Hockey Canada Referees and Linesmen for 2019 World Junior A Challenge
The 2019 World Junior A Challenge is underway this week in Dawson Creek, BC.
Hockey Canada has selected the following referees and linesmen to officiate at this years' tournament:
Referees:
- Josh Schein - Ontario Hockey Federation
- Karlin Krieger - Hockey Manitoba
- Troy Murray - Saskatchewan Hockey Association
- Colin Stefanyk - Hockey Alberta
- Ward Pateman - BC Hockey
Linesmen:
- Nick Albinati - BC Hockey
- Liam Reid - BC Hockey
- Cody Wanner - BC Hockey
- Przemek Iwaniec - Hockey Alberta
- David Gilfoy - Hockey Alberta
Keep reading for full profiles on each official!
Josh Schein (pictured above) is refereeing his first Hockey Canada assignment at this year's World Junior A Challenge.
Currently in his 4th season as a referee in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Josh also referees games in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and Ontario University Association (OUA).
Josh has refereed the league finals in the OJHL, as well as the 2017 Dudley Hewitt Cup in Trenton, Ontario.
He was also the recipient of the 2016 Ivan Locke Award, awarded to the Top Prospect Referee in the OHA.
Karlin Krieger (pictured above) is no stranger to Dawson Creek, after refereeing at the 2015 World Under 17 Challenge in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.
Karlin is one of the top referees in Manitoba, currently working as a referee in the Western Hockey League (WHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), and USports.
This is the 2nd trip to the World Junior A Challenge for Troy Murray (pictured above), after working the 2014 tournament in Kindersley, Saskatchewan as a linesman.
Troy also previously worked two World Under 17 Challenges; as a linesman in 2014 in Sarnia, Ontario, and as a referee in 2016 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
After a playing career that included time with the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), Troy now referees games in the WHL and SJHL.
He has also previously spent time as a referee in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Colin Stefanyk (pictured above) is working his second straight World Junior A Challenge, after refereeing at last year's tournament in Bonnyville, Alberta.
Colin also had the honour of refereeing at the 2019 Allan Cup, Canada's National Senior Hockey Championship, in Lacombe, Alberta.
Colin also received the Neil Garvin Award as the North Central Zone Referees Committee's Top Performing Senior Program Official for the 2018-2019 season.
Ward Pateman (pictured above) is also refereeing at his second straight World Junior A Challenge, after joining Stefanyk for last year's tournament.
Pateman also refereed at the 2018 RBC Cup, Canada's National Junior A Championship, in Chilliwack, BC.
Ward was also on the ice at the 2010 Allan Cup in Fort St. John, BC.
Ward is currently in his 4th season as a referee in the WHL, and also works games in the BCHL.
Like Murray, Pateman also has experience refereeing games in the AHL.
Nick Albinati (pictured above) is also familiar with Dawson Creek, after working as a linesman at the 2017 World Under 17 Challenge in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, BC.
Albinati also joined Pateman on the ice as a linesman at the 2018 RBC Cup in Chilliwack, BC.
Previously, Albinati served as a linesman at the 2017 Telus Cup in his hometown of Prince George, BC.
He currently works games as a linesman in the WHL and BCHL.
Liam Reid (pictured above) is officiating at his first Hockey Canada National assignment at this year's World Junior A Challenge.
He began working junior hockey games in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) at the age of 16.
In 2014, Reid moved up and began patrolling the lines in the BCHL.
Reid, originally from Comox, BC, is currently in his 4th season as a linesman in the WHL.
Cody Wanner (pictured above) is making his first appearance at the World Junior A Challenge this year.
The native of Campbell River, BC, started working Junior B games in the VIJHL when he was only 15 years old.
Now a veteran of over 10 seasons on the lines in the BCHL, Wanner was selected to work last year's BCHL Fred Page Cup Championship.
Wanner has worked games a linesman in the WHL since the 2014-2015 season.
Przemek Iwaniec (photo unavailable) is another official making a back-to-back appearance at the World Junior A Challenge, after working last year's tournament in Bonnyville, Alberta.
Przemek also had the honour of working the lines during the 2019 Allan Cup in Lacombe, Alberta.
Przemek is a native of Wroclaw, Poland, currently living in Calgary, Alberta.
Przemek currently officiates games in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), USports, and WHL as a linesman.
David Gilfoy (pictured above) is working at his first World Junior A Challenge during this year's tournament.
Gilfoy is currently in his 2nd season as a linesman in the WHL, and also works games in the AJHL and USports.
WJAC Missing Referee Wall Ball Incident...
It seems that as accurate and consistent as this year's WJAC officials are on the ice, they lack the same accuracy on the wall ball court!
They were in quite the predicament just a few days into the tournament, after putting most of their wall balls on the roof.
With plenty of tournament left and time to kill, we were able to expedite a shipment of The Ref's Room Wall Balls and keep them on the court for the rest of the tournament!