Veteran referee will end his career at the Grey Cup

EDMONTON – Veteran referee Bud Steen will lead the CFL’s top-rated officiating crew for this weekend’s Grey Cup in the final game of his 30-year career.

Steen, who has 509 games under his belt, will be working the title match for the seventh time when the defending champion Montreal Alouettes take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday.

The Edmonton native will take over as the league supervisor in the city, replacing Bill Wright, who will also be working his final game.

Wright has served 31 years as an on-field official and supervisor, and been part of the CFL in some capacity for 49 years.

"With so many years of officiating service between them, these fine gentlemen have served our league well, making our game better and, through their leadership and mentorship, making our officials better," said Tom Higgins, the CFL’s director of officiating, said in a release Tuesday.

"But let’s be clear: this Grey Cup assignment was not handed out as some sort of farewell or thank you. Bud will be on the field because his crew graded out at the top over the course of the season, and Bill will be supervising because we have tremendous faith in him."

Joining Steen on the field Sunday will be: umpire Ritchie Miller, head linesman Boris Velcic, line judge Rob Hill, side judge Rob Skaggs, back judge Carey Anderson, field judge Brian Chrupalo, alternates Dave Hawkshaw and Andre Proulx, and replay official Jake Ireland.

Combined they have 2,123 games of CFL experience.

The CFL’s Command Centre for replay review will be used for the second time in a Grey Cup game, supported by Higgins, Wright and senior adviser, football operations George Black.