Chad (middle left) and Cody (middle right) Huseby -- with Chris Schlenker (right) and Carter Sandlak (left) -- each officiated their first NHL game on Friday, Dec. 23 at Rogers Place in Edmonton where the Oilers were hosting the Canucks. (Photo: Chad Huseby)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

from rocky mtn house to the big leagues

Red Deer’s brothers Huseby make NHL officiating debut after emergency call-up

Dec 27, 2022 | 8:52 AM

Cody Huseby was dressed as Buddy the Elf at 8 a.m. on Dec. 23.

Huseby was at his day job, teaching at Red Deer’s Father Henri Voisin elementary, where it was the last day of school before the holiday break.

By 8 p.m. Cody and identical twin brother Chad, who grew up in Rocky Mountain House, were donning the NHL logo as linesmen in their big league debut for the Oilers versus Canucks tilt at Rogers Place.

The Husebys, whom fans will recognize from Red Deer Rebels games where they’ve lined many a night, got a call early Friday. The question was if they’d be available to head up the QEII because scheduled linesmen Caleb Apperson’s and Travis Gawryletz’s travel plans were being snarled by the weather.

“Looking back on it less than 24 hours later, it was just a whirlwind of a day. We found out early, around seven, after a call from Brad Meier with the NHL, asking if we’d be available to work the game. Obviously when you get the call, you’re pretty surprised, and we had to get some final confirmation,” says Cody.

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“The day was already busy with it being the last day of school; we got so many texts, and had to do a couple video chats with NHL folks. It’s pretty wild that I was dressed up as an elf; it’s just one of those crazy stories. Once we got confirmation, the principal made an announcement over the P.A. system, and everyone at the school was excited. I was definitely feeling the love.”

Cody says once the game came around, there was a healthy level of comfort because of how many games the brothers have officiated together over 25 years — not to mention referee Chris Schlenker was officiating, and the brothers knew him from his WHL days.

“Some of the players knew what was going on, so they were really good coming up to us to say congratulations. One guy, I think [Connor] Garland from Vancouver, was asking how many years we’ve been working in the American League (AHL), and of course it’s our first year in the AHL, so I told him that and his eyes got big. He was saying, ‘You already got promoted?’ and I think he was thinking we were in the NHL to stay. It was funny, and there were other moments where it was like we were living in a surreal dream,” Cody recalls.

“It’s definitely a goal of any official or player growing up in Canada that you want to make it to the NHL. It’s always in the back of your mind but you have to be realistic because there are only 40 referee spots and 40 linemen spots. That said, it’s cool to see how much respect we’ve been able to earn and it makes us feel good for sure.”

Brother Chad says he’s back at it Dec. 27 at the Centrium when the Rebels are return from the WHL holiday break, then he has an AHL assignment early in the New Year — so it’s simply a waiting game to see if they get another shot in the NHL.

“It was a crazy, crazy day. Meier said he had the confidence we could go in and do the job, which was nice to hear,” shares Chad, who also has experience with the World Juniors and Memorial Cup.

“There wasn’t an official contract signing, but we obviously had a few conference calls with the league offices, including with [Vice President and Director of Officiating] Stephen Walkom and his staff, to talk about technicalities and the way they do things, and how it differs from what we’re used to.”

Chad and Cody harkened back to their younger years on the drive up, he adds.

“It was amazing to share this experience with Cody. We’ve got some things we do that we don’t do with anyone else we work with,” says Chad. “It’s been a 25-year journey and we talked about that on the way to Edmonton. We were also lucky enough to have some family in attendance. It started out as a part-time job in Rocky Mountain House to earn some cash to buy five-cent candy at the concession, and hockey cards. Now it’s turned into getting a chance to skate in the NHL with the best players in the world.”