Officiating Program Awards
CHET STEWART AWARD
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.
2024 CHET STEWART AWARD
Mark Sampson - Longmeadow, MA
Mark Sampson’s impact on officiating in New England has been felt for nearly five decades. A leader in the state of Massachusetts, Sampson has been active in the hockey community as a player, coach, official, supervisor, instructor and mentor, leaving his mark on the sport at nearly every level.
An official himself since 1973, Sampson officiated for 44 seasons, including everything from youth games to juniors to college hockey and beyond.
The Longmeadow, Massachusetts, native patrolled the ice at all levels, wearing the stripes at the USA Hockey National Championships in 1993, 1994, 1997, 2003, and 2010 while serving as the supervisor of officials at the 2018 USA Hockey Girls National Championship. He also officiated NCAA Division I & III men’s hockey and NCAA Division III women’s hockey.
Sampson served as the district supervisor for the sixth district of Massachusetts Hockey for 29 years where he worked with local officials on development opportunities within the state and dedicated much of his time to recruiting and mentoring new officials in the area. He also spent a decade as the assigner for the Interstate Junior Hockey League.
For his efforts, Sampson was honored with the Massachusetts Hockey Milt Kaufman Award in 2001, earned the Al Pinciak Award in the 2005-2006 season and was recognized with the Golden Stripes Award in 2010.
A staunch advocate for development, Sampson has been a key instructor at USA Hockey officiating seminars and led all on-ice instruction as part of USA Hockey’s officials certification process.
Sampson served as the head of the officiating evaluation program for the state of Massachusetts and continues to foster a development pipeline for officials at all levels.
THE JAMIE HUNTLEY-PARK AWARD
The Jamie Huntley-Park Award is named in honor of the late Jamie Huntley-Park, who was a long-time USA Hockey member player, coach, and game official. Jamie, and her husband Ryan, who both served as Detectives for the San Diego Police Department 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.
2024 JAMIE HUNTLEY-PARK AWARD
Stacey Livingston - Charlotte, NC
THE BEN ALLISON AWARD
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.
2024 BEN ALLISON AWARD
Shawn Cornock - Marquette, MI
THE MILT KAUFMAN AWARD
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
2022 Milt Kaufman Winner
Bianca Bartolomei
Warren, MI
Bianca Bartolomei (right) accepts the Milt K. Award from National Referee-in-Chief David LaBuda
USA HOCKEY OFFICIATING SERVICE AWARDS
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.