Nikolai Sukhov becomes first Estonian hockey referee to participate in prestigious US program
From June 8 to 13, the USA Hockey Western Futures Officiating Development Camp 2026 took place in Colorado Springs, featuring 20 selected officials, including Estonian referee Nikolai Sukhov.
A training camp for promising young hockey officials, the USA Hockey Western Futures Officiating Development Camp 2026, was held from June 8 to 13 in Colorado Springs, USA. Among the 20 referees selected for the camp, 16 represented USA Hockey, with only four spots available for international participants. Estonian hockey referee Nikolai Sukhov was one of those four officials from IIHF member countries invited to attend, according to Icehockey.ee.
The camp was organized jointly by USA Hockey and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Its goal is to support young and promising referees on an international level. The program included theoretical sessions, on-ice training, officiating games, and individual feedback from experienced USA Hockey instructors.
The Estonian Ice Hockey Association stated on its official website that participating in this prestigious development program provides Sukhov with valuable international experience and confirms that Estonian hockey officials are becoming increasingly visible on the international stage. Sukhov thus became the first Estonian referee to take part in this program.
