Having dedicated countless hours of service to USA Hockey’s Officiating Program, Gordy Lingel has been a cornerstone of officiating development in the Rocky Mountain and Northern Plains Districts, specifically in Billings, Montana.

Since starting his officiating career in 1977, Lingel has maintained his USA Hockey Officiating Program Certification continuously for 40 seasons and is currently still working games at 81 years young in Billings.

Lingel served as the Montana referee-in-chief from 1978-2006, supporting the growth and development of youth hockey and officiating through organizing local officiating programs and working games as often as needed. His time included tens of thousands of miles to teach, motivate and mentor young officials in growing programs across both the state and district.

His mentees attest that Lingel was a master at teaching crucial fundamentals such as verbal communication, positioning, practicing signals and most notably, appearance both on and off the ice. He preached that being an official meant holding yourself to a higher standard of personal pride, dedication and honor in representing USA Hockey ideals in the officiating program.

Numerous officials under Lingel’s tutelage have gone on to work at higher levels, including Bryan Pancich, who has been an NHL official since the 2009-10 season.

The Billings, Montana, native also still umpires fast pitch softball in the summer at the 12U-18U levels, in addition to officiating ice hockey in the winter.

The Chet Stewart Award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the USA Hockey Officiating Education Program during many years of service to the hockey community as an official and/or volunteer.