

NHLOA Member since 1998
Birthplace:Verdun, QC
Regular Season: 1,452 Games
Playoffs: 172 Games
Stanley Cup Finals: 3
* Game numbers updated as of Sep 1, 2022
Marc Joannette
The Verdun, QC native started his officiating journey at the early age of 14 after his father, an organizer in the local minor hockey association, suggested he attend an officiating camp. It didn’t took long before he fell in love with the challenge and started wearing the black and white uniform that same season.
He would continue his playing days until the age of 17 when he decided to turn his attention to officiating. Joannette spent his first three seasons mainly working all levels of minor hockey in the Lac Saint-Louis region and in the west portion of the Montreal Island. His natural talent was quickly recognize at age of 18 when he made the officiating team of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) as a linesman, a league where he would spend a total of 11 seasons. He would eventually transition to the referee position in the QMJHL.
Joannette realized around the age of 23 that his passion could potentially land him a position with the National Hockey League when he was offered to join the defunct “NHL Officiating Trainee Program”, where he was assigned to work several minor pro and junior major leagues across North America learning the ropes and gaining valuable experience while still working the QJMHL.
In the summer of 1998, after completing five full seasons in the “Trainee program”, the NHL offered him a full-time minor leagues referee contract, working primarily American Hockey League (AHL) games while gradually earning some NHL assignments.
He made his NHL debut on October 1st, 1999 in Buffalo at the old Marine Midland Arena in a game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the hometown Sabres. Joannette was promoted to a full time NHL referee status in the summer of 2000.
Milestones
First NHL Game
October 1, 1999



First Playoff Game
April 21, 2002



1000th Game
October 17, 2015



All-Star Games
2009 - MONTREAL, QC

Scotiabank Place –
January 29, 2012
Stanley Cup Finals
2018 Stanley Cup



2009 Stanley Cup



2008 Stanley Cup



International
2004 World Cup of Hockey

CAN / USA / FIN / SWE / CZE /GER
2010 Vancouver Olympics

WINTER OLYMPICS
Outdoor Games
2017 NHL 100 Classic

December 16, 2017
TD Place Stadium
Ottawa, ON



2014 Stadium Series

March 1, 2014
Soldier Field
Chicago, IL



2008 Winter Classic

January 1, 2008
Ralph Wilson Stadium
Orchard Park, NY


