

NHLOA Member since 1996
Birthplace: Woodstock, ON
Regular Season: 1,766 Games
Playoffs: 200 Games
Stanley Cup Finals: 5
* Game numbers updated as of Oct 1, 2023
Brad Kovachik
Kovachik was born and raised in Woodstock, Ontario, a city located about an hour west of Toronto. The former centerman, played his youth hockey there dreaming just like any other Canadian kids of making the NHL as a player. He would go on and play until the junior levels dressing up for the Woodstock Navy Vets in the Provincial Junior Hockey League of the Ontario Hockey Association in his final three seasons (1989 to 1992). His officiating journey started at the early age of 12, working local games at the old Woodstock Perry Street Arena on the weekends to earn a few bucks. Nine years later, Kovachik was hired by the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as a linesman. He worked the OHL for a total of three seasons and was selected to work the prestigious Memorial Cup tournament hosted in Peterborough, Ontario in his last season (1995-96). His on-ice performance during the tournament earned him the ultimate assignment of working the championship game between the host team, the Peterborough Petes and the Granby Prédateurs. The National Hockey League (NHL) offered him a minor leagues linesman contract that summer. He made his NHL debut in Phialdelphia on October 10th, 1996 when the Los Angeles Kings were in town to play the Flyers. His teammates that night were referee Stephen Walkom and linesman Ron Asseltine. It only took him one season as a minor league linesman under contract before being promoted to a full time NHL linesman status in the summer of 1997.
Milestones
First NHL Game
October 10, 1996



First Playoff Game
April 14, 2001



1500th Game
March 1, 2019



All-Star Games
2012 - OTTAWA, ON

Scotiabank Place –
January 29, 2012
Stanley Cup Finals
2023 Stanley Cup



2022 Stanley Cup



2020 Stanley Cup



2017 Stanley Cup



2014 Stanley Cup



International
2004 World Cup of Hockey

CAN / USA / FIN / SWE / CZE /GER
2014 SOCHI Olympics

WINTER OLYMPICS
Outdoor Games
2017 Stadium Series

February 25, 2017
Heinz Field
Pittsburgh, PA



2008 Winter Classic

January 1, 2008
Ralph Wilson Stadium
Orchard Park, NY


