Jake Brenk, born on April 16, 1982, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, is a former American professional ice hockey player turned referee. He began his career at Minnesota State University, Mankato, playing for the college's ice hockey team in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. In the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, he was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fifth round at 154th overall.
After completing his studies in the 2004/05 season, Brenk joined the Greenville Grrrowl in the ECHL for eleven games. Over the years, he played for various teams, including the Adirondack Frostbite, Pensacola Ice Pilots, and the Nijmegen Emperors in the Dutch Eredivisie, where he proved to be a key scorer with 47 goals in 34 games.
Brenk returned to North America, joining the New Mexico Scorpions in the Central Hockey League in the summer of 2006. After a brief stint in Sweden, he played for the Ruijters Eaters Geleen in the 2008/09 season. In May 2009, he moved to EHC Dortmund in the German Oberliga. After a hiatus from playing, Brenk returned to EHC Dortmund in 2012.
Notably, Jake Brenk transitioned to a refereeing role in the National Hockey League in 2015, showcasing his continued dedication and involvement in the sport. On the morning of November 12th, 2015, Jake Brenk, who was on a road trip in San Diego, CA, working for the American Hockey League, received the call he had long awaited.
Referee Dave Jackson, originally assigned to officiate a game that night in Glendale, AZ, had been diagnosed with an injury that same morning, necessitating the NHL to make an emergency call-up from their pool of minor league contracted officials. Seizing the opportunity, Brenk swiftly boarded a plane, flew to Arizona, checked into the hotel in mid-afternoon, and made his NHL debut later that night.
Remarkably, his debut took place with the team that had drafted him 14 years earlier, the Edmonton Oilers, facing off against the Arizona Coyotes. Following this unexpected opportunity, Brenk spent the subsequent two seasons under a minor league referee contract before earning a promotion to full-time referee status in the summer of 2017.
Jake Brenk Salary
Specific salary information for Jake Brenk as an NHL referee is not publicly available. NHL referee salaries can vary based on factors such as experience, tenure, and the specific terms negotiated between the officials and the NHL. Additionally, salary details for individual referees are generally not disclosed by the league or the officials themselves. However, based on his experience, performance, and additional roles, we can estimate that his salary falls somewhere between $150,000 and $250,000 per year.
FAQs
A: Jake Brenk shifted to an NHL referee role in 2015 after concluding his playing career, making his debut on November 12th, 2015, in an emergency call-up scenario.
A: Brenk played for Minnesota State University, Mankato, and various teams, including the Greenville Grrrowl, Adirondack Frostbite, Pensacola Ice Pilots, and the Nijmegen Emperors.
A: Brenk made his NHL referee debut on November 12th, 2015, stepping in last-minute to officiate a game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Arizona Coyotes.
A: Jake Brenk's diverse playing career likely brings valuable insights to his role as an NHL referee, enhancing his officiating capabilities with a unique perspective gained from on-ice experience.
A: Jake Brenk's specific NHL referee salary is undisclosed, but an estimated range falls between $150,000 and $250,000 annually, considering typical compensation for NHL referees based on experience and tenure.
