Two OHL Officials Selected to Work 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship

TORONTO – The Ontario Hockey League is pleased to congratulate two officials with OHL ties who have been selected by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to officiate at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Minnesota.

OHL referee Hayden Verbeek and OHL linesperson Luke Pye are among the 24 officials chosen to work the annual international tournament, which runs from December 26, 2025, to January 5, 2026, with games split between Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Pye continues to build an impressive resume at the national and international level. He most recently worked the 2025 U SPORTS Hockey Championships and previously officiated the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge as well as the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, featuring many of the world’s top under-18 players.

Verbeek brings a unique perspective to the officiating ranks as a former Ontario Hockey League player. Selected by the Soo Greyhounds in the fourth round, 71st overall, of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection, Verbeek played five OHL seasons through 2018 before signing an entry-level NHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens, playing six seasons professionally. Following time overseas during the 2023-24 season, he shifted fully from playing to officiating and has quickly progressed to the international stage.

Verbeek and Pye are part of an international officiating lineup that includes 12 referees and 12 linespersons representing 10 countries. Both are working their first-ever World Junior Championship.

“As a League, we are incredibly proud to see Hayden and Luke earn this opportunity,” said OHL Director of Officiating Conrad Haché. “The World Junior Championship is one of the biggest stages in international hockey, and being selected speaks to their consistency, professionalism, and commitment to officiating at the highest level.”

The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship opened on Friday, with Verbeek and Pye beginning their assignments Saturday as Germany faces Slovakia at 1:00 p.m. ET.

The tournament features the world’s top under-20 players and is one of hockey’s most-watched international events, placing officials under intense scrutiny alongside elite talent from across the globe.

The Ontario Hockey League continues to serve as a key development pathway not only for players but for officials advancing to the international stage.