We'll start with Furman South, Corey Syvret, and Michael Markovic who were all given the news by the NHL that their refereeing times in the AHL are over as they've been hired by the NHL to enforce rules there this season. The 33 year-old South is a former NCAA player who played with Robert Morris University. Syvret, who is 32, is a former Florida Panthers draft pick who played in the OHL, AHL, and ECHL for a long time before turning to officiating where he's been giving back to the officiating community as well. Markovic, at 32, played five seasons with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues before spending one season in the ECHL with Alaska.
It's pretty clear that these new zebras have a ton of experience in terms of their playing days, but they've been honing their officiating skills at various levels including the AHL last season, and that effort has paid off with NHL jobs this season!
There were five linesmen who got the news that they were being promoted to the NHL as well, and all of Kyle Flemington, Julien Fournier, Jesse Marquis, Tyson Baker, and Travis Toomey can celebrate their efforts as they'll call lines at the highest level of professional hockey this season and beyond.
Flemington is 29, and he skated for three OHL teams before spending a couple of years in the EIHL with Edinburgh before playing one season in the ECHL with two teams. Fournier, 26, has worked his way up through the officiating ranks, starting out in Quebec with minor hockey, moving to the QMJHL, graduating to the ECHL, and appearing in the AHL. Marquis, 27, has rocketed through the officiating ranks thanks to his commitment to the craft, calling lines in the QMJHL for two seasons before spending two more seasons in the AHL and ECHL where he caught the NHL's attention. Tyson Baker, 26, played three games with the Peterborough Petes as the highest level he can boast, but his passion for officiating pulled him to the stripes full-time at 21 where he worked in the OHL for a few seasons before getting an AHL linesman job. Toomey, at 31, was well-known in the WHL and with the University of Alberta Golden Bears for his physical play, but he jumped knee-deep into officiating once he graduated by working AJHL and WHL games before being hired by the AHL in 2019.
The experience these five men bring with them is quite varied, but it's pretty clear that they've worked very hard on their individual skills - skating and positioning on the ice - while officiating with a high competence for the game in the various leagues where they appeared. Make no mistake: every single one of these linesman has dedicated himself to officiating in a big way, and that effort shouldn't be forgotten.
The NHL also hired two more linesmen who skipped the whole NHL-AHL mixed contract as Jonathan Deschamps and Ben O'Quinn will also suit up full-time in the NHL this season. Deschamps, 25, just finished his playing career in U SPORTS with the University of Québec-Trois-Rivières in 2018-19 following five seasons in the QMJHL, but he was already officiating while going to university which led to an AHL opportunity before being named as an official at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. O'Quinn, 30, played three seasons with the Sarnia Sting before he jumped to the ACAC where he spent two seasons with SAIT that led to four seasons in the SPHL, but he worked his way through the OHL, ECHL, and AHL while also being a linesman at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship before the NHL came calling.
It should also be noted that referee Dan Kelly, who worked both NHL and AHL games last season, has transitioned over to calling lines as well. Kelly will work lines at both the NHL and AHL levels all season long, it appears, so there's one more experienced official on the NHL's roster of stripes.
With these hirings and promotions, there are positions in the AHL to fill as well. Among the referees who will step in at the AHL level will be Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Justin Kea, Cody Beach, and Carter Sandlak who will all have chances to call NHL games this season as well. At the linesman position, Justin Johnson, Mitchell Hunt, CJ Murray, Caleb Apperson, and Kilian McNamara will all work AHL lines with chances to join NHL games as the season progresses. Expect these men to be the next hires in the coming years based on performances at both levels.
You know you're close to hockey season when the new zebras are announced, and these officials bring a ton of experience with them that should help them be successful on the ice when calling games. Welcome to the show, gentlemen, and I look forward to not noticing you or the job you did in every game you're assigned!
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
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