suspension in the AHL for physical abuse of officials. --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.
Retired NHL referee Ian Walsh shares his journey from officiating in the NHL to mentoring young officials in various leagues. He talks with Todd and Josh about the importance of feedback and coaching for up-and-coming referees, the role of replay technology in officiating, and his memorable experiences at the Sochi Olympics. Ian also compares the officiating styles and rules between the NHL and IIHF, emphasizing the need for officials to trust their instincts and adapt to the game on this special edition of the #RefsPodcast. --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.
On a jam-packed edition of the #RefsPodcast: Preds' McCarron fined for slashing OHL's Levac gets six games for slewfoot Isles' Duclair's goaltender interference on Preds' Saros No call on Caps' Wilson for steamrolling Canes' Stankoven Another goalie fight! Swayman vs. Vasilevskiy OT penalty cancels out game-winner for Bruins' Pastrnak Sens' Giroux takes out Pens' Silovs, but the goal stands Canucks' Kane stirring things up Flames' Cooley gets saved by the whistle Penalty minutes pile up in the latest Battle of Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas , cruising the Mexican Riviera. On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk . You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs , and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD , and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in. Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person —again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest . --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.
On this week's #RefsPodcast: Penguins' Rust gets three games Leafs' Nylander's $5000 finger Caps' Duhaime whips his stick out on the bench Rangers whistled for three penalties on the same play Isles' DeAngelo takes two for abuse of officials... though they may have broken protocol on the call Capitals bank one of the photographers' hole and in Avs' Manson has a major penalty rescinded after review vs. the Canadiens Good guy Macklin Celebrini tries to help the refs out with a penalty call. Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas , cruising the Mexican Riviera. On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk . You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs , and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD , and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in. Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person —again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest . --------------- Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.
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