Brandon M. Blandina, born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was a hockey player and coach before transitioning into a referee. Blandina, born on March 16, 1989, grew up nearby in Centennial, CO, where he played minor hockey. At 18, he joined the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Indiana Ice during the 2007-2008 season. Following a year in the USHL, Blandina played four seasons (2008-2012) for the Robert Morris University hockey team, graduating in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management.
During the 2008-09 season, he saw action in 27 games, scoring his first collegiate goal in a win at Lake Superior State on November 22. Blandina also contributed with assists throughout the season. In the 2009-10 season, he played in 32 games, notching 10 points, including his first goal against Alaska Anchorage on October 17. Blandina recorded his first multi-point game on January 30 at Bemidji State and earned a -1 plus/minus rating for the season.
In the 2010-11 season, he appeared in all 35 games, accumulating 13 points with a season-best two points in a game against Niagara on October 30. His goal at Niagara on November 30 served as the game-winner, and he finished the season with a plus/minus rating of 0, achieving a season-best +2 rating at Niagara. Blandina also blocked 14 shots during the season and received Academic All-Atlantic Hockey recognition.
After two seasons in the East Coast Hockey League, he founded an off-ice hockey training center in Pittsburgh, PA, in 2014. While coaching the Pittsburgh Pens Elite Girl 14U team, he returned to Robert Morris University in 2016 as a volunteer assistant coach. During this time, he also began officiating minor hockey games in the Pittsburgh area.
In the summer of 2017, inspired by former teammate Furman South, Blandina attended the NHL Officials Exposure Combine. After working in the North American Tier III Hockey League (NA3HL) and the American Hockey League (AHL), he impressed the NHL recruiting staff at the Combine again in 2018, earning a minor league referee contract. In 2022, Blandina achieved full-time NHL referee status, following in the footsteps of his fellow Robert Morris University alum, Furman South.
Brandon Blandina Salary
Brandon Blandina is a relatively new NHL referee, having debuted in 2022. As such, his exact salary is not publicly available. However, NHL referees typically earn between $150,000 and $500,000 per year. This range depends on experience, performance, and additional roles.
Blandina has already officiated some high-profile games, including playoff contests. He previously played in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Indiana Ice and the Robert Morris University hockey team.
Based on these factors, Brandon Blandina's NHL referee salary is likely somewhere in the range of $150,000 to $250,000 per year. As he gains more experience and officiates more important games, his salary could climb toward the top of the range, or even beyond.
FAQs
A: Blandina, born in 1989, played in the USHL and for Robert Morris University before transitioning to coaching and eventually becoming an NHL referee.
A: He debuted as an NHL referee in 2022, marking the beginning of his officiating career at the highest level.
A: Blandina played four seasons for the Robert Morris University hockey team, contributing to the team's success and earning a degree in Business Administration.
A: NHL referees typically earn between $150,000 and $500,000 annually. Blandina's estimated salary is within the range of $150,000 to $250,000.
A: After playing and coaching, Blandina attended the NHL Officials Exposure Combine in 2017, securing a minor league referee contract before achieving full-time NHL referee status in 2022.
