Before the season the NHL signed two rookie referees, both just happened to be from the area. Garrett Rank of Elmira and Kendrick Nicholson of Milverton finally got their chance on the ice this past week.
Rank made his debut first. The 27-year-old called Thursday's tilt between Buffalo and Minnesota. He called a number of junior games before 'turning pro', including the 2014 Memorial Cup in London.
In the summer, Rank trades in his stripes for a golf shirt. This past year, Rank won the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship. Earning him a spot at the RBC Canadian Open.
Nicholson waited until Saturday night to pull out his whistle. The former Stratford Culliton and Western Junior C official called Ottawa's meeting with Carolina. He spent last season calling AHL games while wearing the orange armbands in the 2013 Memorial Cup.