Frederick L'Ecuyer

{{Infobox person

| name = Frederick L'Ecuyer

| image = Dunn grubauer 2 26 (53558695620).jpg

| alt =

| caption = L'Ecuyer watches a net front play in 2024

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|07|28}}

| birth_place = Saint-Tite, Quebec, Canada

| alma_mater =

| employer = National Hockey League

| occupation = Ice hockey referee

| years_active = 2007–present

}}

Frederick L'Ecuyer (born 28 July 1977{{cite web|title=Featured Officials|url=http://www.nhlofficials.com/previous_fo.asp?member_id=2490|website=NHL Officials Association|accessdate=30 October 2015}}) is a Canadian ice hockey referee, employed by the National Hockey League. He has worn the number 17 since the start of the 2010–11 NHL season. {{As of|2024|10|alt=As of the start of the 2024–25 season|post=}}, he has officiated 1,033 regular season games and 44 Stanley Cup playoff games.{{Cite web |title=Frederick L'Ecuyer {{!}} NHL Referee {{!}} NHL Officials Association |url=https://nhlofficials.com/nhl-officials/current/frederick-lecuyer/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=NHLOA |language=en-US}}

Early life and career

Frederick L'Ecuyer was born and raised in Saint-Tite, Quebec, located north of Trois-Rivières. He played as a centre until deciding to focus on refereeing at age 16.

=Quebec Major Junior Hockey League=

L'Ecuyer's first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game came in the 1999-00 QMJHL season, when he worked as a linesman. Starting in the 2000-01 QMJHL season, he would make the move to become a referee, working 57 regular season and 13 playoff games over a span of three seasons.{{cite web|title=L'Ecuyer's career games worked in the QMJHL|url=http://www.lhjmq-records.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=2147483648&id_register=1309|accessdate=30 October 2015}}

Professional career

=Central Hockey League=

Before the start of the 2002-03 CHL season, L'Ecuyer was hired to become a full-time referee for the

Central Hockey League. His first game as an official in the league was on 18 October 2002, in a game involving the El Paso Buzzards and the San Angelo Saints.{{cite web|title=El Paso Buzzards vs San Angelo Saints (game #6, 2002-03 season)|url=http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=15628|website=Pointstreak|accessdate=30 October 2015}}

Between the fall of 2002 and the summer of 2006, he was named to be the official at the league's All-Star Game in 2005{{cite web|title=Northern Conference vs Southern Conference (ASG, 2004-05 season)|url=http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=176275|website=Pointstreak|accessdate=30 October 2015}} and also officiated three Ray Miron President's Cup finals.{{cite web|title=Laredo vs Bossier-Shreveport (PCF game three / game #36, 2004 President's Cup playoffs)|url=http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=108137|website=Pointstreak|accessdate=30 October 2015}}{{cite web|title=Colorado vs Laredo (PCF game three / game #36, 2005 President's Cup playoffs)|url=http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=200948|website=Pointstreak|accessdate=30 October 2015}}{{cite web|title=Bossier-Shreveport vs Laredo (PCF game one / game #G1, 2006 President's Cup playoffs)|url=http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=310762|website=Pointstreak|accessdate=30 October 2015}}

=American Hockey League=

L'Ecuyer worked in the American Hockey League on a part-time basis starting at the beginning of the 2003-04 AHL season. His first game in the league occurred on 11 October 2003, when the Utah Grizzlies and the San Antonio Rampage played at the AT&T Center.{{cite web|title=Utah Grizzlies vs San Antonio Rampage (game #18, 2003-04 season)|url=http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=44618|website=Pointstreak|accessdate=30 October 2015}}

During his time in the league, L'Ecuyer saw two appearances in the Calder Cup finals: 2009{{cite web|title=Moose, Bears ready to meet in 2009 Calder Cup Finals|url=http://theahl.com/moose-bears-ready-to-meet-in-2009-calder-cup-finals-p132221|website=theahl.com|accessdate=30 October 2015|archive-date=26 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226140133/http://theahl.com/moose-bears-ready-to-meet-in-2009-calder-cup-finals-p132221|url-status=dead}} and 2010.{{cite web|title=Calder Cup Finals series preview|url=http://theahl.com/calder-cup-finals-series-preview-p142897|website=theahl.com|accessdate=30 October 2015}}

=National Hockey League=

L'Ecuyer was hired by the National Hockey League prior to the start of the 2007-08 NHL season.{{cite web|title=NHL Promotes 2 - Hires 2|url=http://www.nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=158|website=NHL Officials Association|accessdate=30 October 2015}} On 11 October 2007, he made his National Hockey League debut, when he officiated a game between the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre.{{cite web|title=New York Islanders vs Toronto Maple Leafs (game #53, 2007-08 season)|url=http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20072008/GS020053.HTM|website=NHL.com|accessdate=30 October 2015}}{{cite web|title=A dream comes true|url=http://www.nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=233|website=NHL Officials Association|accessdate=30 October 2015}} For his first game and through the time he was on an AHL/NHL contract, he wore sweater number 48.

Before the start of the 2010-11 NHL season, L'Ecuyer was promoted to a full-time spot on the officiating roster. His first game that season was one between the Buffalo Sabres and the Ottawa Senators at what is now known as the Canadian Tire Centre.{{cite web|title=Game Summary: Buffalo Sabres vs Ottawa Senators (game #10, 2010-11 season)|url=http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20102011/GS020010.HTM|website=NHL.com|accessdate=30 October 2015}}

L'Ecuyer officiated his 1,000th game in the NHL on March 14, 2024, between the Tampa Bay Lightning the New York Rangers.{{cite web|title=Brayden Point Scores Hat Trick and Nikita Kucherov Amasses Five Points as Tampa Bay Lightning Overwhelm Rangers)|url=https://www.nhl-schedules.com/news/brayden-point-scores-hat-trick-and-nikita-kucherov-amasses-five-points-as-tampa-bay-lightning-overwhelm-rangers/|website=NHL-Schedules.com|accessdate=15 March 2024}} He became the 48th referee to achieve the milestone, and the seventh from Quebec.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-22 |title=Arbitrer 1000 matchs dans la LNH, l'exploit de Frédérick L'Écuyer |url=https://www.tvasports.ca/2024/03/22/arbitrer-1000-matchs-dans-la-lnh-lexploit-de-frederick-lecuyer-1-1 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=TVA Sports |language=fr-CA}}

==Stanley Cup playoffs==

L'Ecuyer made his on-ice playoff debut during the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs.{{cite web|title=Game Summary: Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers (ECQF game three / game #113, 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs)|url=http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20102011/GS030113.HTM|website=NHL.com|accessdate=30 October 2015}} He was the standby official for Game Three between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. At 3:44 of the second period, play was halted due to an injury sustained by Chris Rooney.{{cite web|title=Play-by-Play: Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers (ECQF game three / game #113, 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs)|url=http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20102011/PL030113.HTM|website=NHL.com|accessdate=30 October 2015}} As per NHL rule during the playoffs, a standby official is named to every game. As Rooney was unable to continue, L'Ecuyer took over officiating duties.

For the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, L'Ecuyer was named as one of the 20 officials who would work regular games in the first round.{{cite web|title=2015 Stanley Cup Playoff Referees Announced|url=http://scoutingtherefs.com/2015/04/8236/2015-stanley-cup-playoff-referees-announced/|website=Scouting the Refs|date=13 April 2015 |accessdate=30 October 2015}}