Alumni gets promotion

PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL announced that Joe Ernst has been promoted to director of officiating replacing Bryan Lewis, who will remain with the league as a consultant.

Ernst will be responsible for all aspects of the officiating department, including the recruitment, training, supervision and scheduling of on-ice officials, as well as the administration of rules and directives.

“We thank Bryan for his leadership in elevating the ECHL officiating staff to an important part of a young official’s path to the National Hockey League,” said Rod Pasma, ECHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations. “Joe has tutored under Bryan for the past two years and has gained valuable knowledge to make this transition seamless. His on-ice background and first-hand experience of the inner workings of management make him an ideal person to lead our officiating department into the next chapter of our history.”

Ernst has worked the last two seasons as assistant director of officiating following 16 seasons as an on-ice official in the Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League. He also worked in the American Hockey League and the original International Hockey League, including the Calder Cup Playoffs and the Turner Cup Playoffs. He was a member of the National Hockey League official trainees program for seven years, including working three NHL preseason games.

“I would like to thank Bryan Lewis for all that he has done to prepare me for this opportunity. Being able to work with him for the last two seasons has been a very valuable and needed learning experience,” said Ernst. “I would also like to thank everyone at Oglebay Resort who I have worked with for the last eight years.”

Born in Hamburg, N.Y., Ernst worked the ECHL playoffs for 16 consecutive years and officiated more than 200 postseason games, including the Kelly Cup Finals from 2002-07 and the Riley Cup Finals in 1993, 1994 and 1995. He refereed more than 1,000 regular season games in the ECHL and in 1999 was selected as the referee for the ECHL All-Star Game.

Lewis was director of officiating for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons after working as a consultant in 2006-07 and 2005-06. He will continue to assist with the administration of training camp, recruiting and rules and directives as well as working in a supervisory capacity.

The NHLOA and all its Members would like to congratulate Joe on this well-deserved promotion. No doubt his dedication and his work ethic will make this new challenge a very successful one.