USA Hockey has announced that Roger Newall is representing New Mexico with the Chet Stewart Award.

A longtime official and volunteer with USA Hockey, Newall has been a mainstay in the Rocky Mountain District hockey scene since the mid-1980s, when he began working as a USA Hockey official in New Mexico.

Having risen to a Level 4 certified official during his career, Newall has officiated at virtually all levels of the sport throughout the years, including from youth, junior and adult, to his time working minor league hockey in the now-defunct Western Professional Hockey League.

He helped restart the Land of Enchantment Amateur Hockey Association back in 1986 and has been involved with the New Mexico Hockey Referee Confederation, including both as treasurer since 1996 and in scheduling since 2009.

Newall, who has played goaltender throughout his 50-plus-year playing career, spent two years (2003-05) as the Rocky Mountain District referee-in-chief and for the last 10 years has served as the database coordinator for the district.

Additionally, Newall earned his Level 5 coaching certification from USA Hockey in 1995 and for 30 years (1988-2017) served on the player development camp staff for the Rocky Mountain District.

Outside the rink, Newall is a U.S. Air Force veteran, having served in Vietnam as Special Operations Flight Crewmember, receiving a Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart among other distinguished awards during his service.

He worked as the Veterans Affairs Liaison in the Mayor’s Office of the City of Albuquerque for six years until his retirement in 2017.

Photo/USA Hockey

(June 6, 2022)