Former ECHL player, referee Riley Brace makes NHL debut

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.