Former ECHL player and on-ice official Riley Brace will work his first National Hockey League game as a referee on Saturday when Ottawa hosts Montreal. Brace will work the game alongside former ECHL referee Ghislain Hebert and linesman Julien Fournier.
Brace totaled 143 points (48g-95a) in 130 career ECHL games over three seasons with San Francisco, Ontario and Wheeling. He added 34 points (8g-26a) in 33 games in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, and helped the Nailers reach the 2016 Kelly Cup Finals, where they fell to Allen in six games. The Ottawa native also suited up in 74 career games in the American Hockey League, and spent the final five seasons of his playing career (2016-21) playing in Europe.
Following his retirement as a player, Brace attended the NHL’s Officiating Exposure Combine in 2022, and worked as an ECHL referee during the 2022-23 season and was hired by the NHL prior to the start of this season.
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greensboro Gargoyles
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers