Frederick L'Ecuyer

Frederick L'Ecuyer
L'Ecuyer watches a net front play in 2024
Born (1977-07-28) July 28, 1977 (age 47)
Saint-Tite, Quebec, Canada
OccupationIce hockey referee
Years active2007–present
EmployerNational Hockey League

Frederick L'Ecuyer (born 28 July 1977[1]) is a Canadian ice hockey referee, employed by the National Hockey League. He has worn the number 17 since the start of the 2010–11 NHL season. As of the start of the 2024–25 season, he has officiated 1,033 regular season games and 44 Stanley Cup playoff games.[2]

Early life and career

Frederick L'Ecuyer was born and raised in Saint-Tite, Quebec, located north of Trois-Rivières. He played as a centre until deciding to focus on refereeing at age 16.[2]

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

L'Ecuyer's first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game came in the 1999-00 QMJHL season, when he worked as a linesman. Starting in the 2000-01 QMJHL season, he would make the move to become a referee, working 57 regular season and 13 playoff games over a span of three seasons.[3]

Professional career

Central Hockey League

Before the start of the 2002-03 CHL season, L'Ecuyer was hired to become a full-time referee for the Central Hockey League. His first game as an official in the league was on 18 October 2002, in a game involving the El Paso Buzzards and the San Angelo Saints.[4]

Between the fall of 2002 and the summer of 2006, he was named to be the official at the league's All-Star Game in 2005[5] and also officiated three Ray Miron President's Cup finals.[6][7][8]

American Hockey League

L'Ecuyer worked in the American Hockey League on a part-time basis starting at the beginning of the 2003-04 AHL season. His first game in the league occurred on 11 October 2003, when the Utah Grizzlies and the San Antonio Rampage played at the AT&T Center.[9]

During his time in the league, L'Ecuyer saw two appearances in the Calder Cup finals: 2009[10] and 2010.[11]

National Hockey League

L'Ecuyer was hired by the National Hockey League prior to the start of the 2007-08 NHL season.[12] On 11 October 2007, he made his National Hockey League debut, when he officiated a game between the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre.[13][14] For his first game and through the time he was on an AHL/NHL contract, he wore sweater number 48.

Before the start of the 2010-11 NHL season, L'Ecuyer was promoted to a full-time spot on the officiating roster. His first game that season was one between the Buffalo Sabres and the Ottawa Senators at what is now known as the Canadian Tire Centre.[15]

L'Ecuyer officiated his 1,000th game in the NHL on March 14, 2024, between the Tampa Bay Lightning the New York Rangers.[16] He became the 48th referee to achieve the milestone, and the seventh from Quebec.[17]

Stanley Cup playoffs

L'Ecuyer made his on-ice playoff debut during the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs.[18] He was the standby official for Game Three between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. At 3:44 of the second period, play was halted due to an injury sustained by Chris Rooney.[19] As per NHL rule during the playoffs, a standby official is named to every game. As Rooney was unable to continue, L'Ecuyer took over officiating duties.

For the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, L'Ecuyer was named as one of the 20 officials who would work regular games in the first round.[20]

Personal life

L'Ecuyer lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Featured Officials". NHL Officials Association. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Frederick L'Ecuyer | NHL Referee | NHL Officials Association". NHLOA. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
  3. ^ "L'Ecuyer's career games worked in the QMJHL". Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  4. ^ "El Paso Buzzards vs San Angelo Saints (game #6, 2002-03 season)". Pointstreak. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Northern Conference vs Southern Conference (ASG, 2004-05 season)". Pointstreak. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Laredo vs Bossier-Shreveport (PCF game three / game #36, 2004 President's Cup playoffs)". Pointstreak. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Colorado vs Laredo (PCF game three / game #36, 2005 President's Cup playoffs)". Pointstreak. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Bossier-Shreveport vs Laredo (PCF game one / game #G1, 2006 President's Cup playoffs)". Pointstreak. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Utah Grizzlies vs San Antonio Rampage (game #18, 2003-04 season)". Pointstreak. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Moose, Bears ready to meet in 2009 Calder Cup Finals". theahl.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Calder Cup Finals series preview". theahl.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  12. ^ "NHL Promotes 2 - Hires 2". NHL Officials Association. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  13. ^ "New York Islanders vs Toronto Maple Leafs (game #53, 2007-08 season)". NHL.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  14. ^ "A dream comes true". NHL Officials Association. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Game Summary: Buffalo Sabres vs Ottawa Senators (game #10, 2010-11 season)". NHL.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Brayden Point Scores Hat Trick and Nikita Kucherov Amasses Five Points as Tampa Bay Lightning Overwhelm Rangers)". NHL-Schedules.com. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Arbitrer 1000 matchs dans la LNH, l'exploit de Frédérick L'Écuyer". TVA Sports (in Canadian French). 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
  18. ^ "Game Summary: Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers (ECQF game three / game #113, 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs)". NHL.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Play-by-Play: Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers (ECQF game three / game #113, 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs)". NHL.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  20. ^ "2015 Stanley Cup Playoff Referees Announced". Scouting the Refs. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.