Matt Pavelich
Encyclopedia
Matt Pavelich is a Canadian ice-hockey
linesman
.
, Ontario. By the time he was twenty, he was referee-in-chief of the Northern Michigan Intermediate League.
Pavelich worked in the American Hockey League
in the 1955–56 season but at age twenty-two, he made his National Hockey League
début on October 11, 1956. His older brother Marty Pavelich
had been a player with the Detroit Red Wings
since 1947 and when the younger Pavelich joined the NHL in 1956, it marked the first time in NHL history that there had been a player/official brother combination.
. He also officiated 245 playoff games, second only to John D'Amico
. After that Pavelich became the NHL's supervisor of officials for referee-in-chief Scotty Morrison
. In 1987, Pavelich was the first linesman inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
.
Pavelich is in his ninth season with the United Hockey League
. He served the league as a Supervisor of Officials as well as the Director of Player Discipline for the first half of the 1998–99 season.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
linesman
Official (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. There are two categories of officials, on-ice officials, who are the referees and linesmen that enforce the rules during game play, and off-ice officials, who have an...
.
Early career
He began officiating when he was fourteen, working minor hockey games in Sault Ste. MarieSault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
, Ontario. By the time he was twenty, he was referee-in-chief of the Northern Michigan Intermediate League.
Pavelich worked in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
in the 1955–56 season but at age twenty-two, he made his National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
début on October 11, 1956. His older brother Marty Pavelich
Marty Pavelich
Martin Nicholas Pavelich is a Canadian former ice hockey left winger. He played ten seasons for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League from 1947 until 1957.-Early career:...
had been a player with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
since 1947 and when the younger Pavelich joined the NHL in 1956, it marked the first time in NHL history that there had been a player/official brother combination.
Career in the NHL
He retired after 31 years and 1,727 regular season games, second only to Neil ArmstrongNeil Armstrong (ice hockey)
Neil P. Armstrong is a former professional ice hockey linesman, and is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.- Career :...
. He also officiated 245 playoff games, second only to John D'Amico
John D'Amico
John David D'Amico was a National Hockey League linesman and later supervisor of officials.A native of Toronto, D'Amico's NHL career started as a referee on October 12, 1964, when he was 27 years old...
. After that Pavelich became the NHL's supervisor of officials for referee-in-chief Scotty Morrison
Scotty Morrison
Ian "Scotty" Morrison is a former National Hockey League referee and vice-president, and the former president and chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame....
. In 1987, Pavelich was the first linesman inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
.
Pavelich is in his ninth season with the United Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
. He served the league as a Supervisor of Officials as well as the Director of Player Discipline for the first half of the 1998–99 season.
See also
- List of Detroit Red Wings players
- List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame
- List of NHL on-ice officials