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\n The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics will once again feature blended on-ice officials\u2019 crews as was the case when NHL players previously participated in the Games. Referees and linesmen from the IIHF and NHL will work side by side to provide the best possible experience for the players under international rules. It is a program that started in 1998 and was successfully used through the 2014 Olympics, and now that NHLers are returning, so, too, are officials.
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\n\u201cWe are delighted that the top NHL players will be part of the upcoming Olympic Games,\u201d said Danny Kurmann, the IIHF\u2019s Officiating Manager, who also refereed in three Olympics during the first blended era. \u201cIn partnership with NHL officials, we are committed to ensuring the best possible conditions for these hockey players. We expect an invaluable exchange of experience and knowledge, both on and off the ice, not just for this tournament but for future IIHF events as well.\u201d
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\nAny time, however, that two different crews come together, there is a period of adjustment, and that\u2019s why the \u201cblending\u201d will start next month, half a year away from the first game of the Olympics. All on-ice officials will gather in Buffalo, New York, to meet, train, and work together in preparation for Milano Cortina.
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\n\u201cWe are starting from a foundation of solid experience, but it is crucial to fine-tune the details and address the subtle differences in game management,\u201d Kurmann explained. \u201cThe Olympic Games are officiated according to the IIHF rulebook, which closely aligns with the NHL\u2019s rulebook. But our goal is to ensure consistent philosophy and interpretation across both leagues, so there will be discussions and training focused on these points. Team building is also a big part of our mini-camp in August\u2014getting to know each other, building trust, and preparing together as a unified group. It\u2019s all important to the end goal, which is to produce seamless officiating next February.\u201d
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\nSomething that fans might not realize, and officials do, is that there is an adjustment for everyone to make. Yes, NHL and IIHF rules are close, and, yes, those same NHL stars we watch on TV are the same ones playing at the Olympics, but there are differences that need to be accounted for.
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\n\u201cWhile games at the World Championships and in the NHL are similar, the physicality is particularly heightened in the NHL playoffs,\u201d Kurmann continued. \u201cWe need to adapt and make sure we\u2019re accurately judging that intensity. Everyone wants fast, physical, and entertaining play, and we aim to facilitate that. At the same time, we need to ensure that technically skilled players have the freedom to showcase their abilities and that referees can identify and address any play outside the rule book that prevents that from happening.\u201d
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\nAlthough the concept of \u201cblended\u201d means assigning officials from both sides of the Atlantic to games, it does not necessarily mean there will be one IIHF referee and one NHL referee and one and one of linesmen for every game. There is still the element of \u201cfeel\u201d and game-by-game assessment to ensure the best men are handling each game.
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\n\u201cOur primary goal is to assign officials based on their performance,\u201d Kurmann confirms. \u201cThe assignments are carefully discussed by a small committee to ensure that the best-suited referees are chosen for each game. Performance, not just origin, is the key factor in these decisions.\u201d
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\nFrom the IIHF side, evaluations started two years ago when Kurmann and his team started sending the best game officials to top tournaments under the IIHF\u2019s \u201cRoad to Milano\u201d program.
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\n\u201cTogether with our officiating coaches,\u201d Kurmann explains, \u201cwe have closely monitored and evaluated their performances these last two years, sometimes working alongside NHL coaches for clarity and continuity. After the most recent World Championship in Sweden and Denmark in May, we selected the referees and linespeople for the Olympics based on the best performances in that tournament as well as at the 2024 World Championship in Czechia, and the 2025 World Juniors in Canada.\u201d
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\nAll this talk about blended crews is exciting, but the Olympics comes only once every four years. The IIHF World Championship is annual, and there are many NHL officials not working each May. Is there a chance of blended crews at the WM?
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\n\u201cIncreasing cooperation with the NHL is certainly our goal,\u201d Kurmann agrees. \u201cHowever, there are some logistical challenges, such as contractual and insurance issues, that we would need to address for that to happen. And we must also remember that we have a wealth of talented game officials in Europe and Asia who are eager to get opportunities to officiate at the next Olympic Games in 2030. It\u2019s important to provide them a chance to showcase their skills as well.\u201d
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\nKurmann works daily from his IIHF office to know all officials and their abilities, but he in part relies on his vast experience from his \u201cplaying days\u201d as a referee. His resume is nothing short of exemplary: ten Men\u2019s Worlds, including a gold-medal game in 1999; six World Juniors, including three gold-medal assignments; and, three Olympics with NHL players and blended officiating.
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\n\u201cFrom my own experience, I can say that working with the NHL at the Olympics was incredibly rewarding. It wasn\u2019t just about working together on the ice \u2013 it was the camaraderie off the ice that made it special. We all worked hard to give our best, and the personal connections we built were invaluable. Every time we meet again, it feels like no time has passed.\u201d
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\nThat feeling he had at the time, and now, looking back, is what he hopes the crew of 2026 experiences.
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\n\u201cIt was truly unique,\u201d he enthused. \u201cThe atmosphere of the Olympic Games, officiating the world\u2019s best players, and collaborating with top-level referees. One of the most memorable aspects for me was to work with NHL officials I had only ever seen on TV. They were incredibly down-to-earth, and it was inspiring to see how genuinely great they were, not only as officials but as sportspeople. It was an unforgettable experience both on and off the ice.\u201d
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