Scouting The Refs Podcast #RefsPodcast

By Scouting the RefsSports Hockey

Scouting The Refs Podcast #RefsPodcast episodes

June 18, 2025One Cup, No Calls
On this week's #RefsPodcast:
Looking at the calls - and non-calls - from Games 5 and 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers
What happened to all the penalties?
Is Panthers’ Brad Marchand getting the jump on faceoffs?
Are the refs ‘letting ‘em play’ or missing calls?
Florida's Reinhart scores off his skate - legally - in Game 6.
When was the last time we had no power plays in a Stanley Cup Final?
Oilers’ Evander Kane picks up a misconduct then skips the handshake line

Rulebook drama in the AHL’s Calder Cup Final between the Charlotte Checkers and the Abbotsford Canucks
Game 1 saw an overtime game-winning goal called back after the goaltender wasn’t ready for the drop. Whose fault is that? Digging into rules 76 and 83.
In Game 2, we had a goal disallowed for goaltender interference, only to have the goal count after review… but the scoring team assessed a minor penalty for goaltender interference. There’s only one way that makes sense… and, frankly, we’re not so sure it makes sense here.
...and what will the NHL refs be doing this summer?

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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.
22 min
June 14, 2025Let ‘Em Play… Right?
On this week's #RefsPodcast:
Looking back at Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers as the series shifts south.
Evander Kane finds himself in penalty trouble early… and again… and again.
Before the end of the game, both teams piled on the penalty minutes, racking up the fourth-most minutes in a Stanley Cup Final
Oilers’ Jake Walman commits the cardinal sin of squirting a water bottle, picking up a $5000 fine – and another $5000 for unsportsmanlike conduct against Matthew Tkachuk
Consistency… or lack thereof.
Conspiracies… or lack thereof.
Panthers’ Barkov gets away with a high stick on Edmonton’s Troy Stetcher just prior to a Florida goal.
Carter Verhaege avoids a penalty for boarding on a hit from behind on Evan Bouchard
Jeff Skinner holds Dmitry Kulikov’s stick for an entire shift - from puck drop until a goal is scored - with no call. Kulikov attempts to seek out revenge with an equally-unpenalized flying elbow. Sure, Skinner avoided contact and possible injury on the play, but does that mean Kulikov should get off scot-free?
Linesman Ryan Gibbons keeps the arm up for icing, even after getting tangled up with Evander Kane. Focus!
You can’t do a line change after an icing, so why can you put the goalie back into an empty net?
The NHL Awards have been handed out but we’re still missing one very important award.
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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.
21 min
June 09, 2025The Wes McCauley Special
On this week's #RefsPodcast:
The Stanley Cup Final is under way!
The Oilers lose a goaltender interference challenge after the NHL rules that Florida Panthers’ Sam Bennett was tripped into Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner
We've got Bennett vs. Skinner 2: Electric Boogaloo in Game 2, with a penalty issued for goaltender interference
More Bennett disruption as he gets away with interference after kicking Mattias Ekholm’s dropped stick out of his reach
If you haven’t had enough of Sam Bennett, perhaps Evan Bouchard has, as they end up in a slashing duel
It’s not just the guys on the ice getting into it, either. We get some action from the bench as the Oilers’ Jake Walman shoves Florida’s Seth Jones
Matthew Tkachuk and Trent Frederic pick up matching minors for roughing - did Tkachuk deserve a separate rough for removing Frederic’s helmet.
Refs living up to the stereotype of pocketing those whistles, as we see penalty-filled firsts with almost nothing called in the third period… and only a puck-over-glass in overtime.
Plus, a tech update as the NHL partners with Sony to enhance player and puck tracking...

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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.
19 min
June 03, 2025Making The Cut for the Cup
On this week's #RefsPodcast:
Rooney returns!
NHL Stanley Cup Final Officials - who moves on and who’s been cut
Congrats to the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals Officials
Stars’ Hintz needs a doctor after a slash from Oilers’ Nurse.
Oilers’ Kulak gets away with a puck-over-glass right before two quick Edmonton goals. The officials missed it, and you can’t challenge that.
Stars’ Petrovic delivers a huge hit on Oilers’ Brown, but was it clean?
Canes’ Aho goes low and take out the Panthers’ Reinhart - no penalty, no fine, no suspension
Panthers’ Luostarinen hit with a major boarding penalty for taking out Canes’ Blake
Florida video coach Myles Lee saves his club a goal against after Carolina goes offside
In the Memorial Cup between the London Knights and the Medicine Hat Tigers, we’ve got goals lost to a high stick and goaltender interference, along with the rare minor penalty for a faceoff violation.

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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.
24 min
May 24, 2025Cuts, Kicks, Broken Sticks, and Bloody Refs
On this week's #RefsPodcast:
NHL officials who made - and missed - the cut for the NHL Conference Finals, including some surprises.
Zebra down! We’ve seen standby officials called into action quite a few times in the playoffs, including after recent injuries to Kelly Sutherland and Chris Rooney.
Canes’ Shayne Gostisbehere vs. Panthers’ Brad Marchand - we’ve got a puck shot at a player with no penalty or fine, followed by a mysterious extra penalty for Florida. What happened?
It’s not only hard to defend with a broken stick, it’s illegal, as Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns found out.
Oilers’ Evander Kane with a clear high stick - at least from this angle - on the Stars’ Matt Duchene.
Carolina’s Brent Burns puts the Canes offside, wiping out their only goal in Game 2.
Was Niko Mikkola’s hit on Seth Jarvis legal? The NHL rule book says it was…
More rough stuff in the IIHF with a cross-checking ejection at Austria vs. Switzerland.
Looking back at a close call on an offside at Leafs/Panthers, where Toronto was smart not to challenge based on the often-misunderstood delayed offside rule, and a good goal off the skate - without a distinct kicking motion - from the Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho.

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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.
18 min
May 15, 2025How The Hellebuyck Did That Goal Count?
On this week's #RefsPodcast:
Was it a kick? Or a deflection? Or both? Stars/Jets gives us a controversial goal that went off Alex Petrovic’s skate, off goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s stick and in. Did the Situation Room make the right call?
Official injury updates; two linesmen are out for the playoffs
NHL Series Supervisors - who are they and what do they do?
Dallas Stars’ Mason Marchment slashes referee Graham Skilliter - and gets away with it
A crosscheck to the face results in a $7000 fine to Vegas Golden Knights’ Nic Roy, which is over the $5000 we always hear is the ‘maximum allowable under the CBA’
A high stick is legal when it’s a follow-through, but that wasn’t the case for the Winnipeg Jets’ Haydn Fleury.
Also, it’s not a penalty when you high stick your team trainer, as Tomas Hertl found out.
Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour was furious after a high-sticking penalty to Jordan Staal was really the result of friendly fire, but not eligible for review.
Toronto Maple Leafs’ Max Domi was fined for a late hit on Florida Panthers’ Sasha Barkov, but there was no call and no fine for an attempted elbow by Dmitry Kulikov on Mitch Marner.
Plus, what is a fight in the IIHF, and how did one scrum result in three fighting majors at France vs. Slovakia? The answer - and the definition - might surprise you.

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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.
29 min
May 09, 2025Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Trips
On this week's #RefsPodcast:
Creative crowd chants - more than just ‘ref you suck’
Officials set for the IIHF World Championship as well as in the OHL Championship Series and the USHL Clark Cup Final
A minor incident at Leafs/Panthers between Sam Bennett and Anthony Stolarz results in an injury but no call, no fine, no suspension
Referee Wes McCauley is called into duty as a linesman after an injury to Shandor Alphonso, working this lines for the first time in the NHL
Florida Panthers’ Evan Rodrigues gets crunched into the boards by the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Scott Laughton, with each player picking up a minor penalty on the play as Rodrigues is whistled for embellishment. After review, we’re not so sure about that one…
Edmonton’s Connor Brown takes a penalty for goaltender interference, but it looks like the contact was caused by Vegas forward Brett Howden
Vegas Golden Knights forward Nicolas Roy gets ejected in overtime - major penalty and game misconduct - for a crosscheck to the face of Edmonton Oilers’ Trent Frederic
No call in overtime on the Oilers’ Viktor Arvidsson for a dangerous trip on Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb, who crashed awkwardly into the boards and suffered an injury on the play.
The Athletic’s Rule Court gives us some interesting suggestions to weigh in on. Our take on possible tweaks to offside, playoff standings, and faceoffs – including one that would have a huge unexpected (and probably well-received) impact.

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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.
26 min
May 06, 2025Game 7 Penalties?! In This Economy?!
On this week's #RefsPodcast:
NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Round 2 officials announced!
Double-review in Vegas as the Minnesota Wild's Ryan Hartman has a goal reviewed for a distinct kicking motion... and called back after an offside challenge.
No penalty but a 2-game suspension to the Panthers' Aaron Ekblad for a hit on the Lightning's Brandon Hagel.
Major penalty to Florida's Niko Mikkola for boarding Zemgus Girgensons.
Blues' Brayden Schenn whistled for interference for a hit that injured Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele.
A pre-game Nylander mix-up nearly costs the Toronto Maple Leafs thanks to Rule 5.2.
Colorado's Jack Drury gets called for a rare third-period playoff penalty for an obvious faceoff tackle
Twice, players cover the puck in the crease at Kings/Oilers, and twice no penalty shot is awarded; twice, it should have been.
Should the playoffs be called the same way as the regular season?
Allan Walsh is not happy with playoff officiating.
The Kings' Warren Foegele gets away with a little abuse of officials on liney Libor Suchanek...

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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.
24 min
April 18, 2025Heads Up, Hands Off, Shot Down
On this week's #RefsPodcast:
Sad to hear of the passing of longtime NHL linesman Will Norris and AHL linesman Paul Simeon
Sabres’ Kulich misses the net, hits referee Peter MacDougall
Liam Maaskant makes his NHL debut on the last day of the regular season
KHL junior player suspended 7 games for elbowing a ref in the head
Two game ban for Devils’ Paul Cotter
No supplemental discipline to Yakov Trenin for his ice-level punch on Derek Forbort
Oilers’ Darnell Nurse suspended 1 game by Player Safety for cross-checking LA Kings’ Quinton Byfield
Florida Panthers’ Jesse Puljujarvi banned for 2 games for a headshot on Tampa Bay Lightning’s Mitchell Chaffee
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dmitri Voronkov returns to the ice after his penalty is lost in translation
Possibly the strangest - and potentially rule-breaking - shootout at Chicago Blackhawks vs. Montreal Canadiens.
Winnipeg Jets winger Nik Ehlers is injured in a collision with linesman James Tobias
Carolina’s Tyson Jost has a penalty called for an illegal faceoff, only to have it rescinded after the refs get some ‘feedback’ from coach Rod Brind’Amour

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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.
24 min
April 12, 2025A Little High... and Not Exactly Legal
On this week's #RefsPodcast:
IIHF Women's World Championship Officials
Frozen Four Refs and Lineys - Congrats to the Hockey East crew of Jeremy Tufts, Geoff Miller, Kevin Briganti, and Nick Briganti, as well as NCHC officials Ryan Hersey, Nathan Wieler, Tyler Liffrig, and Erik Contino who worked the semis
Swiss League issues a four-game ban to Brendan Lemieux for punching a linesman
The AHL dishes out a 10-game suspension to Bridgeport Islanders' Adam Beckman for hitting referee Mike Dietrich into the boards
Referee Alex Lepkowski makes his NHL debut at Chicago Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Los Angeles Kings' Quinton Byfield scores an amazing goal against the Seattle Kraken -- but he should've been called for a minor penalty
More stick shenanigans at Kings/Ducks after Anaheim challenged - and lost the challenge - on a high stick prior to a Laferriere goal.
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington scrapped with Corey Perry, throwing some punches with his catching glove -- but not his blocker, which makes a difference in the rulebook.
Congrats to linesman Brad Kovachik on 1900 NHL games, 13th all-time among lineys and #1 among active officials. Steve Barton and Kelly Sutherland both recently hit 1600-game milestones.

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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.
22 min

About Scouting The Refs Podcast #RefsPodcast

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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…