Ray Scapinello
Ray Scapinello is a former National Hockey League linesman, known for having the longest on-ice career of anyone in the history of the NHL.
During the late 1960s, Scapinello joined the Guelph Referees Association and began officiating games for them while he was working for General Electric. He was invited to the NHL rookie official's camp in 1970 and despite not making the cut, he was invited to officiate in the Ontario Hockey Association. Scapinello spent one year officiating in the OHA before he was again invited to the NHL rookie official's camp. This time he made the cut and at age 24, was hired into the NHL in 1971. Scapinello officiated his first NHL game on October 17, 1971. It took place in Buffalo between the Buffalo Sabres and the Minnesota North Stars.
In the spring of 1980, Scapinello officiated his first Stanley Cup Finals. This was one of a total of 21 he officiated during his career. In 1998, Scapinello was chosen as one of 4 officials to participate in the Nagano 1998: XVIII Olympic Winter Games (1998). Despite being unprepared, Scapinello and the other officials managed to learn the differences in rules between Olympic ice hockey and ice hockey in the NHL.
His career includes 2,500 regular season games, 426 playoff games, the Canada Cup, the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, three All-Star games, including the 1979 Challenge Cup and Rendez-vous '87, and 21 Stanley Cup Finals. Of these feats, the most impressive is the fact that he never once missed a game due to injury or illness.
During the late 1960s, Scapinello joined the Guelph Referees Association and began officiating games for them while he was working for General Electric. He was invited to the NHL rookie official's camp in 1970 and despite not making the cut, he was invited to officiate in the Ontario Hockey Association. Scapinello spent one year officiating in the OHA before he was again invited to the NHL rookie official's camp. This time he made the cut and at age 24, was hired into the NHL in 1971. Scapinello officiated his first NHL game on October 17, 1971. It took place in Buffalo between the Buffalo Sabres and the Minnesota North Stars.
In the spring of 1980, Scapinello officiated his first Stanley Cup Finals. This was one of a total of 21 he officiated during his career. In 1998, Scapinello was chosen as one of 4 officials to participate in the Nagano 1998: XVIII Olympic Winter Games (1998). Despite being unprepared, Scapinello and the other officials managed to learn the differences in rules between Olympic ice hockey and ice hockey in the NHL.
His career includes 2,500 regular season games, 426 playoff games, the Canada Cup, the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, three All-Star games, including the 1979 Challenge Cup and Rendez-vous '87, and 21 Stanley Cup Finals. Of these feats, the most impressive is the fact that he never once missed a game due to injury or illness.