Yahoo Sports Officials Announced For Warrior/ECHL Hockey Heritage Classic
On Thursday, the ECHL announced the four officials who will work the 2025 Warrior/ECHL Hockey Heritage Classic Jan. 18 at Wings Event Center In Kalamazoo.
Austin O’Rourke and Rocco Stachowiak have been selected as referees for the game, while Chad Fuller and Matthew Heinen will be the linespeople.
The game, which will feature the Toledo Walleye and Kalamazoo Wings, is part of Hockey Heritage Week that also includes induction of the 17th ECHL Hall of Fame Class on Jan. 17.
“We’re proud to announce the four officials selected to work the ECHL Hockey Heritage Game in Kalamazoo,” ECHL Director of Officiating Operations Riley Yerkovich said in a statement. “Their selection is a reflection of their hard work, professionalism and commitment to excellence in officiating. This honor is well-deserved, and we congratulate them on this achievement.”
A FanFest event, presented by Discover! Kalamazoo and Firekeepers, will take place at 2 Pm prior to the Saturday game. The FanFest will feature interactive games, player autographs and balloon animals. An open skate will also take place during the event.
A Lafayette, Louisiana native, O’Rourke started officiating after playing college hockey at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. He began his career officiating in the USA Hockey Officials Development Program. After one season in the program, he made the jump to professional hockey and has worked the past three seasons in the ECHL.
Stachowiak, born and raised in Chicago, began officiating at age 12. He decided to pursue an officiating career after his playing days ended. He started in the Officiating Development Program as a linesman before making the switch to refereeing.
Fuller, a Detroit native, graduated from Wayne State University. Prior to joining the ECHL, he was selected to work the Robinson Cup Final, the USHL Top Prospects Game, the 2018 Clark Cup Finals and the 2019 Top Prospects Tournament.
Heinen, a Minnetonka, Minn. Native, is in his fifth season working in the ECHL. His time in the league includes Conference Finals appearances in 2022, 2023 and 2024, earning a spot in the Kelly Cup Finals the past two seasons.
