CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada is pleased to announce that Chris Savage and Chris DeHaan have been selected to officiate at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Grand Forks, ND Dec.25-Jan.4, which will be the first time either have officiated the World Junior “A” pool Championship.  Hockey Canada also announced on Monday the list of officials for the 2004 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Lethbridge, AB (Dec. 29-Jan.4).

CANADIAN OFFICIALS AT THE 2005 IIHF WORLD JUNIORS:

Savage, a 33 year old from Saskatoon, SK, has been officiating for over 18 years and is level 6 certified. This will be his 6th season in the WHL. Chris was the referee for the gold medal game of the 2004 IIHF Men’s World Championship “B” pool in Norway, the 2004 Memorial Cup final, and the 2003 and 2004 WHL Championships. Chris and his wife Lisa have two boys (Carsten and Dawson) and have recently moved to Medicine Hat, AB.

DeHaan, a 30 year old from Abbotsford, BC, has been officiating for over 13 years and is level 4 certified. This will be his 11th season in the WHL. Chris has officiated two Memorial Cup finals (2001 and 2004), and his international experience includes the 2000 IIHF World Under-20 “C” pool Championship in Nagano, Japan, and the 2004 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Minsk, Belarus. Chris and his wife have two daughters and currently reside in Abbotsford.  

WORLD UNDER-17 OFFICIATING ASSIGNMENTS:

Hockey Canada also released it’s list of 17 officials from across Canada that will be officiating the 2005 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge being held in Lethbridge, AB from Dec.29-Jan.4.

The referees for the U-17 event will be Andrew Guest (BCAHA), Ghislain Hebert (HNB), Michael Marley (OHF), Pascal St. Jacques (HQ), Reagan Vetter (SHA) and Ross Bain (OHF).

The officials selected to be linesmen are Brandon Liefke (BCAHA), Chris Carlson (HA), Chris Oatway (PEIHA), George Gray (ODHA), J.P. Sylvain (HQ), Jeff Jobson (HA), Kiel Murchison (BCAHA), Mitchell Kirkup (HM), Michael McCreary (OHF), Michael Michalski (OHF), and Tom Clarkson (HNB).

The officials selected for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge are participants in the OPOE (Officials Program of Excellence). This program is designed to assist in the identification of talented officials in Canada and to help develop them.

Maurice Roy, Hockey Canada Referee-in-Chief, is pleased with the up and coming officials Canada continues to develop, “We are extremely proud of the group of officials we are sending to this year’s World Under-17 tournament. They are a great example of the quality of officials we have from coast to coast in this country.”