Scouting The Refs Podcast #RefsPodcast

The puck drops on the preseason with our first suspension and fine as Player Safety is already on duty. It's a $5k punch from Petry, 2 games for Melanson, a first for the Seattle Kraken, and two fights -- along with our first instigator penalty. Todd and Josh discuss whether another was warranted, and if the NHL should consider a different approach when it comes to the 2-5-10 of an instigator pena...

ESPN asked NHL players what rules they'd like to change. Todd and Josh take a look at those suggestions - including the dreaded trapezoid, offside, 3-on-3 OT, faceoffs, goaltender interference, and even removing the refs altogether - along with a few of their own! Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter and Instagram. Email us your questions - heyr...

NHL Officials head to training camp, women officials return to NHL Prospect Tournaments, Patrick Roy gets ejected for unloading on officials in the QMJHL - how that may have been strategic - referee sponsors on jerseys, and where Reffy may be headed next!  Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter and Instagram. Email us your questions - heyref@scout...

It's Season 4 of the Scouting the Refs podcast!  We're on the cusp of a new NHL season, which means new referees and linesmen, and new rules for 2022-23. We also look back at those who've retired and the loss of former NHL linesman Dan Schachte.  Three women work OHL preseason games; is this the year we see a woman officiate in the NHL?  Todd and Josh also look at ways to celebrate the officials.....

Wrapping up the 2021-22 season with two rescheduled IIHF tournaments, as the World Juniors and Women's World Championship medals are handed out.  We'll take a look at what went down, including major penalties, reviews, a slew foot, and a memorable moment on the mic. Plus, new officials for the Q and the NHL Exposure Combine concludes... possibly with the next group of NHL stripes. Visit www.scouti...

Rule book changes coming for the IIHF and NCAA, including headshots and hand passes. NHL reportedly mulling over a potential expansion of penalty reviews, Todd and Josh look at some other potential changes on minor penalties, how My Cousin Vinny relates to NHL Video Reviews, and an interesting prospect camp take on penalty shots. Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddl...

Refs at the NHL draft, the Colorado Avalanche abusing the Stanley Cup, summer camps and the NHL Officiating Combine, and looking back at the 'Unrivaled' battle between the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings - and the officiating and Player Safety rulings of those conflicts, plus an All-Star Skills Competition suggestion for linesmen.  Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs...

Where the whistles at?!  Was Game 6 really that clean, with only two penalties called?  Looking back at the NHL Stanley Cup Final non-calls and calls, Bellemare vs. Manson, McDonagh vs. Helm, Stamkos dodges abuse of officials, too many men...again? Is it time to change the TMM rule? Also, a suspension after two birds crash the AHL's Calder Cup Final, and the door may be open for women officials to...

Breaking down the too-many-men situation on Kadri's goal in overtime of Game 4 between the Lightning and Avalanche, Tampa taking too much time to challenge an offside, the magical missing four seconds, Kucherov gets crunched, Colorado's Darcy Kuemper plays without a mask, the benefits of 'magic doors', and what happened to third period penalties?! Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scouting...

No kicking motion as Tampa advances over the Rangers, a phantom Lightning trip on Makar, a missed high stick on Hedman, game management is not a bad word, and reviewing the officiating in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final -- but not necessarily reviewing penalties.  Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports.  Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com. ...

Koho lets one slip, NAHL recruiting refs, padding PIMs with late-game penalties, looking back at Kane on Kadri, majors vs. match penalties, a critical faceoff violation in the Q, the evolution of puck tracking and offside plays, and was that series-ending goal a high stick!? Holy Shick! Have another donut!  Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports.  Email us y...

Were the Colorado Avalanche offside?  Spoiler alert: No, they were not - the NHL got it right. We'll break down why and how that is, along with ECHL refs, Landeskog on Yamamoto, Kassian gets in on the action from the bench, Smitty's lost glove, the founding fathers' rule book intentions... and, oh yeah, that offside. Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports. ...

The Stanley Cup Playoff battles intensify, as do the stakes on the rulings on and off the ice.  No goal after skate contact in Calgary -- we break down the play and what the refs and the Situatiom Room were looking at.  A pair of goaltender collisions with different outcomes: nothing for Kadri, 5 and a game for Lucic. Plus Florida challenges Tampa twice and the Rangers lose a go-ahead goal on a Ca...

Uniting fans through their dislike of officials as 'ref you suck' echoes through arenas...   Ref Rank recalled from USGA event, ref cam returns for IIHF Worlds, Round 1 leftovers for Player Safety, Chiarot gives 'em head butts, no discipline for Zadorov, penalty for McDonagh, goaltender interference outside the crease, Schenn's low high stick, and Flames' Matthew Tkachuk scores a goal that prompts...

You get a fine! You get a fine! Player Safety hitting wallets hard this postseason. Todd and Josh breakdown Trouba's hit on Sidney Crosby, interference from a loose glove, questioning the concussion spotter criteria, Oilers' Nurse suspended for headbutt, goaltender interference, and a scary moment of ice crew vs. linesman Jonny Murray. Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and...

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are under way, with suspensions, fines, penalties, fights, and an extra helping of spicy pork and broccoli in overtime.  Todd and Josh look at a rough start to Bolts/Leafs, intent to injure, Pasta runs Raanta, penalty reviews, and a puck that was nearly over the line - along with some hits that definitely were.   Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs an...

Can you challenge? That depends on who you ask...  Wrapping up the regular season, picking playoff refs, broken crossbars, missing the boat on mic'd up refs, Lomberg's instigator gets him suspended, inadequate explanations, ref injuries - including a scary situation at the IIHF U18 World Championship, and officiating travel woes. Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddl...

The Habs have had some interesting rule run-ins around helmets (or lack thereof) and sticks (specifically, too many). We also dig into Ritchie's slash, boarding by Cizikas, a stick toss from Trotz, penalty reviews, and a look back on Beagle vs. Terry and the trend of teams reacting to all hits -- even clean ones. Plus, Malkin's up next for DOPS... Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scouting...

We've got a new penalty record to enter in to the NHL's record books!  Todd and Josh also cover one NHL referee's debut, one whose AMA was cancelled, and another who battled through an on-ice injury. Changing up penalty reviews and suspension lengths, catching pucks over the line, and rewriting some rules...  Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports.  Email us...

Watch your stick, Auston Matthews! Two games for #34. Referee Dean Morton retires as others are sidelined with long-term injuries, women officials coming to the NHL, Anna Wiegand hangs up her whistle, handing over ref numbers, and discussing the rule - and consistency - of goaltender interference reviews at Habs/Stars. Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports....

Two apparent penalties, two non-calls, two games decided as a result of those plays. We look at Oilers/Caps and Coyotes/Leafs and how calling - or not calling - penalties impacts the game, plus refs' names behind the benches, a double-shot of coach's challenges,  Landeskog's comments on officiating, and a Hornqvist goal that went under the net.  Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingth...

Wait - what sport is this? Leafs' Bunting fined for diving, Habs' Gallagher goes for an extra point with a kick attempt, a sticky situation for Blue Jackets' Peeke, harsh words from Sens' Watson, a Coach's Challenge duel, Bolts' Cooper gets tossed after a showdown with 'Wild Wild Wes' McCauley... Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports.  Email us your questio...

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words cost $25,000 - at least for NHL head coaches. Player Safety also hit the wallets of Buffalo's Dylan Cozens and Calgary's Adam Ruzicka, and handed out a two-game ban to Ottawa's Austin Watson. We've got a no-goal at Oilers/Ducks, no discipline for Borowiecki, a thrown stick, a displaced net, and one more NHL ref with a hot mic! Visit www.scoutingthe...

Look out! Pucks and sticks injuring refs, Spurgeon's hit to Dvorak's head, Dillon blasts Blueger, Dell throws an elbow on Batherson, there are legal checks to the head, and now boarding: Brendan Lemieux. Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports.  Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com.   Call the RefLine at 585-484-REFS! The Scouting the Refs Pod...

A bunch of battles this week: Greenway vs. Kuemper in the crease, Draisatil vs. Matheson on the mic, Orlov's knee vs. Ehlers's knee, Drouin's stick vs. Seguin's head, Hathaway vs. Marchand, Danault's dangerous trip vs. a slewfoot, and Motte misses out on awarded goal. Visit www.scoutingtherefs.com and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports.  Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.c...