Jordan Carriere's final game as a linesman in the WHL was December 29, 2025 between the Prince Albert Raiders and the Swift Current Broncos. (Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nick Nielsen

Hanging up the skates

Carriere hangs up his skates as linesman in junior hockey

Dec 31, 2025 | 12:15 PM

In the final home game of 2025 for the Prince Albert Raiders, a Prince Albert local stepped on to the ice for the final time as an official. Jordan Carriere figures his game count as a linesman is somewhere in the ‘several thousands’ between senior, AAA, SJHL, junior B, and WHL, but now that side of his career has come to an end.

“I think I would have been 12 or 13 years old when I started up in North Battleford there. Kind of just got the bug in the ear and said ‘give it a go’. That would have been, oh, boy, probably 2008, so it’s been I think upwards to 19 or so years now.”

Along with his career in education, Carriere has carried a deep passion for his time as a linesman. Part of the reason he came from his home town in the Battlefords to Prince Albert was so that he could chase officiating in a higher league.

What originally started as a way to make some extra money as a kid quickly turned into a passion of his, and it’s affected the way he even sits on his couch to watch a game.

When it comes to particular moments in his career, there’s a few games he talks about, but the one he comes back to is a game that happened back in the 2019 cup run with the Raiders against the Portland Winterhawks.

LOCAL TALENT

'We're entwined and entangled': Meadow Lake teacher behind medal design for 2026 Sask. Winter Games

7h ago

Health care

SHA clarifies data leaked to NDP about emergency room at Victoria Hospital

7h ago

Snow rescue

Good Samaritans help neighbours after storm

8h ago

During that game, there were no fights, a few offsetting penalties handed out, but overall pure skill heading back and forth on the ice took centre stage.

“I think it was maybe in the first or second period, and I just remember thinking to myself, ‘there will never be a hockey game at work that’s better than this one.’ Just the speed, the skill, there was very limited stoppages just because of the game, the skill.”

Aside from that display of speed and skill against Portland, Carriere also liked to get involved in games where tensions ran high and boiled over. Even though he’s eaten his fair share of punches intended for players on opposing teams, those games have been some of his favourites with some stories to tell that won’t be shared in the news or on the radio.

“There’s a couple we had where there was some multi-fight situations. Those are always the fun ones just because you’re kind of in there like a dirty shirt and that’s your job as a linesmen, to be in there breaking that stuff up. Those ones are pretty fun.”

If there’s one thing about officiating that Carriere wants more people to know, it’s how much work goes into actually getting to the rink to get games done. Often times Carriere would leave work, run home where his wife had already packed his gear and a bite to eat for him, and he’d leave right away to eat in the car and make sure he arrived at the game on time.

“We were joking about it last (Monday) night, there’s so many people that don’t realize that this isn’t our job. This is a hobby; this is something we do on the side,” he said.

Carriere had a lot of people to thank for his time as a linesman from the people who first brought him to a referee clinic to the mentors he’s had through his career, and he is still going to lines a few games in senior hockey this season. Now, he hopes to give back to the younger generation of officials who are coming up through the ranks.

The best piece of advice he had to offer: if you’re even thinking about it, give officiating a try.

For more from Carriere’s career as a linesman, listen in to the intermissions during Saturday’s broadcast on Brandt Raider Radio when the Prince Albert Raiders take on the Regina Pats.

—

Nick.Nielsen@pattisonmedia.com