Referees Wes McCauley and Chris Rooney get the call for opening night of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final:
REFEREES
Jean Hebert #15
Garrett Rank #7
Games ’25-26 (RS/PO)
63 / 11
76 / 11
Career Games (RS/PO)
887 / 126
749 / 46
First NHL Game
3/30/11
1/15/15
First Playoff Game
4/16/15
5/17/21
Birthplace
Bouctouche, NB
Elmira, ON
Goals/Gm
6.6 (4) | 6.0 (23)
6.4 (7) | 5.7 (39)
PP Opp/Gm
5.9 (14) | 5.5 (14)
6.1 (10) | 5.3 (25)
PPG/Gm
1.4 (6) | 1.2 (13)
1.3 (9) | 1.0 (38)
Penl/Gm
8.0 (4) | 7.6 (6)
8.4 (2) | 7.0 (18)
PIM/Gm
19.3 (8) | 7.6 (5)
21.3 (1) | 16.2 (21)
% of Penl on Home
50.1% (11) | 50.0% (4)
48.2% (18) | 50.0% (36)
% PP Opp for Home
52.3% (17) | 50.0% (39)
51.2% (26) | 60.0% (5)
Penl Diff.*
1.3 (21) | 1.2 (34)
1.5 (2) | 1.3 (18)
Home Win %
58% (23) | 67% (7)
47% (38) | 60% (30)
Home Rec.
39-27-9 | 46-21-7
32-37-7 | 40-26-8
OT/SO Games
15.9% (37) | 20.0% (29)
26.7% (12) | 20.0% (12)
Team Records
25-26
24-25
23-24
25-26
24-25
23-24
VGK
0-0-1
4-3-0
2-1-0
2-0-1
3-1-0
3-1-0
CAR
3-3-0
1-3-0
3-1-0
2-2-0
2-1-0
3-3-0
LINESPERSONS
Scott Cherrey #50
Trent Knorr #74
Games ’25-26 (RS/PO)
42 / 13
78 / 9
Career Games (RS/PO)
1275 / 184
850 / 51
First NHL Game
10/6/07
11/13/13
First Playoff Game
4/15/11
4/12/17
Birthplace
Drayton, ON
Powell River, BC
Tonight’s pairing of refs Jean Hebert and Garrett Rank have been together since the Conference Finals, working MTL/CAR Game 1 (MTL W 6-2), VGK/COL Game 3 (VGK W 5-3), and MTL/CAR Game 5 (CAR W 6-1).
Hebert previously worked alongside Furman South in the opening round, handling MIN/DAL Game 1, OTT/CAR Game 2 (CAR W 3-2 2OT), PHI/PIT Game 4, and MTL/TBL Game 5. Hebert was partnered with Trevor Hanson for the second round, working ANA/VGK Game 1 (VGK W 3-1), MTL/BUF Game 2, and MIN/COL Game 4; he also officiated MTL/BUF Game 7 with Wes McCauley.
Referee Garrett Rank skated alongside Kyle Rehman together for the first two rounds of the postseason. In Round 1, they officiated PHI/PIT Game 2, BUF/BOS Game 3, DAL/MIN Game 4, and VGK/UTA Game 4 (VGK W 5-4 OT). Round 2 saw them in stripes for MIN/COL Game 1, PHI/CAR Game 3 (CAR W 4-1), MTL/BUF Game 3, and VGK/ANA Game 6 (VGK W 5-1).
Both teams are undefeated (4-0) in the 2026 playoffs under tonight’s refs.
Standby Officials: Chris Rooney (#5), Matt MacPherson (#83)Series Officiating Supervisor: Kris King
Games: PS (Preseason); RS (Regular Season); PO (Playoffs)
Stats/Numbers: ’25-26 avg. (’25-26 rank) | ’24-25 avg. (’24-25 rank)
Number in orange/parentheses indicated referee’s rank among active officials.
* Penalty Differential represents the absolute value of the variance of penalty calls by team per game. If Team A takes two more penalties (or two fewer) than Team B, this is a 2. Lower numbers indicate less variance between total penalties in a game – that is, a closer number of calls for both teams.
We’ve also got new rules, new refs, promoted officials, and an updated pronunciation guide for 2025-26.
The NHL officials working the Conference Finals of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
NHL Officials Named for 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals