Scouting The Refs Podcast #RefsPodcast

Scouting the Refs
  • 4.4 (13)
  • HOCKEY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Scouting The Refs follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls.  Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports; a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio, he’s also worked for TSN and Sportsnet as a host/anchor. Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent resource related to hockey officiating. #RefsPodcast

  1. 4D AGO

    Talking Olympics with NHL Ref Ian Walsh

    Retired NHL referee Ian Walsh shares his journey from officiating in the NHL to mentoring young officials in various leagues. He talks with Todd and Josh about the importance of feedback and coaching for up-and-coming referees, the role of replay technology in officiating, and his memorable experiences at the Sochi Olympics. Ian also compares the officiating styles and rules between the NHL and IIHF, emphasizing the need for officials to trust their instincts and adapt to the game on this special edition of the #RefsPodcast. --------------- Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

    14 min

  2. FEB 7

    How Did That Get There?

    On a jam-packed edition of the #RefsPodcast: Preds' McCarron fined for slashingOHL's Levac gets six games for slewfootIsles' Duclair's goaltender interference on Preds' SarosNo call on Caps' Wilson for steamrolling Canes' StankovenAnother goalie fight! Swayman vs. VasilevskiyOT penalty cancels out game-winner for Bruins' PastrnakSens' Giroux takes out Pens' Silovs, but the goal standsCanucks' Kane stirring things upFlames' Cooley gets saved by the whistlePenalty minutes pile up in the latest Battle of Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera. On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk. You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in. Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest.  --------------- Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

    24 min

  3. JAN 30

    Rust Ruling, Bench Shenanigans, and a Triple Play

    On this week's #RefsPodcast: Penguins' Rust gets three gamesLeafs' Nylander's $5000 fingerCaps' Duhaime whips his stick out on the benchRangers whistled for three penalties on the same play Isles' DeAngelo takes two for abuse of officials... though they may have broken protocol on the callCapitals bank one of the photographers' hole and inAvs' Manson has a major penalty rescinded after review vs. the CanadiensGood guy Macklin Celebrini tries to help the refs out with a penalty call. Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera. On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk. You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in. Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest.  --------------- Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

    18 min

  4. JAN 26

    The Ol' Gordie Howe Goalie Hat Trick

    On this week's #RefsPodcast: Checking in on injured liney Steve BartonPreds' Stamkos fined for bench shenanigansCaps' Klapka also gets involved from the bench, picking up a penalty but nothing from Player SafetyIntent to blow at Oilers vs. BluesGoalie fight!Phantom tripping penalty called on Canadiens' HutsonANOTHER Sabres goalie penalty!No call for Blue Jackets' Olivier's hit on Lightning's CernakPenalty call after Sens' Cozens boards Canes' Hall -- but the penalty came against Hall for abuse of officials after complaining about the non-callUtah's O'Brien avoids a penalty for a hard hit on Flyers' Tippett. Right call? Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera. On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk. You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in. Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest.  --------------- Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

    19 min

  5. JAN 22

    NAHL's Kendall Hanley on Officiating Camps

    NAHL Officiating Manager Kendall Hanley joins the show to talk about the North American Hockey League (NAHL)'s upcoming Officiating Exposure Camps - applications are open now! She also looks back on her career including a recent IIHF tournament and working the women's tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics, and shares some opportunities for those considering picking up a whistle through the "Try Officiating" initiative. More info at Scouting The Refs --------------- Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

    16 min

  6. JAN 18

    Missed One Here... and Maybe There

    On this week's #RefsPodcast: Milestone for MacPherson: 1000 NHL GamesBlackhawks' Foligno busted for doggy-paddling off the drawOilers' McDavid with a controversial goaltender interference call.Panthers' Verhaege penalized for boarding Sens' Zub -- bt not harshly enoughEdmonton's Zach Hyman hip-checks the puck into the net... you can't do that.Rangers and Bruins go to intermission... and then come back after reviewBuffalo's Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen is the only goaltender to be called for hooking in the past five years -- and he's done it twice... with the same referee working!Detroit's Copp got away with clearing some space for his overtime winner vs. Carolina Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera. On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk. You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in. Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest.  --------------- Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

    20 min

  7. JAN 3

    Buddy the Ref and NHL Lumberjacks

    On this week's #RefsPodcast: We’ve seen Will Ferrell at hockey games as Buddy the Elf, but he recently sat ice-level at a Kings game in full ref gear. Those Christmas bills are coming due as the NHL dishes out fines to Tampa Bay Lightning’s Scott Sabourin, Florida Panthers’ Anton Lundell, and New York Islanders’ Mat Barzal - who channeled his inner lumberjack to take a hack at Mason Marchment.Florida Panther Brad Marchand avoided a suspension - which would have seen him miss the Winter Classic against the New York Rangers - for elbowing Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike MathesonKicking it in Miami as Sam Reinhart’s skate goal gets waved off for a distinct kicking motionSeattle Kraken’s Vince Dunn has a goal called back for interference, but surprising not the kind of interference you’re thinking ofThree retirements north of the the border as Ryan Hutchinson works his final OHL game and longtime officials Chad and Cody Huseby wrap up their WHL careers. And, from the mailbag, an interesting opportunity to pull the goalie on a delayed whistle.Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera. On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk. You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in. Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest.  --------------- Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

    18 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    Christmas Bills and Holiday Nuts

    On this week's #RefsPodcast: World Juniors officialsNHL liney Ryan Jackson injuredPaying Christmas Bills!Ducks' Vatrano fined for unsportsmanlike conduct on Stars' RobertsonBlackhawks' Grzelcyk fined for cross-checking Sens' StutzleDucks' Johnston fined for a stucker punch on Kraken's KartyeNo call on Panthers' Rodrigues for taking out Canes' Jarvis ith a dangerous trip that sent him crashing into the goal framePanthers' Marchand hits Canes' Bussi right in the Christmas crackers - then scores on the playRangers' Shesterkin makes a great save on the Caps' Strome... that was juuuust over the lineAt the WJC, Canada's Porter Martone picks up a penalty for a post-goal celebrationFlames' Weeger gets tossed for a stick-banging tantrum after a penalty call. Clear your calendars! Oilers fans—imagine spending a week in the sun with Edmonton legends! The Edmonton Hockey Legends Cruise 2026 sails July 17–24, 2026 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, cruising the Mexican Riviera. On board: Jason Strudwick, Bill Ranford, Ron Low, Gene Principe, Jack Michaels, Kelly Buchberger, and Louie DeBrusk. You’ll get meet & greets, hot-stove sessions, Q&A panels, autographs, and a chance to watch the World Cup Final at sea with the legends. Cabins start at $2,399 CAD, and it’s just a $500 deposit to lock it in. Book at cast.tours/edmonton and use promo code REFS2026 for $100 off per person—again, that’s cast.tours/edmonton - promo code REFS2026 - to save $100 per guest.  --------------- Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heyref@scoutingtherefs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #RefsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Scouting The Refs Podcast is a weekly look at the world of officiating and player safety within the National Hockey League, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world. We'll break down the calls and the rules behind them to help understand why a penalty or suspension was - or wasn't - handed out.

    19 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Scouting The Refs follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls.  Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports; a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio, he’s also worked for TSN and Sportsnet as a host/anchor. Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent resource related to hockey officiating. #RefsPodcast

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