By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photos: Tim Bates/OJHL Images + Windsor Star

Three former OHA players have been hired by the National Hockey League for the 2018-19 NHL season. Mitch Dunning and Michael Markovic have been selected as Referees and Tyson Baker, who was named the OHA Top Prospect Linesman in 2017-18, has been selected as a Linesman. 

Tecumseh, Ontario’s Mitch Dunning played parts of three seasons of junior hockey in the OHA from 2008 to 2012 with the Lambton Shores Predators (now the Komoka Kings), Chatham Jr. Maroons, Belle River Canadiens (now the Lakeshore Canadiens) and the Elmira Sugar Kings. He also played parts of two seasons in the OHL with the Sarnia Sting and Windsor Spitfires. Dunning was recruited to join the OHA Officiating Staff in 2015 and progressed to the OHL as a Linesman and to the AHL as a Linesman and Referee.

Michael Markovic, a native of Toronto, Ontario, played four seasons in the OHA from 2006 to 2010 in the OPJHL/OJHL with the Durham Fury, North York Rangers and Bowmanville Eagles. Markovic was recruited to join the OHA Officiating Staff in 2016 and progressed to the OHL as a Referee and to the AHL as a Referee and Linesman.  

Tyson Baker, from Thorndale, Ontario, played junior hockey in the OHA from 2011 to 2016 in the GOJHL with St. Marys and Stratford before starting as an official in 2016 with the Stratford Referee Association. In 2017 he was recruited to join the OHA Officiating Staff as a Linesman and progressed to the OHL and AHL as a Linesman.