A Cranbrook hockey referee has been hired by the National Hockey League, with the expectation of working most of next season in the American Hockey League.
Ben Betker, 30, spent the last season working in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), while also working in the AHL and the ECHL.
Betker played four years of major junior with the Everett Silvertips in the WHL, while being selected in the sixth round of the NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers in 2013. Following his WHL career, Betker played in the AHL and ECHL and closed out his professional career in European leagues at the end of the 2024 season.
“This means everything to me,” said Betker, in a BCHL news release. “To be able to share this success with family and friends was really cool. There is still a lot of work to do, but it’s a step in the right direction and I’m just enjoying the process.”
In just his first year as an official, after retiring from a playing career that took him to the AHL, ECHL Slovakia and Austria, Betker worked three to four games per month in the BCHL throughout the season, on top of his professional schedule.
“Getting consistent reps is huge and being able to come home from the pro schedule and work in the BCHL was really helpful to work on my craft,” he said. “Having such a great group of guys that I got to work with over the BCHL season really helped my development curve.”
The BCHL’s Officiating Department is led by Vice President of Hockey Operations Brad Lazarowich, who worked as an NHL official for 30 years and nearly 2,000 games.
“The NHL hiring Ben Betker just adds to the impressive list of accomplishments by the officiating staff in the BCHL,” said Lazarowich. “Ben came on board last year directly to us from the NHL Combine and had a very impressive year. His hard work and dedication to his officiating propelled him to the level that the NHL is looking for.”
Earlier this spring, the BCHL announced that Betker was one of 12 on-ice league officials selected to participate in the National Hockey League’s Officiating Exposure Combine that will be hosted in Buffalo, NY in August.
“The relationship that Brad [Lazarowich] has with the NHL, as well as his resume, speaks for itself,” said Betker. “I’m not sure I’d be in the position I’m in if it wasn’t for his guidance and mentorship. Any official just starting out would benefit from his 30 years of experience.”
Betker is expected to work a full season in the AHL next year with the hope of earning an NHL game towards the end of the season.
