Scouting The Refs follows hockey officials across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and other leagues around the world, including news, rule changes and interpretations, suspensions, and statistics on officials and penalty calls. Todd Lewis is a veteran broadcaster covering the NHL and other major league sports; a former host on the NHL Network and on NHL Network Radio, he’s also worked for TSN and Sportsnet as a host/anchor. Josh Smith is the founder of Scouting the Refs, the leading independent resource related to hockey officiating. #RefsPodcast
Getting ready for the 2026-27 NHL regular season with a jam-packed episode this week:
Zegras gets a penalty for tucking his jersey (https://scoutingtherefs.com/2026/09/52829/first-jersey-tuck-penalty-in-13-years-called-on-flyers-zegras/) -- the first time it's been called in 13 years!
Canucks' Chytil injured after run-in with ref
Kraken's Ottavainen gets his revenge (https://scoutingtherefs.com/2026/09/52895/krakens-ottavainen-fined-as-aggressor-in-altercation-with-flames-othmann/) on the Flames' Othmann, picking up 2, 5, and 10, including an instigator penalty
Caps' Cristall gets the first fine of the preseason (https://scoutingtherefs.com/2026/09/52741/caps-cristall-gets-major-game-for-cross-check-to-face/) for a crosscheck to the face
Three suspensions to start the season as McAvoy and Grieg carry over, and Hellebuyck is a no-show
Soucy's controversial hit takes out Zellweger
Sens' Blais hits Leafs' Blankenberg, then Brisson steps in but avoids an instigator penalty
Blackhawks' Spellacy gets tossed for a headbutt, but no fine or suspension
Refs rack up the miles last season (https://scoutingtherefs.com/2026/09/52766/3-1-million-miles-the-nhls-most-traveled-officials/) - 3.1 million of 'em
Visit scoutingtherefs.com (http://scoutingtherefs.com/) and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ScoutingTheRefs/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/scoutingtherefs/), Threads (https://www.threads.com/@scoutingtherefs), BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/scoutingtherefs.bsky.social), and Twitter/X (https://x.com/ScoutingTheRefs). Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com
Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/refspodcast)
18 Sept 2026
Protect Ya Neck!
Enter the 32 Teams! The NHL is back from summer break and so is the Scouting the Refs Podcast. There's not much summer reading to catch up on with only one change to the NHL rulebook. Like Wu Tang said, protect ya neck!
On this week's show:
Five retiring NHL officials
Four promotions
Six new hires join the NHL stripes
The lone rule change in the NHL rulebook
Three rule changes in the WHL, including one that could revolutionize overtime
NHL players offer their suggestion on rule tweaks, and we weigh in on what might work and what might never happen
Visit scoutingtherefs.com (http://scoutingtherefs.com/) and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ScoutingTheRefs/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/scoutingtherefs/), Threads (https://www.threads.com/@scoutingtherefs), BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/scoutingtherefs.bsky.social), and Twitter/X (https://x.com/ScoutingTheRefs). Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com
Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/refspodcast)
22 Jun 2026
The Stanley Cup Final Finale!
That's a rap on the 2025-26 NHL season, as the Carolina Hurricanes claimed the Stanley Cup in Game 6 over the Vegas Golden Knights. Wrapping up:
Referee Golfin' Garrett Rank takes a tumble
Canes' Jason Blake gets called for tripping. A marginal tripping call? In the Stanley Cup Final?
Tomas Hertl pushes the puck to win a draw. "You can't do that," says Rule 67 (and liney Trent Knorr, who saw it all happen)
An AHL penalty shot call sends the announcer into a frenzy. Listen to him complain about it... and then undermine his argument!
Congrats to the ECHL's Kelly Cup Champion Florida Everblades, who won - and got dumped.
and what topics might be on tap at the upcoming NHL Board of Governors' meetings? Rule changes, perhaps?
...
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Visit scoutingtherefs.com (http://scoutingtherefs.com/) and follow @scoutingtherefs and @toddlewissports on Twitter/X, Instagram, BlueSky, and Threads. Email us your questions - heyref@scoutingtherefs.com
Questions? Comments? Just looking to vent? Call the RefLine and leave us a message at 585-484-REFS! #RefsPodcast (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/refspodcast)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,895,071
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.4 / 5
13 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
14 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 76 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
81
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
90
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