Ready For His 13th Season, CJ Marshall Knows The ‘Importance Of Having Fun’ As An On-Ice Official

By Ross Forman
CJ Marshall had a unique start to his officiating career when he was 12 years old.

“I remember breaking my skates playing my morning bantam game, having to go to Total Hockey (to) buy new skates and get to the game,” for his officiating debut, he said. “I only fell a few times and lined up in the end zone facing the boards once. 

“I kept getting better each game and even in season 13 I am always finding something to work on during games.”

Marshall, 28, who lives in Chicago, has 12 years of officiating memories – with plenty of high-profile games, and is now a top-tiered level 4 official who worked about 60 games last season. 

Marshall works local AA and AAA games, high school action, plus the NAPHL in Minnesota and Michigan, the USPHL, the NA3HL and ACHA college hockey.

“I have worked in the advanced officiating development program as well as the development program in Illinois and am grateful for the opportunity to work as much junior and college hockey as I can. Working in college and junior hockey is some of the most fun I have and I really enjoy that level of hockey,” he said.

Marshall also skated the 2026 Illinois High School Hockey State Championship Game in Rosemont, when Saint Viator won its first-ever state championship, defeating New Trier Green.

Also last season, Marshall skated the USPHL playoffs, NA3HL games as a referee, and more.

“I was 12 and wanted some extra cash, so my dad got certified with me and I did 10 games my first season. My dad never worked a game, and at 14 I put away my stick and traded it for a whistle because officiating was so much more fun to me,” he said.

Marshall works as a buyer for a food service company, Restaurant Depot. 

He had a short playing career. “I grew up a house league goalie, then stopped playing at 14 and focused on officiating. I have gone much further as an official than I ever would have as a player,” he said. “As a goalie, you get to see the ice and the whole play, which really helps you get a feel for watching the whole play as an official.

“I remember winning a few tournaments (as a player), but I think my highlight would be just growing up playing house league with my dad as my head coach. Early morning practices and all the time spent at the rink together was so fun and I am glad I was able to have him on the bench all those years.”

Marshall said the advanced development program and so many IHOA members have aided his hockey journey – “from getting me in contact with the right people so I could officiate in another state during college, to advancing me to higher level games after I came back from a few years off and got recertified as a level one. Everyone in the IHOA organization are amazing people and make officiating a lot of fun for all of us.”

And yes, he has fond on-ice memories. Such as, his first game working in the NA3HL, “which was held in an actual barn,” he said. “In the summer where the ice was, they would have cattle auctions. I had no idea what to expect, and skating out before the anthem was the loudest I had ever heard an arena, and it was completely dark before they started the light show. I was nervous, but once the puck dropped and play started, it was just another hockey game and I was having fun with my teammates.”

Marshall praised many local officials who have helped his career, including Brett Straley, Scott Gaffney, Kendall Hanley, Ian Carlson and Brad Baumruck. “They have helped me develop as an official and further my career; without their support I would not be the official I am today,” he said.

“I would like to add the importance of having fun (as an official). This is a game, one that we all love. Coaches and parents will get mad, players will get mad, and we will have bad games we want to forget. Lean on the partners you have on the ice, call another official and talk about it, and move on to the next game.”