Hockey- Current Hockey news and stats

Visit the ESPN Widget Center.

In the days leading up to the OHL Priority Selection, General Managers are moving some picks around.

Round 1 of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs is in the books. Now it is time for Round 2.

The Ontario Hockey League has puts its shingle out in the City of Hamilton multiple times in the past, and according to a report may be looking to do so once again.

Heading into the final moments of the OHL Trade Deadline, we all knew the London Knights had an open overage spot - and anybody who has seen Knights GM Mark Hunter operate knows he will not leave any stone unturned.

Who were the winners? Who were the losers? Who is going to make a run for the title? Those topics and more were on the table Tuesday during our OHL Trade Deadline Wrap-up Live Chat.

PRINCETON, N.J. - There were two game 7?s in professional hockey last night, and all four referees who worked the two games are former ECHL referees.

In the National Hockey League, Dan O?Rourke and Chris Rooney were the referees for the New York Rangers 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden.

O?Rourke played in the ECHL with Erie and Louisiana from 1993-97 before joining the league?s officiating staff. He joined the NHL in 1999-00, and was selected to work the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

Rooney, who was a referee in the 1998 Kelly Cup Finals, has been in the NHL since the 2000-01 season. He worked the 2010 NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park in Boston.

In the American Hockey League, Jean Hebert and Graham Skilliter were the referees for the St. John?s IceCaps 3-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Mile One Centre in St. John?s, Newfoundland.

Hebert began his professional career as a part-time referee in the ECHL in 2007-08, and worked for the NHL during the 2008 and 2009 preseason as a referee for a rookie tournament with the Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs. He worked his first NHL game on March 30, 2010.

In addition to his experience in the ECHL, Skilliter, who was hired by the NHL prior to this season, also spent six seasons in the Western Hockey League and has also worked internationally at the World University Games, World Under 17 Challenge and World Junior exhibition games. The 26-year-old also worked NHL Rookie Tournaments in Camrose, Alberta, Kitchener, Ontario and Traverse City, Mich.

?It is great to see former ECHL referees succeeding at the next levels of hockey,? said ECHL Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Ernst. ?This speaks to the high-quality of officials that the ECHL hires.?

Twenty-four former ECHL officials worked as part of the NHL officiating team in 2011-12 with referees David Banfield, Darcy Burchell, Francis Charron, Ghislain Hebert, Jean Hebert, Marc Joannette, Mike Leggo, Mark Lemelin, Wes McCauley, Dean Morton, Dan O?Rourke, Brian Pochmara, Kevin Pollock, Kyle Rehman, Chris Rooney, Justin St. Pierre, Graham Skilliter and Ian Walsh, and linesmen Steve Barton, Brian Mach, Matt MacPherson, Tim Nowak, Bryan Pancich and Jay Sharrers.

NHL linesman Darren Gibbs will make Fort McMurray sports history next month as the first official to be inducted in the Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

Gibbs has officiated in the NHL since 1997 after several years of working in the AJHL and the WHL.

The 46-year-old has officiated in the Memorial Cup Finals and an NHL All Star Game and is coming close to his 1,000th NHL game.

He was also selected by Kerry Fraser to work Fraser?s final NHL game in 2010.

Gibbs took some time to answer some questions for the Today Sunday afternoon from his home in Texas.

Today: What was your reaction when you found out you are going to be in the WBSHOF?

Gibbs: I think a lot of shock was involved in it. Several things go through your mind, but I still don?t think I?ve even comprehended the magnitude of it as of yet. I think it will all start to sink in a little bit more as the event gets closer.

But obviously you are excited to be joining some of the names I recognize, like Chris Phillips and my old coach Franky Lacroix in there as well. You go through a magnitude of emotions but I was definitely shocked and definitely honoured.

Do you still maintain a strong connection to Fort McMurray?

I?ve got a couple of buddies up there. Warren Ouellette who is a buddy I lived with in Moberly Crescent since 1967 and Jim Kostiuk, a local referee up there. I have many other buddies that I keep in text with and golf, because we golf in the summers together.

But usually I only come up for the golf tournament up there. I try to make it at least every other year which I?ve done for the past six or seven years.

What do you think is your career highlight?

Just making the National Hockey League is a highlight in itself. We?ve got guys who do slews of Stanley Cup finals and I haven?t done a final yet.

But I worked an all-star game last year in Raleigh, which is a really good time. It?s more oriented for families. My mom and dad came down and cousins flying in and friends, like the aforementioned Jim Kostiuk. It was a good time.

But really the way the game is right now you do a lot of really good hockey games. I got to the 15-year point, I just finished my 15th year this season and just the fact that I am where I am right now is a highlight.

Is officiating in the Stanley Cup finals a goal of yours?

For sure. It?s kind of how we?re wired. You go into every season wanting to work the Stanley Cup finals. Just because it?s taken 15 years to get there doesn?t mean it?s an unachievable goal. I mean I?m a hockey fan, I?m watching the Blues and Kings game as we speak. I?m a hockey fan and it?s a good time of year to be on the ice and working with the pressure and the emotion and the fun of the Stanley cup final.

Do you have any regrets in your career?

I don?t think so. Franky Lacroix, my old coach in Junior B, always encouraged me to work at my officiating so I think that I heeded his advice with my dad?s tutoring, and I don?t think it could?ve worked out any better.

These hands were meant for dropping pucks, not stick handling with them.

What?s your advice to young officials who would like to make it to the big league?

I think for me, I would just pass on the advice that my dad and other officials gave me: you never know who is in the building and you?re getting paid to do a job, so always work hard and be professional.

At the same time, you?ve got to have fun with it. Officiating, there?s a reason why there?s so much turnover at the beginning levels, it?s because, let?s face it; if you want to get yelled at you can just stay at home and not do your chores. Why go to the rink to get yelled at by fans and mostly parents? It?s a tough grind, but stick it out, work hard and have fun. If this cowboy can make it to the bigs from Fort McMurray that means anyone can make it.

Nine officials honored with championship assignment

The United States Hockey League has announced the roster of on-ice officials who will work 2012 USHL Clark Cup Final series. Four referees and five linesmen have been assigned to officiate the matchup between the Green Bay Gamblers and the Waterloo Blackhawks in the best-of-five series.

The referees and linesmen for the series were selected by the USHL officiating supervisory staff in addition to be based on the recommendations and evaluations from USHL coaches involved in this year?s Clark Cup Playoffs.

The nine officials selected for the 2012 USHL Clark Cup Final include:

Referees
Tommy Albindia, 22 ? St. Paul, Minnesota
Colin Kronforst, 25 ? Chicago, Illinois
Chris Pitoscia, 25 ? Edison, New York
Brett Sheva, 25 ? Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Linesmen
Ryan Daisy, 23 ? Boston, Massachusetts
Pat Richardson, 23 ? Syracuse, New York
Sam Shikowsky, 24 ? Stillwater, Minnesota
Zack Thornton, 24 ? Rochester, New York
Pat Turcotte, 26 ? Gofftown, New Hampshire

Referees Chris Pitoscia and Brett Sheva, along with linesman Zack Thornton, will be working the USHL Clark Cup Final series for the second time. All other officials have earned their first assignment to the championship series.

"I like our mix of veterans and new officials working the Clark Cup Final series," said Scott Brand, USHL Referee-in-Chief and Coordinator for USA Hockey?s Officiating Development Program. ?For a few of these young men, this will be their last time working in the USHL before embarking on their professional officiating careers, while for some of the officials, it is the next step in their continued development as on-ice leaders."

Over 300 former USHL officials have advanced to work at the highest levels of professional, collegiate, and international hockey, including ten officials that have earned positions in the NHL.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 10th season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2011-12. With 28 picks during the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, 13 NHL draftees on its rosters this season, and over 250 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools this season, the USHL is emerging as the world?s foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com or visit the League?s multiple social media platforms, including Facebook (www.facebook.com/ushlhockey), twitter (www.twitter.com/ushl), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/ushlinteractive). Fans can also watch USHL action online all season long, live or on-demand via FASTHockey (ushl.fasthockey.com)

PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL on Wednesday announced that referee Jason Rollins is the 2011-12 recipient of the Ryan Birmingham Memorial Award.

The award honors an On-Ice Official for his contributions and dedication to the league officiating staff and is determined in voting of ECHL On-Ice Officials. It is named in honor of ECHL linesman Ryan Birmingham who tragically lost his life in an automobile accident in May 2007.

?I am honored to be selected by my fellow officials as the 2012 recipient of the Ryan Birmingham Memorial Award,? Rollins said. ?I have had the good fortune of working with many great guys over my years in the ECHL, including Ryan during the 2006-2007 season. Ryan brought a sincere heart along with a genuine passion to work and loved the game each and every night. I would like to thank the ECHL officiating staff for this nomination as I have always enjoyed working with new and familiar faces each season.?

Rollins, who becomes the first referee to win the award, worked his 500th game as an ECHL referee on March 27 in Greenville, becoming just the fourth referee in the 24-year history of the ECHL to reach the 500-game milestone. He worked his first ECHL game as a referee during the 2000-2001 season in Greensboro, N.C., and worked the 2007 All-Star Game in Boise and has also worked the 2007 and 2008 Kelly Cup Finals.

?Jason is a very well-deserving recipient of the Birmingham Award,? said ECHL Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Ernst. ?He is dedicated to the game of hockey and the ECHL and is always willing to help our younger officials become better. I am very pleased for Jason as he represents what the Birmingham Award is all about.?

The 2007-08 edition of the ECHL Rule Book was dedicated to the memory of Birmingham, who was featured on the back cover, and ECHL on-ice officials wore a commemorative patch on their left shoulder that has 60, which is the number that Birmingham wore, and the initials RJB.

Birmingham began his officiating career when he was 12 years old in the Southgate Minor Hockey Association and worked his way into the USA Hockey Junior Officiating Development Program in 2003. Birmingham was hired as a full-time linesman by the ECHL in 2006 and worked 83 games in the regular season and four games in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, including his final game, Florida at Charlotte, on April 17, 2007.

Twenty-four former ECHL officials worked as part of the NHL officiating team in 2011-12 with referees David Banfield, Darcy Burchell, Francis Charron, Ghislain Hebert, Jean Hebert, Marc Joannette, Mike Leggo, Mark Lemelin, Wes McCauley, Dean Morton, Dan O?Rourke, Brian Pochmara, Kevin Pollock, Kyle Rehman, Chris Rooney, Justin St. Pierre, Graham Skilliter and Ian Walsh, and linesmen Steve Barton, Brian Mach, Matt MacPherson, Tim Nowak, Bryan Pancich and Jay Sharrers.

Ryan Birmingham Memorial Award Winners
2012 Jason Rollins
2011 Paul Carnathan
2010 Ray King
2009 Michel Voyer
2008 David Jones

ESCANABA - Terry Saunders had dealt with it before, but this was different. As two players scrummed in the corner of the hockey rink, Saunders skated in to break it up as he had multiple times in the past.

What he didn't expect was when one player got thrown. His skate came up and hit Saunders between the fingers. Saunders skated off the ice in the middle of the second period and was stitched up in the locker room before the third period.

"The guys gave me a hard time about that one. The ref gets injured, misses a period. That was an experience," Saunders said during a recent telephone interview.

Welcome to life as an American Hockey League referee.

Fighting has long been part of hockey. For Saunders, part of his job is to protect the players. Often, that means getting involved when the gloves drop.

"From a referee standpoint, we have to be there for player safety. We try to prevent fighting, but when two grown men make a decision that they want to fight, we stand there and make sure no on gets hurt," he said. "If two individuals have consented and decided that they want to go, we're going to let them. If someone says 'I'm done' or they're getting tired, we're there. That's why we stand so close to them.

"Some of these players might be representing their country in the Olympics or their team in the playoffs. The last thing we want is for them to get hurt."

An Escanaba native and onetime player for Escanaba High School, Saunders recently completed his first full season as an AHL referee. His rise to the hockey equivalent of AAA baseball came quickly.

Saunders went to a USA Hockey district camp in Salt Lake City the spring of 2010 and quickly was invited to junior camp by USA Hockey. There, he received an offer to work in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

Scott Brand, the officiating development coordinator for USA Hockey, recalled Saunders' tryout.

"Terry showed up at our camp and he was a little on the older side. We said maybe the NHL was out of the question, but he impressed us with his skating and physical fitness. We knew he had to work the junior program and later we had him working in the AHL. It seems like things are going well. He's a great young man," Brand said in a telephone interview.

After working just five games in the NAHL, Saunders received an e-mail in December, 2010 from the supervisor of the AHL, recommending him to work his first game in January, 2011.

"I don't know if they knew how many games I had worked. They needed a game filled and I knew it was my opportunity to jump on it," Saunders said. "I talked to whoever I could. I was nervous. I knew it would be a much different story compared to 20-year old kids in the NAHL."

His first game was Jan. 8, Houston Aeros at San Antonio Rampage. "It was a televised game and I told my parents, my sister and my brother and they bought the sports package so they could watch it. I had a blast, there were three fights and just to be a linesman and be in the middle of that, it was neat to be able to share it with family, my wife and my kids."

In August, 2011, Saunders received a call from the AHL offering a more permanent status in their league. The 2011-12 AHL regular season recently completed with Saunders working 20 games in the Texas region.

USA Hockey's National Officiating Camp has offered Saunders an invite to their camp this summer at the site of the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.

"The top 25 officials in the country are chosen for this week long camp," said Saunders. "I am honored to have been selected and I look forward to the opportunity. I hope to represent the USA at an international event someday."

Along with being a referee this season, Saunders is also active military and juggles both commitments while being a father and husband.

"I'm in the Army at Fort Sam and have every other weekend off. I haven't been out to Iraq or Afghanistan, it just hasn't been in the cards. I was alerted one time and they had 300 people originally assigned to deploy, but took around 150. I didn't end up getting picked. The deployment briefing was a day before my daughter was born. I was nervous, but you know that going in," Saunders said.

Saunders, his wife Ellysha and two children - 18 month old Kaelynn and three year old son Brady, make their home in San Antonio, but Saunders said the Army will soon move them to Fort Riley, Kan.

Saunders said one of the greatest aspects of being an AHL ref is reuniting with players he knew from college. A graduate of Northern Michigan University, Saunders said running into former Wildcats' Mark Olver and Nathan Oystrick was a highlight.

"There was one point where Olver was injured by a hit to the head and he missed four months. I saw him in one of his first games back with the Lake Erie Monsters. I said hello to him and that I was glad to see him back on the ice. He's really fun to watch," he said.

Olver is now with the Colorado Avalanche while Oystrick plays with the Phoenix Coyotes.

Saunders has not been contacted by the NHL, but said he has been supervised by league officials.

"I don't know if I'm on the NHL's radar. I would say it's a goal of mine to get there, but I don't know how realistic it is," he said. "I've been supervised twice by the NHL. As an official, you get used to being supervised but it's a whole different experience when you're being watched by the NHL. You know they're watching the best officials in North America. It's a different feel, the things they say. You want to be spot on, you don't want to screw up when they're there."

For now, Saunders is just enjoying the ride and living the dream.

"You never know what could happen. At this point, the league is so fast, so skilled. I'm just humbled to be out there with the players and I'm excited to be a part of the game," he said. "I have a lot to learn in this league and I have to get that experience before I think of anything else."

Dwight King scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, Jonathan Quick made 18 saves, and Los Angeles rolled to the brink of their first Stanley Cup finals in 19 years with a 2-1 victory over Phoenix on Thursday.

Los Angeles moves within a win of the Stanley Cup finals with a 2-1 victory over Phoenix in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. (NBC Sports)