from Bob Condor of NHL.com,

A professional hockey official like Marcus Vinnerborg knows his best games occur when he effectively goes unnoticed on the ice.

There is one exception, especially if you are Vinnerborg, who has worked in Sweden’s Elitserien, the country’s top professional league, since 2000. That’s if Terry Gregson, NHL Senior Vice President and Director of Officials, and his staff are watching you work.

On Thursday, Vinnerborg, 37, was announced as the first European-trained official to join the National Hockey League officiating staff next season. Vinnerborg will be assigned to the American Hockey League but over the course of the season it is expected that he will be assigned to work NHL regular-season games.