McGeough to work 1000

Veteran NHL Referee Mick McGeough will officiate his 1000th National Hockey League game on Saturday, February 3, 2007 when the Vancouver Canucks visit the the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary to take on the Flames.

Joining Mick for this milestone game will be fellow Referee Kelly Sutherland and linesmen Brad Lazarowich and Mark Wheler. Many friends and family will also be in attendance to join in the celebration of Mick's 1000th game.

Mick began his officiating career at the age of twenty-three as a linesman in his home town of Regina, Saskatchewan following his hockey career which wrapped up in Spokane, Washington in the Western International Hockey League. Mick worked only a handful of games as a linesman before Western Hockey League supervisor Ernie Pawliw suggested he give refereeing a try. This turned out to be sage advice as Mick's personality and 'hockey smarts' helped him in a successful career as a referee in the Western Hockey League. Mick's WHL career culminated in officiating the 1986 Memorial Cup in Portland, Oregon.

Mick was hired by the NHL in 1986 as a Minor League official and worked his first Regular Season NHL game on January 12, 1989 in Winnipeg. Mick has had a fine NHL career and has been an outstanding team player, earning him the respect and friendship of his fellow members of the NHLOA. Mick recently achieved another officiating peak as he worked for his first time in the Stanley Cup Final in 2006.

We congratulate Mick as he works his 1000th game and salute one of the true characters in the game.