Celebrating Excellence in Officiating
The Ontario Hockey League announced that eleven of its officials have been chosen by Hockey Canada to serve as referees and linespersons at two of the most anticipated summer competitions in 2026.
The World Junior Summer Showcase will take place in Windsor, Ontario, while the Hlinka Gretzky Cup is scheduled for Edmonton, Alberta. Six OHL officials will be part of the showcase, including referees Chad Ingalls, Luke Pye and Tyson Stewart, and linespersons Adam Burnett, Spencer Knox and Dan Kovachik.
An additional five OHL officials will join the officiating crew for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, comprising referees David Elford and Damian Figueira, and linespersons Gage Argue, Antoine Bujold‑Rioux and Evan Conrod.
OHL Director of Officiating Conrad Haché praised the selected individuals for their consistency, professionalism and commitment to improving their craft, noting that their inclusion reflects the league’s robust development pipeline.
Scott Oakman, the league’s Officiating Manager, will serve as an officiating coach for the World Junior Summer Showcase, where he will mentor and evaluate the participants throughout the event.
The showcase will feature teams from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States as a prelude to the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship, while the Hlinka Gretzky Cup is recognized as a premier under‑18 tournament that often precedes the NHL Draft.