Working ECHL helped Fournier reach NHL

Last October, Julien Fournier moved from Canada to the United States to begin his first full season as a professional hockey linesman in the ECHL. This October, he reached the pinnacle of the sport as he made his National Hockey League debut as an on-ice official.

While his ascent happened fast, Fournier said the experiences he gained through his one year in the ECHL were paramount to him reaching the NHL.

“It was a quick journey, but after my year in the ECHL, I learned so much that I felt ready to graduate,” he said. “I had a fun time and feel like it was one of the best years of my life. I was surrounded by people who were awesome to deal with and it was a great all-around experience.”

It wasn’t just his experience on the ice in the ECHL that made him a better official. Having solid leadership in place at the supervisory and managerial level also went a long way to helping him advance through the ranks so quickly.

“I have to throw flowers to (Manager of Officiating) Stephen (Thomson) and (Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations) Joe (Ernst), they are really amazing,” Fournier said. “Stephen is an amazing person and doesn’t feel like a boss, but does at the same time. He just finished up on the ice the year prior so knew what we all go though on a nightly basis. Every time we had a situation or something where we had to call him, we knew he would support us. Because they are so good to us, it was easy for us and we grew up as officials because you learn from that.

“At the same time, (Officiating Development Coach) Jason Rollins helped me go from being a junior hockey official at the beginning of the year to being a pro hockey official by the end of the year. He was so talented on the ice that he gave me all of the knowledge that he had that I grew up so much by being surrounded by him,” he continued.

Fournier’s season in the ECHL also was memorable for him in that he was selected as one of five linesmen to work the Kelly Cup Finals. Working high-pressure games, in front of capacity crowds in all six games in Newfoundland and Toledo, was an enjoyable experience.

“Playoff hockey is full of emotion and making that far in the playoffs, I was really surprised,” he said. “At the beginning of the year I didn’t have high expectations and to make it that far was really fun. I learned a lot during that playoff run. It was a great experience.”

A little over four months after the conclusion of the Kelly Cup Finals, Fournier found himself in Ottawa on Thanksgiving Day in Canada for his NHL debut as the Senators hosted the Minnesota Wild.

“To step on the ice in Ottawa and just look around was a great moment,” he said. “I remember a couple years ago when I first started officiating, I had the chance to step on the ice at the Canadian Tire Centre before a game with the NHL officials as part of a youth program and we were able to meet the referee before the game and go on the ice and stand there for the anthem and it was awesome. I remember thinking (before my first game) that seems like yesterday and now here I am wearing the NHL jersey.”

For Fournier, getting to share that day with those who helped him grow and develop as an official is what he will always remember.

“It was an emotional day, and I had a lot of people there,” he said. “All of the people who made a difference in my career were there. It was stressful and nervous to be on the ice in the NHL, but also because I wanted to have the best performance I could give in front of those people too. Pretty much all of them were officials, managers or supervisors so I had to make a good impression. But it was cool, and to have people shake my hand after the game and say ‘hey, we’re proud of you,’ it was amazing because all of those people helped to make a difference in my career.”

As for those officials who are in the same position he was in last season, working in the ECHL and chasing the dream of reaching the NHL, he offers some simple advice.

“We have the opportunity to work so many games and to see so many different scenarios that I would say work hard, give your best and trust the process. Enjoy it too,” he said. “You need to have fun at what you do. If you don’t really enjoy it you’ll never get comfortable at what you’re doing. When you reach that level of being really comfortable and enjoying the game, it’s such a good feeling and it’s so fun if you enjoy what you do.”