Shawn Oliver

Oliver, an Ottawa native, began his lifelong involvement with hockey at age two on a backyard rink built by his father. After playing defense throughout his minor hockey career, he transitioned to officiating at 15, starting with Hockey Eastern Ontario. His aptitude for officiating quickly became apparent, and within two years, he was officiating competitive hockey.

From that point forward, Oliver has dedicated himself to advancing through the ranks, aiming for a full-time career as an official to give back to the sport.

At 18, he became one of the youngest officials in the Ontario Hockey League, honing his skills over five seasons. A significant career advancement occurred in 2021 when he was recruited into the American Hockey League, coinciding with the temporary relocation of the Belleville Senators to Ottawa. He continues to officiate in the AHL.

Oliver has had the honour of officiating at major national and international events, including the 2022 World Junior Championships in Edmonton and the 2023 World Juniors in Halifax and Moncton.

His participation in the 2023 and 2024 NHL Exposure Combine underscores his commitment to professional development. Last season, he was selected to officiate the 2025 Canadian University Sport National Championship Finals and the 2025 Calder Cup Finals.

In the summer of 2025, Oliver was offered an NHL minor league, linesperson contract by the Director of Officiating Stephen Walkom.