Do the NHL pay for referees travel?
NHL referees are full-time employees of the National Hockey League. Since they are full time employees, they are salaried and receive benefits. They also receive travel stipends.
NHL referees, per the agreement between the NHL and NHLOA, work 73 games during the regular season. The linesmen work 75 games. There are 82 games during a full season of the NHL — meaning the officials work just under this number.
NHL Referees Make Up to $430,000 per Year
Referees earn an incremental yearly increase and are expected to officiate up to 73 games per season. However, most refs will end up officiating between 50-73 games, earning between $1,500 and $5,000 each game, depending on their seniority level.
A handful of former NHL players have gone on to have careers as NHL officials. Ten of the league's current officials were selected in the NHL Draft, with one recently-retired ref the most recent to have made it to the NHL as both a player and an official.
The season is defined by exhausting travel -- most refs typically work three games a week, meaning they're on the road 19-21 days a month -- and their ultimate goal is to skate in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Those long-term roommate relationships won't happen any more in the NHL. The collective-bargaining agreement now rules that only players on three-year, entry-level contracts have roommates. After that, every player gets his own room on the road.
This season, the NHL's per diem is $110, the daily meal allowance granted to each player accompanying his club while away from its home city. They are paid $55 on game days. They also receive $55 on days they leave from their home city after 12 p.m.
How Much is the NHL Pension? The maximum amount that players can earn with their pension is capped at $255,000. This number is accrued after a player has been in the league for 10 years and reached full-service requirements as laid out in the CBA.
According to reported salary estimates on job posting sites, the average Zamboni driver salary is around $13 per hour, or $26,500 (USD) annually. Top earners, such as NHL Zamboni drivers, earn a salary range from $29,000-$31,000, per ZipRecruiter.
Yes. It is mandatory for referees in hockey to wear padding if they are working games above the U13 age group.
Who is the highest paid referee?
Referee | Category | Basic Salary per match |
---|---|---|
Dr. Felix Brych | Elite panel | $10,000 |
Clément Turpin | Elite panel | $10,000 |
Danny Makkelie | Elite panel | $8,000 |
Antonio Mateu Lahoz | Elite panel | $8,000 |
Yes that's right NHL referees are full time employees of the National Hockey League and are members of the NHL Officials Association.

Level 4 officials have the utmost experience by passing through all the levels, taking approximately 3-4 years. Must get a minimum open book exam score of 45/50 or closed book exam score of 40/50, and complete all other requirements.
Mike Noeth Hired to NHL contract at age 20, at that time the youngest referee ever hired by the NHL.
Since the NHL doesn't keep backup officials at regular-season games, the Kraken and Penguins finished off overseen by a lone referee and two linesmen instead of the usual four-man officiating crew.
NHL Referee Salary
With the average NHL salary between $165,000 and $400,000 per year depending on experience – this works out to about $1,500 to $3,000 per game. Here is a screenshot of a job posting looking for an NHL referee which includes the pay rate.
National Hockey League officials don't earn a salary in the postseason, but they do get a nice bonus for taking part in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Referees earn $27,000 per round worked, with linesmen earning $17,250 per round. That bonus is a flat rate regardless of how many games they actually handle.
30.1 Appointment of Officials by Commissioner:
The Commissioner shall appoint the Referees, the Linesmen, Video Goal Judge and all Off-ice Officials for each game.
Players in the N.B.A. and Major League Baseball have long been entitled to having their own room, though the N.F.L. does pair up some teammates based on hotel availability. But in the N.H.L., where the average salary is just over $2.95 million, players on entry-level contracts still have to share a room during trips.
Some players will take a shower during the intermission to feel revitalized for the upcoming period. Other players choose to meditate, closing their eyes, staying silent and visualizing their success for the remainder of the game.
Do NHL hockey teams have their own planes?
All 30 National Hockey League teams travel by charter aircraft or, in the case of teams like Detroit and Dallas, own their own planes.
Teams withhold the specified amount of a player's cumulative salary and bonuses in each pay period (players are paid on a bi-weekly basis, which equates to 12 paychecks a season), that is calculated by multiplying a player's earnings by the applicable escrow percentage for that period.
NHL players do not pay for their own equipment. Typically, manufacturers will pay NHL players and provide them with free gear in exchange for promotion.
NHL players do not pay for sticks. Their current team pays for the sticks. Even if certain players are sponsored by a brand, the team still has to buy the sticks from the brand. Some teams pay $300,000 a season to provide sticks for their players.
NHL Players do not get paid per game, they earn money daily throughout the regular season and are paid out semimonthly.
Players earn one quarter of a year's benefits for every 20 credited games, and they are vested in their benefits as soon as they earn them. A player who has earned 10 full years of benefits will have earned the maximum benefit payable by law.
A player who has earned 10 full years of benefits will have earned the maximum benefit payable by law. 4 The maximum benefit is $210,000 for 2016. Benefits are prorated for players who earned less than 10 full years' worth of benefits.
Before Bettman was introduced as the comissioner, the highest paid player during the 1990-91 season was Wayne Gretzky, at $3 million a year.
Yes. This is a fun, part-time job, and Kings Ice Crew members are paid a rate of $20 hourly for all games, events, and appearances worked plus built-in minimums for appearances and office/administrative meetings.
RINK SURROUNDS
The kickplate at the bottom of the boards is light yellow. The boards are constructed so that the surface facing the ice is smooth and free of any obstruction or any object that could cause injury to players.
Why do refs wear white laces?
These have several uses: to prevent the pants from getting caught up at the back your skates, to hide the laces, to keep the shin guards in place and to have a uniform leg when the pants are lifted while skating. Referees wear all-white laces on the skates. Again, this allows for consistency and a neat appearance.
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Ray Scapinello | |
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Awards | Hockey Hall of Fame (2008) |
Per the National Hockey League Official's Association website: They are protected by pads that cover the shins, calf muscles, knees, hips, thighs, hamstrings, elbows, lower back, and kidneys.
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How much do NFL referees make?
Sport | Average Salary |
---|---|
NHL Official | $212,500 |
MLB Official | $235,000 |
NBA Official | $375,000 |
How much does an average NFL cheerleader make per game? Surprisingly, NFL cheerleaders do not earn as much as you might think. On average, the cheerleaders earn about $150 per game. This comes out to about $22,500 per year.
According to various sites, including USA Today, the average NFL referee salary was set at $205,000 per year starting in 2019. TWO-HUNDRED-AND-FIVE-THOUSAND-DOLLARS! That average salary is more than some doctors.
# | Name | Age |
---|---|---|
88 | Baker, Tyson | 25 |
59 | Barton, Steve | 48 |
87 | Berg, Devin | 31 |
96 | Brisebois, David | 44 |
A well-maintained all-black skate has been traditionally symbolic of the “professional look” that is considered an essential part of an official's appearance. An all-black style aside, officials are highly encouraged to use clean, white laces at all times and avoid wearing goalie skates.
For the each player winning the Stanley Cup they will receive about $200,000 of that amount. For many players that would be a pay cut from the normal amount they make per game during the regular season. But, in the end, no player is thinking about the money they win from the Stanley Cup.
NHL officials are already stationed around the country, with all living near an arena and large transportation hubs. That local coverage will certainly assist if referees and linesmen need to make last-minute changes. The league is also reportedly considering calling up local emergency backup officials.
Do teams get to keep the Stanley Cup?
NHL champions only get to keep the Stanley Cup—arguably the most iconic trophy in all of sports— for one year. As a perk, each individual player on the team has the privilege of spending one day with the Cup, a symbol of all that player's hard work and dedication to his sport.
Referees and linesmen have to be masterful ice skaters, as the job requires speed to keep up with the flow of the game and maneuverability to avoid getting in the way. Not getting in the way—a major component that is often overlooked.
Why do hockey refs have orange bands? Hockey refs have orange bands because it identifies them as a referee. The officials on the ice that do not have orange bands are linesmen. There are 2 linesmen and 2 referees on the ice at one time officiating the game.
They communicate with players, coaches, and off-ice officials, both verbally and via hand signals. Starting in 1955 with the introduction of the black-and-white jersey, NHL on-ice officials wore numbers on their back for identification.
Referees wear numbers to differentiate themselves from other referees. While this may not make sense at a younger level (most officials will have a letter on their back rather than a number), it's essential at the NFL and college levels. Just like players need to be identified on film, so do officials.
A handful of former NHL players have gone on to have careers as NHL officials. Ten of the league's current officials were selected in the NHL Draft, with one recently-retired ref the most recent to have made it to the NHL as both a player and an official.
Replacement Referees
Should a Referee accidentally leave the ice or receive an injury which incapacitates him from discharging his duties while play is in progress, the game shall be automatically stopped. If the Referee is unable to continue, the game shall continue using the one Referee, two Linesmen system.
Two Black on-ice officials worked a game together for the first time in NHL history Thursday. Referee Jordan Samuels-Thomas and linesman Shandor Alphonso officiated the Chicago Blackhawks' 5-4 shootout win against the San Jose Sharks at United Center in Chicago.
$26k-$62k NHL Off Ice Officials Jobs (NOW HIRING) - ZipRecruiter.
Referee | Category | Basic Salary per match |
---|---|---|
Dr. Felix Brych | Elite panel | $10,000 |
Clément Turpin | Elite panel | $10,000 |
Danny Makkelie | Elite panel | $8,000 |
Antonio Mateu Lahoz | Elite panel | $8,000 |
How much is an NHL pension?
How Much is the NHL Pension? The maximum amount that players can earn with their pension is capped at $255,000. This number is accrued after a player has been in the league for 10 years and reached full-service requirements as laid out in the CBA.
About The Plan
Players earn one quarter of a year's benefits for every 20 credited games, and they are vested in their benefits as soon as they earn them. A player who has earned 10 full years of benefits will have earned the maximum benefit payable by law.
According to reported salary estimates on job posting sites, the average Zamboni driver salary is around $13 per hour, or $26,500 (USD) annually. Top earners, such as NHL Zamboni drivers, earn a salary range from $29,000-$31,000, per ZipRecruiter.
Yes that's right NHL referees are full time employees of the National Hockey League and are members of the NHL Officials Association.
For the each player winning the Stanley Cup they will receive about $200,000 of that amount. For many players that would be a pay cut from the normal amount they make per game during the regular season. But, in the end, no player is thinking about the money they win from the Stanley Cup.
...
How much do NFL referees make?
Sport | Average Salary |
---|---|
NHL Official | $212,500 |
MLB Official | $235,000 |
NBA Official | $375,000 |
How much does an average NFL cheerleader make per game? Surprisingly, NFL cheerleaders do not earn as much as you might think. On average, the cheerleaders earn about $150 per game. This comes out to about $22,500 per year.
According to various sites, including USA Today, the average NFL referee salary was set at $205,000 per year starting in 2019. TWO-HUNDRED-AND-FIVE-THOUSAND-DOLLARS! That average salary is more than some doctors.
NHL players do not pay for their own equipment. Typically, manufacturers will pay NHL players and provide them with free gear in exchange for promotion.
NHL Players do not get paid per game, they earn money daily throughout the regular season and are paid out semimonthly.
What is a full NHL pension?
A player who has earned 10 full years of benefits will have earned the maximum benefit payable by law. 4 The maximum benefit is $210,000 for 2016. Benefits are prorated for players who earned less than 10 full years' worth of benefits.
The collective bargaining agreement allows the NHL to allocate $20,000,000 to the “player fund” that is then distributed to the teams throughout the playoff series, depending on how far each team gets. The players will then be granted this money from the team as a bonus during the off-season.
Some of the money paid to injured players is covered by insurance. Cusimano said insurance companies start covering 80 per cent of salary for an injured player after he's been forced off the ice for 30 games.
Some players even turn to activities like painting, crafting, or writing, like now-author Ken Dryden. The ex-Canadiens goaltender has published six books and even maintained a political career after his retirement in 1979! Hockey is more than just a game, it's a lifestyle.