The USA Hockey Officiating Development Program and the United States Hockey League announced today that Bryan Pancich a native of Great Falls, MT has been hired by the National Hockey League as a linesman for the 2009-10 season. Pancich was signed to a 40/40 contract which will see him working games in the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League until a full-time linesmen position becomes available at the NHL level. He also becomes the first official signed directly from the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program and the United States Hockey League by the NHL. The 26 year old Pancich began working with the ODP at age of 17 years first working games in his home town of Billings, MT in the America West Hockey League. Later he relocated to the Midwest and over the course of nine seasons in the program had a number of significant assignments including working multiple USHL All-Star Games, USHL Championship Rounds, the American Hockey League playoffs and five Calder Cup Finals appearances from 2005-2009.

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