* Due to injury, referee Marcus Vinnerborg will not take part in this year’s tournament. Referee Tobias Wehrli will take his place.
American Mark Lemelin officiated NHL games until 2016 and since then has worked in the EBEL, the transnational league of Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia, both as referee and assistant to the head of education. The Finn Anssi Salonen, who has been in the top league in Finland since 2008, the Liiga, and also participated in IIHF World Championships, also has great experience .
Three Swiss referees – Marcus Vinnerborg, Daniel Stricker and Stefan Eichmann – have been cosen to work the tournament. Vinnerborg was the first European referee in the NHL (2010-11 and 2011-12); during his North American career he officiated 40 NHL games and 150 AHL games. In addition, he refereed the quarter-finals between Russia and Finland at the Olympic Games in Sochi. Since the 2014-15, the Swede has worked in the Swiss National League A.
Eichmann, a professional referee since 2013-14, made his Spengler Cup debut in 2014.
Linesmen Roman Kaderli and Nicolas Fluri can also look back on successful World Cup and Spengler Cup appearances as they suit up for this year’s tournament. Cedric Borga and Bryce Kovacs are in action for the third time in the Spengler Cup. The linesmen will be completed by David Obwegeser , who will be on duty for the second time at the annual tournament .
Best of luck to the officials working this year’s Spengler Cup tournament!