Marc Joannette
NHL Referee

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

Tampa Bay Lightning
at
Buffalo Sabres

First Playoff Game

April 21, 2002

Detroit Redwings
at
Vancouver Canucks

1000th Game

October 17, 2015

Detroit Redwings
at
Montreal Canadiens

All-Star Games

2009 - MONTREAL, QC

Montreal All Star Game

Scotiabank Place –
January 29, 2012

Stanley Cup Finals

2018 Stanley Cup

Washington Capitals
vs
Las Vegas Golden Knights

2009 Stanley Cup

Pittsburgh Pengiuns
vs
Detroit Redwings

2008 Stanley Cup

Detroit Redwings
vs
Pittsburgh Pengiuns

International

2004 World Cup of Hockey

2004 World Cup of Hockey

CAN / USA / FIN / SWE / CZE /GER

2010 Vancouver Olympics

Vancouver Olmypics

WINTER OLYMPICS

Outdoor Games

2017 NHL 100 Classic

2017 Centennial Classic

December 16, 2017

TD Place Stadium
Ottawa, ON

Montreal Canadiens
at
Ottawa Senators

2014 Stadium Series

2014 Stadium Series

March 1, 2014

Soldier Field
Chicago, IL

Pittsburgh Pengiuns
at
Chicago Blackhawks

2008 Winter Classic

2008 Winter Classic

January 1, 2008

Ralph Wilson Stadium
Orchard Park, NY

Pittsburgh Pengiuns
at
Buffalo Sabres