BUFFALO, NY-The International Ice Hockey Federation announced the officials who will work the U20 Championship game at HSBC arena between Canada and Russia. All four officials chosen to work the prestigious final game are current or former members of USA Hockey’s Officiating Development Program.
Keith Kaval of Erie, PA, and Martin Franco of the Czech Republic will work as referees while Jonathan Morrison, Mason City, Iowa and Felix Winnekens of Germany will work as linesmen. Kaval, Morrison and Winnekens are all currently USA Hockey registered officials. Franco previously spent time in the US as a member of the ODP as part of an arrangement between USA Hockey and the Czech Ice Hockey Federation.
Kaval currently works in a number of professional leagues including the American Hockey League, the ECHL and the Southern Professional Hockey League. He started his officiating career as a member of the staff of the United States Hockey League. 
Morrison who is part of the ODP staff works in the SPHL, USHL, Division One collegiate hockey and has pro experience in the ECHL and the AHL. Interestingly, World Junior Championships run in his family. One of his uncles worked as an on ice official in two U20 World Championships. The uncle who also officiated in the USHL in the early 1980s refereed one gold medal game and worked as a linesman in another.
In addition, both Franco and Winnekens have spent time in USA Hockey’s ODP. Winnekens currently a student in the US has worked in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League, Atlantic Junior Hockey League and in the SPHL. He was invited to attend a USA Hockey National Officiating Camp last year in Rochester, NY and impressed Matt Leaf USA Hockey Officiating Program Director. Leaf referred him to the ODP and he was offered the opportunity to join the program. Winnekens will resume working in the SPHL again with a game in Columbus, GA a few days after the U20 WJC Gold Medal Game.
Franco was also identified by Leaf and in cooperation with the Czech Ice Hockey Federation was given the opportunity to spend time with the ODP. He worked an extensive number of games in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League as part of his development.
USA Hockey h as approximately 26,500 registered officials. About 450 are designated as part of the organization’s Officiating Development Program. Selectees for the ODP are given training, game assignments, supervision, on-going evaluations and exposure to prepare them to eventually work hockey at the collegiate, professional and international levels.
Scott Brand who coordinates the ODP reacted. “USA Hockey and its Officiating Development Program are very proud of Johnathan, Keith, Martin and Felix. The ODP takes pride in assisting in the development of all of these officials. I know each will represent their country and USA Hockey’s ODP program well. Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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