NHL Ref Garrett Rank Sinks a 6-Foot Putt For His 4th Title, and We Need to Talk About His Second Act

Garrett Rank, usually found enforcing the rules on NHL ice, just made a six-foot par putt on the final hole on Friday, officially crowning him a four-time winner of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

The Ice-Cold Nerve That Won It All

Talk about clutch! Rank entered that final round trailing Evan Nachtigall by two shots, but by the time they hit the 18th, they were dead even at 18-under. Nachtigall, trying to get to the green, hit the bunker and ended up with a bogey. That gave Rank the golden opportunity to win with just two putts. Did he crumble under pressure? Not a chance.

Rank himself summed up the moment perfectly: “As soon as I saw my ball was on the back of the green, I knew it was a good time for lag putt to try and two putt, and luckily enough I was able to make the 6-footer at the end to win.” That’s the kind of confidence you love to see, knowing exactly what you need to do and then executing. It was an absolute nail-biter, a classic finish to take home that title.

This Guy Is Way More Than Just a Ref

Let’s be real: when you hear “NHL referee,” you’re not usually thinking “four-time national golf champion.” But Garrett Rank is clearly built different. This isn’t some casual hobby; this is serious golf. Winning his fourth Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship proves he’s got legitimate game. It’s not every day you see someone dominate at a high level in two completely different sports.

He joined the NHL officiating staff back in 2014, making his debut on January 15, 2015, between the Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres. And he even made his Stanley Cup Final debut just last season, working Games 2, 4, and 6 of the Carolina Hurricanes versus Florida Panthers series. That’s a huge stage in hockey, and he’s been there. Now, he’s just proving he can perform under pressure on the links, too. It makes you wonder what else this guy is secretly good at, right?

So, next time you see Rank calling a penalty on the ice, remember that he’s also out there sinking championship putts. The man’s got range. What’s next for him? Probably more calls on the ice, but you gotta wonder if there’s another major golf title lurking. He’s showing everyone that true competitive fire burns bright, no matter the arena.

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Bleacher Report.