NHL Second Round Officials Announced

[tj]

www.nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=532

Referees - Steve Kozari (40) gets a second round assignment for the first time. That was foreshadowed by his getting a Game 7 assignment the other night (Chi-Van). He replaces McCreary (retired). Otherwise, no changes from last year.

Linesmen - The one surprise is Steve Miller (89), who made the Finals the last two years, is out. Brad Kovachik (71) returns for a second round assignment. Otherwise, no real surprises here either.

Good luck to all.

[mike]

Interesting, Wes McCauley was an alternate for one of the Game 7's yet did not get a spot in Round 2

[tj]

McCauley's an alternate tonight in Washington (Brad Meier in Vancouver last night).

Also, Linesman Steve Barton (59) makes the second round for the first time.

[Deleted]

Interesting that once again Tim Nowak (77) and Mark Wheler (56) did not make the second round. They both made the finals early on in their careers and now in the prime of their careers cannot make the second round.

[impz45]

Surprised Dennis LaRue gets only 1 round after going to Finals not too long ago....Also surprised with Nowak and Wheler out after 1.

Is this the year Pollack gets his first Finals?

[Damon]

Interesting development. See below.

sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=110421/missingpuck

[Deleted]

Interesting story. I believe the NHL knows a lot more about what happened to the puck than they are letting on. Is it just coincidence that Steve Miller didn't make the second round this year?

[tj]

Wheler actually was left off the playoff roster last year.

And now ESPN has posted the following story re Miller and the missing puck.

sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/news/story?id=6452071

[impz45]

Hope all works out for Steve Miller as he is a good linesman.

[Damon]

He is back to work next week.