CHICAGO, IL– Four members of the 2011-12 USHL Officiating staff have been named to work the 2012 United States Hockey League Top Prospects game.
“This is real recognition for these four young officials” said Scott Brand USHL Director of Operations. Chris Pitoscia and Brett Sheva along with linesmen Ryan Daisy and Brian Oliver will work the league’s showcase for its top on ice talent.
“I am proud of all of the participants in the game including these outstanding young officials” Brand continued.
The game is scheduled for 7:15 PM January 24, 2012 at the LC Walker Arena in Muskegon, Michigan. The venue is home to the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. Brand elaborated on the selection process, “just like the players who will participate in the game each of the officials named to this season’s game was chosen based on input from the coaches around our league. In addition evaluations by the USHL officiating supervisory staff staffed with many former National Hockey League Officials were used in the selection process for the game officials.” Highlights on each selected official follow:
Chris Pitoscia, age 24 of Edison, NJ has been in the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program for seven seasons and is in his third season in the USHL. Pitoscia has previously worked the USHL playoffs including the Clark Cup Finals Series last season. He is also working professional hockey games in the Southern Professional Hockey League, the Central Hockey League and the ECHL in addition to his USHL schedule
Brett Sheva, age 25 of Horsham, PA is in his third season in the USHL. He was selected for the ODP in 2005. He previously worked the USHL playoffs and last year was selected to work the Clark Cup Finals Series. Sheva is also working in the SPHL, CHL and ECHL in addition to his USHL assignments.
Ryan Daisy, age 23 of Mansfield, MA is in his second season in the USHL after being selected for the ODP three years ago. Daisy has worked professional games in the SPHL, CHL and ECHL and was also selected and attended the Program of Merit an elite officiating camp sponsored by USA Hockey last summer.
Brian Oliver, age 24 of Rochester, NY is a long term USHL and ODP official despite his youth. A veteran of six USHL campaigns he has worked three USHL Clark Cup Finals Series, previously worked Top Prospects Game and has been working professional hockey for the past three seasons. Oliver currently works in the American Hockey League, the Central Hockey League and the ECHL in addition to working a heavy slate of USHL contests.
Oliver reacted to being named to this year’s Top Prospects game on behalf of the entire crew. “We are individually honored to be selected. The USHL and the ODP have provided each of us with the opportunity to work in the top junior league in the USA and has provided us with the base experience to move into professional hockey.”
The USHL focuses on identification and development of USA Hockey registered players, coaches, administrators, broadcasters and on-ice officials who aspire to move to the collegiate, professional and international levels of hockey. It is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It is in its 10th season as the nation’s only Tier I junior hockey league. The USHL had 28 picks during the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, 18.
Additionally over 200 former USHL on ice officials have advanced to work professional hockey including the National Hockey League, other professional leagues world-wide, international competition sponsored by the International Ice Hockey Association and top level NCAA D-1 collegiate hockey.
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
