While Team Canada won’t be taking part in the gold medal game at the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Bratislava, Slovakia, there will be Canadian content on the ice when the puck drops at Orange Arena.
Referee Darcy Burchell (Hamilton, Ont.) and linesmen Chris Carlson (Edmonton, Alta.) and Kiel Murchison (Surrey, B.C.) have been selected to officiate Sunday’s game between Sweden and Finland. Swiss referee Brent Reiber will complete the four-man team.
Sunday’s game will mark the first time a Canadian official has worked the IIHF World Championship gold medal game since Kevin Acheson officiated the game between the Czech Republic and Slovakia at the 2000 tournament in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Burchell, who officiates games in the American Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League during the regular season, has also worked at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 2009 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Moorhead, Minn., and Fargo, N.D., and 2008 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, Division III, Group A in Mexico City, Mexico.
Carlson worked the lines at the 2010 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Minsk and Bobruisk, Belarus, and 2008 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, Division III, Group A in Mexico City, Mexico, while Murchison served at the 2010 IIHF World Championship, Division II, Group A in Mexico City, Mexico and 2009 IIHF World Championship, Division III in Dunedin, New Zealand.
All three officials are products of the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, which certifies officials for all levels of competition across Canada and internationally.