Five former ECHL officials selected to work 2026 Stanley Cup Final

Five former ECHL on-ice officials have been selected to work the 2026 Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights. It is the fifth consecutive year in which at least four of the officials selected to work had previously spent time in the ECHL.

The officials who previously worked in the ECHL are referees Jean Hebert, Wes McCauley and Chris Rooney along with linesmen Trent Knorr and Matt MacPherson.

Hebert worked as an ECHL referee from 2008-10, and earned an assignment to the 2010 Kelly Cup Finals. McCauley, who played in the ECHL for Knoxville in the 1993-94 season before later refereeing in the league, worked the 2000 and 2001 Kelly Cup Finals. Rooney worked games in the ECHL from 1996-98, including the 1998 Kelly Cup Finals.

Knorr began his officiating career in the ECHL in 2005 at the age of 17, and went on to work games as both a linesman and referee through 2011 while MacPherson worked in the ECHL from 2009-11 season, earning assignments to the 2010 and 2011 Kelly Cup Finals.