Scouting The Refs Podcast

Episode 223 / November 23, 2024:

The NHL's Department of Player Safety finally did it... again. DOPS released a video explaining the rule around illegal checks to the head, including why a few players didn't get suspended.

Of course, not all the players were so lucky.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Ryan Reaves picked up a five-game ban for an illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, while Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud avoided a penalty - along with no fine and no suspenson - for a hard hit on Toronto's Matthew Knies. Player Safety also hit Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk with a $5000 fine - the league maximum - for clipping.

We also had a hand pass that cost the New York Rangers a goal and TWO penalties against the Calgary Flames - one for the failed challenge and another for unsportsmanlike conduct after Vincent Trocheck offered some feedback to the officials on a called hand pass later in the game

Rule changes are in the air, as the PWHL makes some tweaks to their rulebook for thre upcoming season including the No Escape Rule. The Athletic also asked National Hockey League players for their thoughts around possible rule changes; some were good, others...not so much. Also, a scary injury sends referee Mitch Dunning off the ice on a stretcher.

We'll break it all down on this week's Refs Podcast.

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Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - [email protected]

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.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 222 / November 16, 2024:

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn has his major penalty for boarding Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo reduced to a two-minute minor after review, Utah’s Michael Carcone picked up seven minutes in penalty after a one-sided scrap against Jack Drury of the Carolina Hurricanes.

It’s a three-review game at Leafs vs. Caps, with a disallowed goal from Toronto’s Steven Lorentz that wasn’t a kick, another Leafs no-goal after a goal deflected with an allegedly high stick by Matthew Knies, and a goaltender interference call against the Washington Capitals. Perhaps some puck tracking and a little math would've helped out here. Anybody got a graphing calculator handy?

Vancouver’s Nils Hoglander also has a goal wiped out for batting the puck into the net with his glove... but is that what they replays actually show? Take a look. Todd and Josh break down the plays, the reviews, and the rules. 

Also, we’ve got a dive! Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers doesn’t get a score but he does get two minutes – and very likely a warning from NHL Hockey Ops for embellishment.

Plus, what will come out of the National Hockey League GM Meetings? Are more changes coming to the NHL’s Video Review process or to Coach’s Challenges?  We’ve got some thoughts on what to do - and what not to do - to improve the review process.

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Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - [email protected]

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.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 221 / November 9, 2024: We’re seeing double this week with two reviews - and two pucks on the ice. Plus, Todd and Josh are joined by Tyler Nimmons, director and executive producer of ECHL Unfiltered.

The Avalanche had a goal taken away for offside, only to have it reinstated a moment later after a protest from the Avs’ bench delayed the faceoff long enough for the Situation Room to go back and check out a key detail that they missed under Rule 83.1.

Islanders head coach Patrick Roy had his own complaints about coach’s challenges after his club lost a challenge for offside against the Penguins when the Situation Room ruled that Pittsburgh’s Noel Acciari was off the ice for a line change prior to the puck being touched in the attacking zone.

The Lightning and Wild had two teams on the ice, two refs on the ice, two linesmen on the ice - and two pucks. How did this happen, and has it happened before?

Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck disputed a non-call - and failed challenge - for goaltender interference against the Tampa Bay after Conor Geekie’s stick ended up under Hellebuyck’s pad. The NHL called the contact legal based on Rule 69.7, but did they get it right?

NHL Player Safety has had a busy week, with a two-game suspension to the Avalanche’s Matt Stienburg and $5000 fines to Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway. Nothing for the Penguins’ Noel Acciari for his dangerous reverse hit on Juraj Slafkovsky of the Canadiens, though. 

Also this week, linesman Kilian McNamara becomes collateral damage on a hit at Kings/Preds, and we review the upcoming suspension for Tyler Jeannot for his clearly illegal headshot on Canucks forward Brock Boeser.

Finally, we’ll chat with Tyler Nimmons about ECHL Unfiltered, airing on the NHL Network and FloHockey.tv. The series goes behind the scenes with the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads, including a look at the raw reality of players, coaches, and communities that make up this dynamic league – as well as a behind-the-scenes look at their interactions with fans and officials…   

All on this week’s #RefsPodcast!

-------------------

Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - [email protected] #RefsPodcast

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.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let the coaches’ challenges begin! One week into the season, we’ve already seen challenges for goaltender interference, offside, and missed stoppages. We’ve got two minutes to Detroit Red Wings’ Christian Fisher for breaking his stick after an icing.  

Brendan Dillon of the New Jersey Devils sees his major penalty for interference on Buffalo’s J.J. Peterka reduced to a minor, a Kraken goal from Jamie Oleksiak wiped out for an offside, Vancouver Canucks’ J.T. Miller answers the bell and eventually drops the gloves against Calgary’s Anthony Mantha after a clean hit injures Flames forward Kevin Rooney.

Linesman Devin Berg takes a hard slash to the arm from Boston Bruins’ Max Jones, who picks up two for unsportsmanlike but avoids a penalty for physical abuse of officials.  Plus, a near-goal that didn’t quite beat the buzzer…   on this week’s #RefsPodcast.

-------------------

Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - [email protected] #RefsPodcast

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.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Game on! The regular season is officially here. We've got goaltender interference in Columbus, possible penalty reviews, and ECHL rulebook adjustments.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Cedric Pare's knee-on-knee hit on Montreal Canadiens' Patrik Laine, and the aftermath with Arber Xhekaj going after Pare and picking up instigator, aggressor, and fighting penalties along with a $3,385 fine. Xhekaj also made headlines - and picked up a major penalty - for a high hit on Tim Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators; did the refs and the league make the right call on that play? Plus, one more case of revenge on this week's #RefsPodcast, as both Nikita Kucherov and Conor Geekie sought vengeance against Florida Panthers prospect Josh Davies for a clean, legal hit on Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman. Kucherov earned a minor penalty, while Geekie picked up 2-5-10 and a one game suspension for leaving the bench to start an altercation.

-------------------

Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - [email protected] #RefsPodcast

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.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's #RefsPodcast: Cal Foote suspended by Slovakia, OHL adds 24 new officials, moving from lines to ref, Detroit Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin goes headhunting on Chicago Blackhawks’ A.J. Spellacy, New York Rangers’ Brennan Othmann delivers an unpenalized blindside hit on Boston Bruins’ Parker Wotherspoon who eventually picks up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for throwing his helmet.

A Philadelphia Flyers goal is disallowed against the Montreal Canadiens despite no actual interference on any goaltenders on the play. 

Plus, the OMHA and GTHL are expanding the ‘green armbands’ initiative for younger and newer hockey officials. Remember, no refs, no games! Todd and Josh also talk about referee jerseys and officials’ trading cards.

-------------------

Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - [email protected] #RefsPodcast

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.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wrapping up NHL Officials training camp, the NHL releases a rule change update video, and QMJHL officiating updates.  

Todd and Josh go through The Athletic’s recent player survey covering the NHL standings, overtime, shootout goals, and post-game ref press availability.

Plus, should the NHL’s Department of Player Safety set minimum standards for suspensions? 

-------------------

Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - [email protected] #RefsPodcast

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.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting ready for the upcoming 2024-25 National Hockey League season with a review of the rule changes, including a big one that will allow Coach's Challenges for puck-over-glass delay of game penalties, along with Ryan Getzlaf joining former teammate George Parros in the NHL's Department of Player Safety. Todd and Josh look back at the retiring officials, the promotions, and the two new hires joining the NHL officiating ranks: Alex Lepkowski and Liam Maaskant. The latest stripes both spent time playing in the OHL and USports, suiting up with the Acadia Axemen for four seasons before moving to officiating.

Who better to weigh in on the NHL's latest officials than the man who coached them? Acadia University men's hockey coach Darren Burns joins us to learn about the league's latest additions, including what they were like on and off the ice.

-------------------

Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - [email protected] #RefsPodcast

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.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recently retired NHL referee Kevin Pollock picks up a new gig as the Ontario Hockey Association’s Director of Officiating, summer camps are underway including the NHL’s second trip to Europe for a Summer Officiating Combine and the upcoming NHL Officiating Exposure Combine in Buffalo.

NHL stripes are keeping busy with their own camps and charitable ventures, like linesman Steve Barton’s charity golf tournament. The AHL hands out some more hardware with Shaun Davis picking up the Michael Condon Award while the ECHL hands out some more assignments as the league moves to have 50% of games officiated by a two-referee system for 2024-25.

Rule changes in Canada as Hockey Canada mandates full face protection for Under-18 players and western Canadian leagues adopt the WHL rulebook. Speaking of safety, Todd and Josh look back at some of the last helmetless officials, including Mick McGeough and - of course - Kerry Fraser.

-------------------

Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - [email protected] #RefsPodcast

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.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 259 days and 1,400 games, the 2023-24 NHL season is finally over! We look back at Games 6 and 7 of the Stanley Cup Final:

Game 6: The Edmonton Oilers win a critical offside challenge against the Florida Panthers. That one took guts... but should we even be reviewing plays that close? What about 'the spirit of the rule'? Where's the line? Also, Florida's Sam Bennett gets dumped right before an Oilers goal, with no call on the play. Should there have been one?

Game 7: With only three penalties in the game, each one was huge -- including two minutes to the Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk for tripping as he slid into - and took out - the Oilers' Warren Foegele. Should the refs be calling this at all? Especially in a Game 7? Why does that matter?

The NHL's new rules are coming for 2024-25, including puck over glass challenges and penalties for sitting on the boards. We'll break down the changes and their possible impacts to the game.

The ECHL makes some promotions and expands their officiating management team, with longtime NHL linesman Tim Nowak and former AHL/ECHL/IIHF referee Tim Mayer joining Riley Yerkovich. Also, USA Hockey taps ref Andrew Bruggeman as their Coordinator of Youth Officiating Development.

Wes McCauley give us a history lesson on hand signals - via the Big Whistle Bill Chadwick - as part of the NHL's American Sign Language Stanley Cup Final broadcast.

Another year of Hockey Hall of Fame Inductions without an official heading in. Kerry Fraser is long overdue. #VoteKerry

-------------------

Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - [email protected] #RefsPodcast

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.

Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs.

Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.