Across the country, excitement is building for when Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team will take to the ice next month. In addition to those 23 players with the Maple Leaf on their chest, three Canadians have a chance to don black and white stripes in Beijing.

Mike Campbell, Olivier Gouin and Dustin McCrank have been chosen to represent Canada at the Olympics and officiate the men’s hockey tournament. Before the puck drops next month, get to know the trio.

Mike Campbell (Referee)
Hometown: Surrey, B.C.

Campbell began officiating when he was 12 years old with the Cloverdale Minor Hockey Association and now has 20 years of experience. He currently officiates in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and the American Hockey League (AHL). During his career, Campbell has had the opportunity to work at the IIHF World Junior Championship and IIHF U18 World Championship.

“I’ve been able to share the ice three times now in a medal game with another Canadian official, which is pretty cool,” he says. “A lot of those officials were friends before going to the tournament.”

Although he has experience at several international events, this will be Campbell’s first Olympics.

“Early on, you never really assume that you’re ever going to get to the Olympics,” he says. “It’s a proud moment. [It] kind of validates the years of dedication through junior hockey and the last few years of pro hockey, just staying with the process and knowing that this could potentially come to fruition.”

Outside of hockey, Campbell enjoys golfing, wake surfing and spending time with his young family. Although the 2022 Games may look different compared to past Olympics due to COVID-19 restrictions, Campbell says he’s looking forward to being with athletes from around the world, experiencing the high level of competition, and the camaraderie with his fellow officials.

“[I have] worked tournaments with two-thirds of the officials going that are from outside of Canada,” he says. “Being able to go into an environment like that gives you comfort to know that you know the other officials that are going to be there and that you can have friends that are going.”

Olivier Gouin (Referee)
Hometown: Laval, Que.

An official with 15 years of experience, Gouin currently works in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and has previously officiated AHL games. He became an official while he was a player and continued officiating after his playing career ended to stay involved in the game he loves.

“For me, it’s my favourite sport and I have the best tickets in the house,” he says. “I’m on the ice with great players, big events. We still get the adrenaline that I did when I was a player. There’s a lot of things I like about it.”

The 2022 Games will mark the second Olympics that Gouin will work, having been selected to go to PyeongChang in 2018. Gouin also participated in the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he had a unique opportunity to officiate the gold medal game between Canada and the United States.

“That was special,” he says. “It was a lot of pressure because we were four Canadian officials working a Canadian game. Also, because of COVID, there was nobody in the stands, but we knew there was a lot of people watching on TV.

“That was probably the biggest game I’ve worked in my life, to be honest.”

When he’s not at the rink, Gouin enjoys golf, video games and working out. With his second Olympic experience around the corner, he says it’s an honour to represent Hockey Canada at the event.

“It’s an accomplishment,” he says. “Just to referee hockey games where medals are involved and players playing for their country. Emotions are going to be so high… It’s going to be difficult, but I’m looking forward to [being a] referee in a big stage like that.”

Dustin McCrank (Linesperson)
Hometown: Guelph, Ont.

McCrank has 24 years of experience and currently officiates in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and AHL. Growing up living close to a rink, he began officiating to get more time on the ice to work on his skating and earn some money. His passion and excitement for the game has stayed with McCrank throughout his officiating journey.

“My favourite thing is probably walking into the dressing room or walking into the rink, [and] just putting my skates on,” he says. “I think that’s my favourite thing, knowing that I get to be a part of a hockey game.”

Outside of hockey, McCrank works full-time as a firefighter in Waterloo, Ont. The positions may sound very different, but McCrank has found many similarities between the two jobs.

“[In] both positions, you have to make split decisions under pressure. You’re dealing with people, using your communication skills. I would say the biggest thing is treating your body right, getting the right amount of sleep, putting the right things in your body,” he says. “Those careers really work well off each other.”

This will be the first Olympics for McCrank, and he is looking forward to seeing his fellow officials in Beijing and sharing in that camaraderie.

“It’s kind of the last feather in my cap. It’s something I kind of realized might have been able to happen about five years ago and I’ve been striving pretty hard and competing pretty hard to try and get there,” he says. “It feels amazing.”