CFL Officials Named for 94TH Grey Cup

Published on November 17, 2006 under Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release

WINNIPEG, MB (November 17, 2006) - The Canadian Football League (CFL) today named the officials who will call the 94th Grey Cup in Winnipeg on Sunday, November 19. The Grey Cup crew is a talented, veteran group that brings plenty of big-game experience to this year's title contest.

The officials for the 2006 Grey Cup are:

Referee #62 Jake Ireland

Umpire #39 Bob Reddekopp

Head Linesman #50 Brent Buchko

Line Judge #72 Al Bradbury

Side Judge #27 Jeff Harbin

Back Judge #70 Don Ellis

Field Judge #54 Al McColman

Alternate #32 Glen Johnson

Alternate #56 Steve Dolyniuk

The crew will be supported by a solid corps of off-field officiating staff, including:

Director of Officiating George Black

Coordinator of Officiating Josh Oubadia

Observer Art McAvoy

Supervisor & Evaluator Jacques Décarie

Supervisor & Evaluator Vern Heath

The following is some background information on this year's Grey Cup officials:

John "Jake" Ireland - Referee

Ireland is one of the League's all-time greatest officials, having worked more than 500 games in his illustrious CFL career (522 total games to date). The 59-year-old Ireland is in his 28th year of CFL officiating.

The 2006 Grey Cup game will be Ireland's 13th. The Hamilton, ON resident boasts a remarkable run of four consecutive years as the big game's head referee (1985-1988). He has been a football official for a total of 41 seasons when his days as an amateur arbiter are counted.

Ireland accelerated quickly to the position of referee in the CFL. He was a back judge for one season and a head linesman & line judge for three other campaigns before obtaining his first refereeing assignment.

A retired manager from Stelco Inc., Ireland worked the following Grey Cup games previously: 1981 (alternate), 1983 (alternate), 1985 (referee), 1986 (referee), 1987 (referee), 1988 (referee), 1990 (referee), 1992 (referee), 1994 (referee), 1996 (referee), 1998 (referee) and 2001 (referee).

Bob Reddekopp - Umpire

Reddekopp is in his 15th year as a CFL official. The 2006 title game will be the 3rd Grey Cup of his career. A consistently high-rated official, Reddekopp worked as the umpire in the 2000 Grey Cup contest between the British Columbia Lions and the Montréal Alouettes. He served in the same role in last year's game between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Alouettes. From Calgary, AB , Reddekopp has officiated 242 CFL games.

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Brent Buchko - Head Linesman

Buchko is one of the League's outstanding young officials. Only in his 9th CFL campaign, Buchko will be working his 6th Grey Cup Game. The 2006 Grey Cup will mark the sixth time in seven years the Regina, SK resident has worked the championship game. He has officiated 172 CFL games.

Al Bradbury - Line Judge

Bradbury is an excellent official who is in his 7th CFL season. The 2006 game will mark his 2nd Grey Cup appearance, as Winnipeg, MB resident worked as the line judge in the 2004 game between the British Columbia Lions and the Toronto Argonauts. Bradbury has called 107 CFL contests.

Jeff Harbin - Side Judge

Harbin makes his debut as a Grey Cup official. The six-year CFL official - who calls Toronto, ON home - will work his first Grey Cup game this Sunday. He has officiated 88 CFL games.

Don Ellis - Back Judge

Ellis is a long-serving CFL official with an impressive background. Now in his 24th season in the league, Ellis will be calling his 8th Grey Cup encounter. His other Grey Cups were 1986 (alternate), 1988 (line judge), 1992 (alternate), 1993 (back judge), 1994 (back judge), 1999 (alternate) and 2005 (back judge). From Newmarket, ON, Ellis has worked 449 CFL games.

Al McColman - Field Judge

McColman is one of the best officials to ever don the CFL stripes. Now in his 30th CFL season, McColman will work his 14th Grey Cup game this Sunday. He holds the honor of working five straight Grey Cups (2000-2004). The Hamilton, ON native has worked 565 CFL games.

His previous championships outings were: 1979 (alternate), 1988 (field judge), 1990 (field judge), 1991 (alternate), 1992 (field judge), 1993 (field judge), 1996 (field judge), 1997 (field judge), 2000 (alternate), 2001 (field judge), 2002 (field judge), 2003 (field judge) and 2004 (field judge).

Glen Johnson - Alternate Referee

Johnson is in his 17th season as a CFL official and the 2006 Grey Cup will be his 7th appearance in the title tilt. His other Grey Cup games were 1994 (alternate), 1995 (field judge), 2000 (field judge), 2002 (alternate), 2003 (alternate) and 2005 (referee). The Toronto, ON resident has called 294 games as a CFL official.

Glen and his father Gord hold the distinction of being the only father and son to have officiated Grey Cup games. Gord was an official for 16 years in the CFL and he called four Grey Cup contests - 1978 (head linesman), 1979 (head linesman), 1980 (field judge) and 1983 (back judge).

Steve Dolyniuk - Alternate

Like Harbin, Dolyniuk will work his first Grey Cup game this Sunday. Now in his 6th CFL campaign, the St. Andrews, MB resident has worked 74 CFL games.

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• CFL Officials Named for 94TH Grey Cup - CFL
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