NHL brings officiating lessons abroad at 2024 European Summer Exposure Combine

Representatives from 17 nations gather in Budapest, Hungary to take part in a camp organized by officials.

In reference to the 2024 European Summer Exposure Combine supported by the NHL in Budapest, Hungary, Peter Gebei expressed his sense of living vicariously through the referees and linesmen in attendance.

Gebei, the 48-year-old referee in chief for the Hungarian Ice Hockey Federation and a key figure in establishing the camp, expressed his long-held aspiration, stating, “Going to the NHL was my ultimate dream. Although I am now considered too old, the camp participants embraced the same intense dedication every morning. Everyone shared the same dream, feeling the essence of the NHL.”

The July 3-6 Budapest combine saw the participation of approximately 60 high-ranking officials from 17 different countries. During this event, these officials were provided with comprehensive training on various aspects of officiating, such as rules interpretation, positioning, communication, and game management.

The instructors of the lessons included renowned officials from the NHL and International Ice Hockey Federation. These experts were Stephen Walkom, NHL Executive Vice President and Director of Officiating; Al Kimmel, NHL Director of Scouting and Development; Mike Leggo, NHL Scouting and Development Officiating Manager; Dave Smith, former NHL Director of Fitness for Game Officials and current League consultant; Chris Edwards, NHL Scouting and Development Officiating Manager; Tom Masters, NHL Director of Video Operations; and Gebei, an IIHF officiating coach with experience officiating in European and Russian leagues.

Leggo expressed his admiration for the impressive talent level present at the event. There were numerous skilled skaters and individuals with a strong enthusiasm. The schedule included classroom and on-ice sessions, along with games and observation of their refereeing abilities. Overall, the setup closely resembled our combine in Buffalo.

Not only were we able to provide an overview of officiating philosophy, but we also offered practical guidance on positioning, behavior, and communication while observing them on the ice. I believe they found this aspect most valuable, as they learned from our NHL videos, adopted our NHL system, embraced our NHL communication methods, and understood our thought processes.

The League’s involvement in the European combine is a strategic move to expand the sport and improve officiating worldwide. This comes as the NHL and the international hockey community are becoming more interconnected, creating a need for higher standards in officiating.

In the 2026 Milano Olympics, NHL players are set to take part, while four teams will embark on a journey overseas for the 2024 NHL Global Series.

To kick off the 2024-25 regular season, the New Jersey Devils are set to take on the Buffalo Sabres in Prague at O2 Arena on October 4th and 5th. Additionally, the Dallas Stars will be squaring off against the Florida Panthers in Tampere, Finland, at Nokia Arena on November 1st and 2nd.

On September 27th, prior to their match in Prague, the Sabres are scheduled to compete against Red Bull Munich at the SAP Garden in Munich. The game will be officiated by a crew consisting of both NHL and international officials.

Leggo stated that in his opinion, the combine serves to broaden our knowledge base and discover potential officials for events of that nature. Additionally, it allows European officials the chance to become acquainted with our standards, expectations, and level of professionalism.

The European officiating combine took place for the second time, with approximately 55 officials participating. Last year, the inaugural camp had seen the participation of 55 officials, and from that group, three officials were invited to attend the 2023 NHL Exposure Combine at HarborCenter in Buffalo.

Every year, the four-day combine aims to introduce officials to the world of hockey by providing an opportunity for players who have had NCAA Division I and III, Canadian college, or other amateur hockey experience.

Caroline Butt from Germany, Cyril Debuche from France, and Gergely Gebei, son of Peter Gebei from Hungary, will be present at the 2024 exposure camp in Buffalo from August 15th to 18th.

When Peter Gebei initially reached out to the NHL four years ago via email, he had envisioned an international exchange program that would support a European officiating combine.

After visiting the exposure camp in Buffalo in 2022, Gebei expressed that his interest in the combine had grown stronger.

He exclaimed, “It felt just like Christmas, the greatest moment of my life. In Europe, we typically don’t have a summer combine or camp; instead, we usually have a regular officiating camp before the season starts. So, in Buffalo, I approached Stephen Walkom and the NHL officials and asked if it would be feasible to arrange a summer combine in Europe.”

“That dream came true.”