The ECHL has named the officials for the 2026 Kelly Cup Finals between the Kansas City Mavericks and Florida Everblades. A total of 11 officials were selected based on their strong performances during the regular season and the first three rounds of the playoffs. This includes five referees and six linespeople who will oversee the best-of-seven championship series.
The referee crew features Emile Charron making his first appearance in the Kelly Cup Finals, alongside Logan Gruhl in his fourth, Tyler Hascall in his third, Will Kelly in his second, and Austin Rook in his first. The linespeople include Nicolas Boivin, T.J. Dockery, Bryan Gorcoff, Matthew Heinen, Odin Nelson, and Quinn Schafer, with Nelson and Schafer also making their Kelly Cup Finals debut.
Casey Terreri, ECHL Manager of Officiating Operations, praised the group for their work. “Congratulations to the 11 officials who have earned the opportunity to represent the ECHL Officiating Staff in the 2026 Kelly Cup Finals,” Terreri said. “Each of these officials has been selected based on the merit of their performance in regular season and through the first three rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. I am extremely proud of the hard work each of them has put in to this point, and I am confident that they will continue to work at the highest level in the Kelly Cup Finals.”
The 2026 Kelly Cup Finals will begin on June 5 with Game 1 in Kansas City at 7:05 p.m. CT. The series will feature three games in Florida before potentially returning to Kansas City for Games 6 and 7. The Mavericks and Everblades will be looking to bring home the championship in front of their home fans.
With a total of 11 officials selected and three first-time participants among them, the ECHL is emphasizing consistency and quality in the postseason. The series will be closely watched as both teams aim for their first Kelly Cup title in recent years. The Mavericks are appearing in their second Kelly Cup Finals in franchise history while the Everblades are chasing their fourth.
The first two games will be played in Kansas City before the series shifts to Florida for Games 3 and 4. The series is set to conclude by June 17, with the champion crowned in either Estero or Kansas City.
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