Brand Lands New Gig

The USHL's Scott Brand has landed a new job. He is the Director of Officiating of the SPHL.

Mr. Brand will NOT be leaving the USHL, but will just have a bigger workload.

The Southern Professional Hockey League has announced that the league has secured the services of the USA Hockey Officiating Development program for the 2008-09 season. The SPHL has also named Scott Brand as the league’s Director of Officiating. The USA Hockey Officiating Development Program is in its 12th season and has developed over 250 officials for Division I College and Professional Hockey. The development program responsibilities include the identification, the recruitment, training and assignments of talented aspiring officials from the United States. The program oversees several junior leagues in the US, including the United States Hockey League (America’s only Tier I Junior A league), the North American Hockey League (America’s only Tier II Junior A League) and 6 other hockey leagues. The USA Hockey Officiating Development Program also works very closely with the Central Hockey League, ECHL, International Hockey League and American Hockey League.
“We are all very happy to strengthen the bond with USA Hockey and to have Scott Brand serve as our Director of Officiating. He has been an asset to the SPHL over the past 5 years and we look forward to his continued involvement” Jim Combs, SPHL Commissioner.

Scott Brand begins his twelve season with the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program and has an extensive hockey background. Brand was a player in junior hockey, setting a league penalty minute record, an on-ice official in juniors and professional hockey including the International Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League. After retiring from the ice, Brand became the General Manager of the Waterloo (Iowa) Black Hawks (USHL) and then the Vice-President of Operations for the Dubuque (Iowa) Fighting Saints. He is also responsible for the return of baseball in Waterloo, Iowa bringing the Waterloo Bucks of the Northwoods League to town. “I am excited to be part of the Southern Professional Hockey League; this is a big step for both the league and our program. In our dealing with the coaches and board of governors, they have been professional and understand our officiating development program. Our guys are going to make mistakes, but we pride ourselves on our accountable and on our development record.”

The SPHL is a 6 team league located in the Southeast United States with teams in Huntsville, AL; Columbus, GA; Knoxville, TN; Richmond, VA; Fayetteville, NC; and Winston-Salem, NC.