Chris Schlenker

Chris Schlenker (born 9 July 1984 ) is a Canadian ice hockey referee, currently working in the National Hockey League. He has worn sweater number three since being promoted to the NHL before the start of the 2018-19 season; prior to the promotion, he wore 48. , he has officiated 425 regular season games.

Playing career Schlenker made his junior playing debut with the St. Albert Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in 2000, playing in three games before making the jump up to the Western Hockey League during the 2000-01 season. He joined the Regina Pats, and played his first game on 1 December 2000, when Regina played against the Brandon Wheat Kings. It would be the only game he would play that season, as he was sent to the Alberta Midget Hockey League to play for the MLAC Maple Leafs.

He was part of the Pats roster until 2003-04, when he was sent to the Prince Albert Raiders in a January trade. At the time of the trade, he was the captain of Regina. Schlenker would remain with the Raiders until the end of the 2004-05 season.

In 2005, he signed with the Stuttgart Wizards of the German Oberliga, playing 11 games in his lone season in the league. He played senior hockey in Saskatchewan the following season.

International tournaments In 2002, Schlenker was named to Canada's inaugural roster for the IIHF World U18 Championships.

Officiating career Western Hockey League In 2012, Schlenker rejoined the WHL, coming onboard as a referee.

He was named as one of the five referees who would work in the 2016 Memorial Cup, held in Red Deer, Alberta. He also received the Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy in 2016 as the WHL's top official that season.

American Hockey League Schlenker was hired by the American Hockey League before the start of the 2015-16 season. His first regular-season game came on 17 October 2015, in a game between the Albany Devils and Toronto Marlies in Toronto, Ontario.

His first regular-season game in the AHL while being on a minor-league deal was on 14 October 2016, as the St. John's IceCaps faced off against the Hartford Wolf Pack in Hartford, Connecticut.

During his tenure in the AHL, Schlenker worked the Calder Cup finals in 2017 and 2018.

National Hockey League

Prior to the 2016-17 season, Schlenker was hired by the NHL on a minor-league contract. He worked his first regular-season game on 24 October 2016, in a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens.

Schlenker was promoted to the full-time officiating roster before the start of the 2018-19 NHL season, after working 59 games in parts of two seasons. His first game as a full-time NHL official came on 3 October 2019, when the Anaheim Ducks faced off against the San Jose Sharks.

Personal life Upon retiring from his playing career, Schlenker joined the Medicine Hat Police Service. He stayed onboard for ten years, leaving when he joined the NHL.

His son, Marek, is a goaltender currently playing with the Regina Pats. He was selected by the Portland Winterhawks in the eighth round of the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2000–01 St. Albert Saints AJHL 3 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2000–01 Regina Pats WHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2001–02 Regina Pats WHL 72 6 19 25 197 6 0 2 2 10 2002–03 Regina Pats WHL 70 5 17 22 188 2 0 0 0 11 2003–04 Regina Pats WHL 44 5 9 14 114 — — — — — 2003–04 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 27 2 6 864 6 0 1 1 2 2004–05 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 70 7 16 23155 17 1 9 10 45 2005–06 Stuttgart Wizards Oberliga 11 5 3 890 — — — — — 2006–07 Eston Ramblers SaskWHL 19 17 27 4484 6 3 8 11 21WHL totals 284 25 67 92 718 31 1 12 13 68