Shandor Alphonso

{{short description|Canadian ice hockey linesman (born 1984)|bot = PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Shandor Alphonso

| image =

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| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|05|24}}

| birth_place = Orangeville, Ontario, Canada

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| alma_mater = Lakehead University

| employer = National Hockey League

| occupation = Ice hockey linesman

| years_active = 2014–present

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Shandor Alphonso (born May 24, 1984) is a Canadian ice hockey linesman, currently working in the National Hockey League. He has worn sweater number 52 since joining the NHL prior to the start of the 2014-15 season. Alphonso has officiated 664 regular season games and 37 Stanley Cup playoff games {{As of|2024|10|alt=as of the start of the 2024–25 season|post=}}.{{Cite web |title=Shandor Alphonso {{!}} NHL Linesman {{!}} NHL Officials Association |url=https://nhlofficials.com/nhl-officials/current/shandor-alphonso/ |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=NHLOA |language=en-US}}

Playing career

Alphonso played minor hockey with the OMHA’s Halton Hurricanes, and was chosen in the 7th round (140th overall) of the 2000 OHL Priority Selection by the Sudbury Wolves.{{Cite web |title=2000 Ontario Hockey League Draft -- Round 7 |url=https://hockeydraftcentral.com/2000/ohl/00ornd7.htm |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=hockeydraftcentral.com}} He spent three seasons with Sudbury, picking up 73 points in 183 games. After spending the 2004–05 season in the OPJHL, he played five years at Lakehead University before finishing his playing career in the WOAA with the Shelburne Muskies. Alphonso was a left winger.{{Cite web |title=Shandor Alphonso - Stats, Contract, Salary & More |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/61194/shandor-alphonso |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.eliteprospects.com |language=en}}

Officiating career

Prior to the 2009-10 season, Alphonso attended the NHL's Amateur Exposure Combine, a program for former junior and college players who had an interest in becoming an official.{{cite web |last1=Douglas |first1=William |title=Alphonso and Sharrers share bond in NHL's zebra fraternity |url=https://colorofhockey.com/2015/10/08/alphonso-and-sharrers-share-bond-in-nhls-zebra-fraternity/ |website=The Color of Hockey |accessdate=13 February 2019 |date=8 October 2015}} He decided to become an official, instead of continuing his playing career.

On 25 September 2011, Alphonso worked his first Ontario Hockey League game in Oshawa, as the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds played against the Oshawa Generals.{{cite web |title=Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs Oshawa Generals; 11-12 OHL season |url=http://ontariohockeyleague.com/reports/games/17563/official |website=Ontario Hockey League |accessdate=13 February 2019}}

He attended the combine again (then called the Officials Exposure Combine), in 2014,{{cite web |last1=Benjamin |first1=Amalie |title=NHL grooming next generation of officials at Exposure Combine |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/exposure-combine-previews-future-of-referees-and-linesmen/c-299882964https://www.nhl.com/news/exposure-combine-previews-future-of-referees-and-linesmen/c-299882964 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=13 February 2019 |date=29 August 2018}} before signing a minor league contract that September.{{cite web |title=Shandor Alphonso's biography |url=http://www.nhlofficials.com/nhl-officials/view/3 |website=NHL Officials Association |accessdate=13 February 2019}} His first NHL game came on 17 October 2014, when the Florida Panthers faced off against the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo.{{cite web |title=Shandor Alphonso - First NHL Game |url=http://www.nhlofficials.com/articles/view/34 |website=NHL Officials Association |accessdate=13 February 2019 |date=18 October 2014}} In 2015 (his first season under the contract), he worked the American Hockey League's Calder Cup final series between the Utica Comets and Manchester Monarchs.{{cite web |title=AHL Morning Skate: June 6 |url=https://theahl.com/ahl-morning-skate-june-6 |website=American Hockey League |accessdate=13 February 2019 |date=5 June 2015}}

Before the 2016-17 season, Alphonso was promoted to a full-time NHL linesman.{{cite web |last1=Halliday |first1=Chris |title=Orangeville man promoted to full-time NHL referee |url=https://www.orangeville.com/news-story/6898249-orangeville-man-promoted-to-full-time-nhl-referee/ |website=Orangeville Banner |accessdate=13 February 2019 |date=6 October 2016}}

On 14 February 2017, Alphonso was slashed in the leg by Anaheim Ducks centre Antoine Vermette, who was reportedly unhappy with a faceoff conducted by Alphonso. Alphonso did not suffer any injury on the play, but Vermette was assessed a game misconduct and was suspended 10 games by the league the next day.{{cite web |title=Antoine Vermette of Ducks suspended 10 games |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/ducks-antoine-vermette-suspended-10-games/c-286835584 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=16 February 2019 |date=16 February 2017}}

Personal life

Before he joined the NHL's officiating staff in 2014, Alphonso had worked for RBC Bank as a financial planner.{{cite web |last1=Bennett |first1=Donnovan |title=How a financial advisor became the NHL's only active black official |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/financial-advisor-became-nhls-active-black-official/ |website=Sportsnet |accessdate=13 February 2019 |date=18 April 2018}} He left the company in October of that same year.{{cite web |last1=Halliday |first1=Chris |title=Orangeville man trades financial planning portfolio for NHL referee whistle |url=https://www.orangeville.com/news-story/4895292-orangeville-man-trades-financial-planning-portfolio-for-nhl-referee-whistle/ |website=Orangeville Banner | accessdate=13 February 2019 | date=3 October 2014}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! rowspan="101" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Regular season ! rowspan="101" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Playoffs
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
2000–01 \| Orangeville Crushers \| MWJHL \| 47	11	11	22	67 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2001–02 \| Sudbury Wolves \| OHL \| 58	4	14	18	37 \| 5	0	0	0	2
2002–03 \| Sudbury Wolves \| OHL \| 66	15	21	36	60 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2003–04 \| Sudbury Wolves \| OHL \| 59	6	13	19	46 \| 6	0	1	1	6
2004–05 \| Milton Icehawks \| OPJHL \| 42	22	35	57	45 \| 11	6	8	14	16
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2005–06 \| Lakehead Thunderwolves \| CIS \| 21	2	4	6	36 \| —	—	—	—	—
2006–07 \| Lakehead Thunderwolves \| CIS \| 26	2	5	7	20 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2007–08 \| Lakehead Thunderwolves \| CIS \| 26	5	4	9	29 \| —	—	—	—	—
2008–09 \| Lakehead Thunderwolves \| CIS \| 14	2	1	3	24 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2009–10 \| Lakehead Thunderwolves \| CIS \| 24	7	8	15	12 \| —	—	—	—	—
2010–11 \| Shelburne Muskies \| WOAA \| 12	1	7	8	8 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"\|OHL totals ! 183 !! 25 !! 48 !! 73 !! 143 ! 11 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 !! 8
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" ! colspan="3"\|CIS totals ! 111 !! 18 !! 22 !! 40 !! 121 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! —