124 episodes

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

Scouting The Refs Podcast Scouting the Refs

    • Sports
    • 4.6 • 10 Ratings

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

    Disappointed... but Not Surprised

    Disappointed... but Not Surprised

    On this week's Scouting the Refs Podcast: Longtime NHL referee Tom Kowal heads to the BC Hockey Hall of Fame, the NHL's Department of Player Safety issues fines to Minnesota Wild's Mats Zuccarello and Nashville Predators' Michael McCarron, and a suspension to Calgary Flames defenseman Martin Pospisil. No call, no fine after Colorado Avalanche's Josh Manson slashes Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard -- or to New York Rangers' Matt Rempe for charging Toronto Maple Leafs' Ilya Lyubushkin. Plus, the New Jersey Devils get a penalty shot after Anaheim Ducks' Frank Vatrano intentionally dislodges the net, while the Toronto media thought the Maple Leafs should've been awarded one against the New York Rangers. (They shouldn't have.) #RefsPodcast

    Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com #RefsPodcast
    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. Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs. Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 
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    • 23 min
    Blades of Glory

    Blades of Glory

    We’ve got coach conflicts as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Sheldon Keefe gets kicked out and Buffalo Sabres bench boss Don Granato puts his team down two men. A power outage at Lightning/Flyers, Hill keeps one skate blade in the crease, review rules a legal check for Trocheck, the PWHL brings back the ref cam – and hands out a major penalty and ejection. Plus, we’ve got a hot @#$%ing mic in Philly!

    Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com #RefsPodcast
    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. Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs. Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 22 min
    Was That the Call of the Year?

    Was That the Call of the Year?

    New York Rangers' Matt Rempe gets ejected for an illegal check to the head of New Jersey Devils' Nathan Bastian, but don't expect a suspension. From the same game, defenseman Jacob Trouba delivers a legal hit, and Bastian gets away with instigating a fight in return. Islanders head coach Patrick Roy fails in his first Coach's Challenge in New York on a possible missed hand pass, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson hits Zach Benson of the Buffalo Sabres, and - whoops - a shorthanded icing at Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens. Todd and Josh check out the ruling after New York's Artemi Panarin won it for the Rangers in overtime on a dislodged net vs. the Islanders in Sunday's Stadium Series game.
    Plus, NHL ref Dan O'Rourke dons a neck protector, Peter Laviolette's son openly mocks the officials after an ejection, and NHL referee Garrett Rank steps up to the mic for what just might be the review call of the year!

    Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com #RefsPodcast
    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. Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs. Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 24 min
    The Puck's Not Dead Yet!

    The Puck's Not Dead Yet!

    So, Ridly Grieg did a thing. Then Morgan Rielly did a thing. And then Player Safety did a thing. Now Rielly has appealed that thing.
    DOPS hands out $10k in fines to the Boston Bruins, with Matt Grzelcyk getting a major penalty and a fine for spearing the Caps' Max Pacioretty and goaltender Linus Ullmark picking up a fine for high-sticking Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mikey Eyssimont. Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov gets a two-game suspension for a hit to the head of Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond that Zadorov admitted was "a bad hit."
    We'll also dive into Rielly vs. Grieg, the five game suspension, and all the strong opinions on both sides of the incident as we await the results of Rielly's appeal to Commissioner Gary Bettman.
    We review a continuous play goal where the Tampa Bay Lightning scored a goal even after referee Kelly Sutherland blew the whistle. Plus, Todd and Josh check out the latest Down Goes Brown post over at The Athletic on the NHL's unwritten rules.


    Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com #RefsPodcast
    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. Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs. Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 24 min
    Mandatory Minimums

    Mandatory Minimums

    Breaking down the three-game suspension to Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brendan Dillon for his it on Pittsburgh Penguins' Noel Acciari. Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment picks up a fine for an unpenalized hit on the Toronto Maple Leafs' Jake McCabe, while Calgary Flames defenseman Martin Pospisil gets ejected for a crosscheck to the face of Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand that drew no further supplemental discipline. Should the NHL's Department of Player Safety build in some 'automatic' or mandatory minimum suspensions?
    Plus, Todd and Josh run through an NHL All-Star video review that wiped out a Pastrnak goal, officials' ASG paychecks, ref milestones for Frederick L'Ecuyer and Francois St. Laurent, and STR makes it on to TNT!

    Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com #RefsPodcast
    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. Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs. Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 24 min
    Can The Officials Actually Do That?

    Can The Officials Actually Do That?

    This week on the #RefsPodcast: A crazy situation from Canucks vs. Blue Jackets, where it looked like the officials changed the call - and the penalized player - via video review... which they're not exactly allowed to do. Todd and Josh also break down the No Goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs after goaltender interference from William Nylander cancelled out a Tyler Bertuzzi goal. 
    NHL Player Safety has a busy week with a 5-game suspension to Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher and a 2-game ban to New York Rangers' Jacob Trouba, along with fines to Vancouver Canucks' Tyler Myers and Arizona Coyotes' Michael Kesselring.   
    The PWHL also hands out the first suspension in league history; NHL players name the league's best and work refs; Todd an Josh throw out some proposals to get better explanations for the Situation Room's decisions; and congrats to this year's NHL All-Star officials: Frederick L'Ecuyer, Francis Charron, Brandon Gawryletz, and Trent Knorr.


    Visit scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com #RefsPodcast
    Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS!

    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. Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports. Lewis is a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio. He’s also worked for TSN, Sportsnet as a host/anchor and is a producer of other programs. Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent site related to hockey officiating which 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. 
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 29 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
10 Ratings

10 Ratings

TheChillUmpire ,

Good Discussions

I really enjoy the discussion and the insight into the world of hockey officiating. I think it’s good to open the door to the officiating world because it helps the public see officials as humans and not robots who hate your team. Keep up the good shows!

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