In June of 2000, USA Hockey established an award to recognize the achievement of a grassroots officiating volunteer. The Officiating Education Program presents the award each year at the President's Awards banquet during the USA Hockey Annual Congress. The Chet Stewart Award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the officiating education program during many years of service as an official and volunteer. The recipient will have been a grassroots leader in officiating education and development and provided dedicated service throughout his/her career to both the officiating and hockey community.
A longtime official and volunteer with USA Hockey, Steve Stevens has dedicated nearly half a century to officiatingand officiating development in his home state of Washington. His passion and hard work has had an indelible impact on officiating not just inthe Pacific Northwest, but across USA Hockeyas a whole.
An official himself since 1981, Stevens patrolled the ice for an impressive 38 years, prior to hanging up the skates in 2019. During that time, the Spokane, Washington, native served as the Pacific District Referee-In-Chief from 2004-2018.
During his time as referee-in-chief, Stevens was a passionate advocate for inclusion within the officiating ranks, initiating a district female officiating development camp, which helped the female officiating sector skyrocket during his time at the helm. Under Stevens, the Pacific District also was the first district to have a designated official who could communicate with deaf/hard of hearing players via sign language, and also was the first district to designate an official exclusively for the Disabled Hockey section.
Within the Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association (PNAHA), Stevens was elected vice president from 2002-2006 and served as referee-in-chief of the association for 24 years until 2006. He also managed officials for the NorPac Junior Hockey League from 2000-2018, before being appointed an officiating advisor and evaluator of the USA Hockey officiating program.
Additionally, Stevens earned an advanced level coaches card while serving as a house coach for the Spokane Amateur Youth Hockey Association (SAYHA) in the late 1970s, andin 1988 served as SAYHA board president.
A mentor to many young officialsand playersthroughout the years, Stevens still assists with the recruitment and development of officials in both the Pacific Northwest and across the nation.
The Jamie Huntley-Park Award is named in honor of the late Jamie Huntley-Park, who was a long-time USA Hockey official, player, and coach. Jamie and her husband, Ryan Park were both Detectives for the San Diego Police Department who were tragically killed in an automobile accident on June 4, 2021.
Jamie led by example and was known for her teamwork, her perseverance and her ability to make everyone around her strive for excellence both on and off the ice. The Jamie Huntley-Park Award recognizes a female official who has made outstanding contributions to the growth of officiating and represents what it means to be a great teammate.
2023 JAMIE HUNTLEY-PARK WINNER
Kendall Hanley - Dallas, TX
In 2016, the Ben Allison Award was created to recognize deserving officials in the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program. The award is voted on by 150 members of the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program and is given to the official that best represents the characteristics that made Ben a special person and official, including always giving 100 percent on the ice and representing USA Hockey in the finest manner. The award will be presented on an annual basis. Allison was a level three USA Hockey certified official, who was tragically killed in January 2015 at the age of 20. A native of Royal Oak, Michigan and a student at Illinois State University, he had been officiating for eight years and was a part of the Officiating Development Program for three years at various levels, including the NAHL.
2022-23 BEN ALLISON WINNER
Jack McQuesten - Plainfield, VT
The Milt Kaufman Award is presented at both the Eastern and Western Instructor Training Camps to the individual that most exemplifies the qualities that made Milt Kaufman such a special part of the USA Hockey Officiating Program.
"Milt was the Massachusetts District Referee-in-Chief . He was one of the people who put together the original Instructor Training program for the USA Hockey Officiating Program in the mid-‘80s. He also served as the original Eastern Instructor Training Camp Director until his untimely passing in 1994." - Tony Mariconda, Former Atlantic District Referee-in-Chief
Bianca Bartolomei
Warren, MI
Bianca Bartolomei (right) accepts the Milt K. Award from National Referee-in-Chief David LaBuda
As a token of recognition and gratitude for dedicated years of service*, the USA Hockey Officiating Program awards special gifts starting after ten years of service:
10 YEARS - Lapel Pin
15 YEARS - Money Clip
20 YEARS - Pen & Pencil Set
25 YEARS - Special Spiral-Bound 25-Year Rulebook**
30 YEARS - Equipment Bag Tag
*Awards are based on consecutive years of service, beginning with the first season registration was tracked at the USA Hockey National Office.
**A new 25-Year Rulebook will be awarded each Rule Change Season as long as the official continues registration.
2019 | Western: Matt Wilhite - Eastern: Jeff Morrison |
2018 | Western: Jenna Janshen - Eastern: Zach Hughes |
2017 | Western: Stephanie Simon - Eastern: Chelsea Ward |
2016 | Western: Josh Burkart - Eastern: Michael Hickey |
2015 | Western: Mason Strom - Eastern: Brie Zdunkiewicz |
2014 | Western: Mackenzie Nelson - Eastern: Rob Lagler |
2013 | Western: Richard Ozaki - Eastern: Francis Bastone |
2012 | Western: Robin Baker - Eastern: Kevin Vena |
2011 | Western: Dominic Clements - Eastern: Lee Giobbie |
2010 | Western: Keisha Dunlevy - Eastern: Jeff Ning |
2009 | Western: Ryan Ourada - Eastern: Robert Navickas |
2008 | Western: Brett Lapham - Eastern: Keith Grooms |
2007 | Western: Douglas Durgin - Eastern: Gui Bradshaw |
2006 | Western: Hardy Woodward - Eastern: Nicholas Tochelli |
2005 | Western: Gary Anderson - Eastern: Bill Dickerson |
2004 | Western: Joe Manthei - Eastern: Michael Frank |
2003 | Western: Wendy Seronko - Eastern: Carol Mullins |
2002 | Western: Michael Patterson - Eastern: Mike McDevitt |
2001 | Western: Andy Hudson - Eastern: Mike Timoney |
2000 | Western: Matt Spivey - Eastern: Michael Campbell |
1999 | Western: Rob McKane - Eastern: George Flynn |
1998 | Western: Dan Hendrickson - Eastern: Rob Coggin |
1997 | Western: Brian Johnson |
1996 | Western: Paul Sollberger - Eastern: Derek Zuckerman |
2020 | John Helsdon | Rapid City, SD |
2019 | Dave Kemp | Apple Valley, MN |
2018 | Dick Haney | Duluth, MN |
2017 | Gordie Lingel | Billings, MT |
2016 | Pat Bush | Raleigh, NC |
2015 | Gerald Moran | Detroit, MI |
2014 | Harold "Skip" Trumble | Chaska, MN |
2013 | Kevin Upton | Silver Spring, MD |
2012 | Bruce "Buzz" Olson | E. Grand Forks, MN |
2011 | Robert Keltie Sr. | Boca Raton, FL |
2010 | Lyman Dimond | Fort Mill, SC |
2009 | John Robinson | Towson, MD |
2008 | Robert Klein | Roswell, GA |
2007 | George Benson | Anchorage, AK |
2006 | William Leslie | White Bear Lake, MN |
2005 | Mike Martin | Kalamazoo, MI |
2004 | Bill Reynolds | Newington, CT |
2003 | K. Roy Chin | Fort Wayne, IN |
2002 | John DePuydt | Houghton, MI |
2001 | Robert Lilla | Northbrook, IL |
2000 | Ken Sheeran | Roanoke, VA |