Shandor Alphonso

Shandor Alphonso is a Canadian ice hockey linesman, currently working in the National Hockey League. He has worn sweater number 52 since joining the NHL prior to the start of the 2014-15 season.

Shandor Alphonso
Born (1984-05-24) May 24, 1984
Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
OccupationIce hockey linesman
Years active2011–present

Playing career

Alphonso was chosen in the 7th round (140th overall) of the 2000 OHL Priority Selection, by the Sudbury Wolves. He spent three seasons with Sudbury, picking up 73 points in 183 games. After spending the 2004–05 season in the OPJHL, he played five years at Lakehead University before finishing his playing career in the WOAA with the Shelburne Muskies.

Officiating career

Prior to the 2009-10 season, Alphonso attended the NHL's Amateur Exposure Combine, a program for former junior and college players who had an interest in becoming an official.[1] He decided to become an official, instead of continuing his playing career.

On 25 September 2011, Alphonso worked his first Ontario Hockey League game in Oshawa, as the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds played against the Oshawa Generals.[2]

He attended the combine again (then called the Officials Exposure Combine), in 2014,[3] before signing a minor league contract that September.[4] His first NHL game came on 17 October 2014, when the Florida Panthers faced off against the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo.[5] In 2015 (his first season under the contract), he worked the American Hockey League's Calder Cup final series between the Utica Comets and Manchester Monarchs.[6]

Before the 2016-17 season, Alphonso was promoted to a full-time NHL linesman.[7]

On 14 February 2017, Alphonso was slashed in the leg by Anaheim Ducks centre Antoine Vermette, who was reportedly unhappy with a faceoff conducted by Alphonso. Alphonso did not suffer any injury on the play, but Vermette was assessed a game misconduct and was suspended 10 games by the league the next day.[8]

Personal life

Before he joined the NHL's officiating staff in 2014, Alphonso had worked for RBC Bank as a financial planner.[9] He left the company in October of that same year.[10]

gollark: I'm sure you could rig up some really horrible assemblage of mirrors instead.
gollark: Just disassemble more Mercury.
gollark: (Nobody likes Mercury, and it's near the sun)
gollark: *Ideally* we would convert Mercury into solar panels with self-replicators of some sort, but you know.
gollark: If you wanted to actually deploy them as, you know, solar panels, you would need more space than that.

References
  1. Douglas, William (8 October 2015). "Alphonso and Sharrers share bond in NHL's zebra fraternity". The Color of Hockey. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  2. "Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs Oshawa Generals; 11-12 OHL season". Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  3. Benjamin, Amalie (29 August 2018). "NHL grooming next generation of officials at Exposure Combine". NHL.com. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  4. "Shandor Alphonso's biography". NHL Officials Association. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  5. "Shandor Alphonso - First NHL Game". NHL Officials Association. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  6. "AHL Morning Skate: June 6". American Hockey League. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  7. Halliday, Chris (6 October 2016). "Orangeville man promoted to full-time NHL referee". Orangeville Banner. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  8. "Antoine Vermette of Ducks suspended 10 games". NHL.com. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  9. Bennett, Donnovan (18 April 2018). "How a financial advisor became the NHL's only active black official". Sportsnet. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  10. Halliday, Chris (3 October 2014). "Orangeville man trades financial planning portfolio for NHL referee whistle". Orangeville Banner. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
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