CHL refs get World Championship assignments

When the IIHF announced its list of referees and linesmen who would work this year's World Championships, 21 on-ice officials who worked CHL games this season were chosen to work the elite championship in the Czech Republic, but many others got assignments in lower divisions and age categories.

by Derek O'Brien

Being chosen to play in the IIHF World Championships at the end of the season is an acknowledgement of a job well done during the year, and one that was earned with a lot of hard work. Many players who competed in this season's Champions Hockey League are currently trying to earn positions in these prestigious tournaments.

The same holds true for the men who wear the stripes. When the IIHF announced its list of referees and linesmen who would work this year's World Championships, 21 on-ice officials who worked games in Europe's highest club hockey competiton this past season will also take the ice in the world's highest international hockey tournament this year – the World Championship in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Those 21 include all four men who presided over the CHL Final on 3 February in Lulea – referees Daniel Piechaczek and Aleksi Rantala and linesmen Sakari Suominen and Andre Schrader – affirmation that they are, indeed, among the best at their craft.

But just as there are players from CHL clubs who will represent countries in lower World Championship divisions, there are also CHL referees and linesmen who will officiate these tournaments as well. For players and officials alike, they hope that a strong performance this spring might contribute to skating at a higher level next year.

Some of those tournaments – the Division I B Championship in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and the Division II events in Iceland and South Africa, respectively, got underway on Monday. The Division I A tournament in Krakow, Poland, starts next Monday, while the elite group, of course, will be played over the first two weeks in May.

2015 IIHF World Championship

1–17 May, Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic

Referees: Daniel Piechaczek (GER), Aleksi Rantala (FIN), Roman Gofman (RUS), Vladimir Sindler (CZE),& Daniel Stricker (SUI), Tobias Bjork (SWE), Mikael Nord (SWE), Jozef Kubus (SVK),Marcus Vinnerborg (SWE), Tobias Wehrli (SUI), Pavel Hodek (CZE). Linesmen: Sakari Suominen (FIN), Andre Schrader (GER), Henrik Pihlblad (SWE), Jimmy Dahmen (SWE), Masi Puolakka (FIN), Miroslav Lhotsky (CZE), Nicolas Fluri (SUI), Rudolf Tosenovjan (CZE), Jon Kilian (NOR), Vit Lederer (CZE).

2015 IIHF World Championship, Division I Group A

19–25 April, Krakow, Poland

Referees: Marcus Linde (SWE), Rene Hradil (CZE), Evgeny Romasko (RUS), Gordon Schukies (GER), Marc Wiegand (SUI), Daniel Konc (SVK). Linesmen: Andrew Dalton (GBR), Tibor Rovensky (SVK), Alexander Waldejer (NOR).

2015 IIHF World Championship, Division I Group B

13–19 April, Eindhoven, Netherlands

Referees: Shane Warschaw (AUT), Anssi Salonen (FIN), Jacob Grumsen (DEN). Linesmen: Pasi Nieminen (FIN), Marek Hlavaty (CZE).

2015 IIHF World Championship, Division II Group A

13–19 April, Reykjavik, Iceland

Referee: Roy Hansen (NOR). Linesmen: Michael Johnstone (AUT), Havar Dahl (NOR), Thomas Caillot (FRA).

2015 IIHF World Championship, Division II Group B

13–19 Cape Town, South Africa

Referee: Jeffrey Barcelo (FRA).

Additionally, the IIHF U18 World Championships take place in April, with this year's prize event taking place in Zug and Lucerne, Switzerland from 16 to 26 April. The Division I events in Hungary and Slovenia are currently underway. Several CHL officials are at these championships as well.

2015 IIHF U18 World Championship

16–26 April, Zug and Lucerne, Switzerland

Referees: Vladimir Pesina (CZE), Ladislav Smetana (AUT), Andreas Koch (SUI), Petri Lindqvist (FIN), Robert Mullner (SVK), Marian Rohatsch (GER), Per Gustav Solem (NOR). Linesmen: Markku Buese (GER), Michael Tscherrig (SUI), Franco Espinoza (SUI), Jiri Gebauer (CZE), Hannu Sormunen (FIN), Martin Korba (SVK).