"We are pleased for Ghislain, who earned the right to join the NHL Officiating Staff due to his solid work in the ECHL," said ECHL Director of Officiating Bryan Lewis. "The ECHL is pleased that the NHL has recognized the ECHL as a prime proving ground for young and aspiring officials and we look forward to other officials from our league being given the same opportunity as Ghislain."

"The time I spent in the ECHL was an important part of my development as a referee," said Hebert, who will work some games in the NHL and primarily in the American Hockey League. "The level of play and the supervision and instruction that is given to ECHL officials provide a perfect environment for a young referee who wants to work at the next level."

In addition to Hebert there are 17 former ECHL officials scheduled to work as part of the NHL officiating team in 2008-09 with referees David Banfield, Chris Ciamaga, Mike Leggo, Wes McCauley, Dean Morton, Dan O'Rourke, Brian Pochmara, Kevin Pollock, Kyle Rehman, Chris Rooney, Justin St. Pierre, Ian Walsh and Dean Warren and linesmen Steve Barton, Brian Mach, Tim Nowak and Jay Sharrers. Barton, Leggo, McCauley, Nowak, Pollock, Rooney and Sharrers all worked the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs.