Stéphane Provost

Stéphane Provost (May 5, 1967 – April 22, 2005) was a French Canadian National Hockey League (NHL) linesman.

Career Provost played as a defenceman prior to his officiating career, playing two seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the Verdun Junior Canadiens and the Saint-Jean Castors between 1985 and 1987. He then worked as an official in the QMJHL from 1989 to 1994.

Tributes Following his death, officials in the QMJHL wore his officials uniform number 72 on their helmet for the remainder of the 2004–05 QMJHL season. Provost died during the 2004–05 NHL lockout and was followed in death only five weeks later by Hall of Fame official John D'Amico; both were honoured by their colleagues when games in the NHL resumed, including wearing a patch on their uniforms with his number. Provost's uniform number of 72 is now retired in his memory and no longer issued to NHL linesmen. Provost was also close friends with Major League Baseball umpire Alfonso Márquez, who also wears #72 and hung out with Provost on the night of his death.