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Linesman's Legacy: 19 Stanley Cup Finals Worked
31 Oct
Summary
- Linesman officiated 19 Stanley Cup Final series during his career.
- Pavelich was the brother of four-time Stanley Cup champion Marty Pavelich.
- He worked games at three historic Detroit Red Wings arenas.
Matt Pavelich, a distinguished figure in hockey officiating, recently passed away at the age of 92. His career spanned across three iconic Detroit Red Wings venues: Olympia Stadium, Joe Louis Arena, and Little Caesars Arena.
During his 23 seasons as an NHL linesman, Pavelich officiated an impressive 1,727 regular-season games and 245 Stanley Cup playoff games. Notably, he worked the lines in 19 Stanley Cup Final series, including four involving the Detroit Red Wings in 1961, 1963, 1964, and 1966.
Pavelich's career also saw him serve as an NHL supervisor of officials. His tenure concluded with the deciding game of the 1979 Stanley Cup Final. His brother, Marty Pavelich, was a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Red Wings.
In recognition of his extensive contributions, Matt Pavelich was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987, an event that marked the first time linesmen were included in the Hall's expanded nominations.
