Shick enjoyed a 23-year career as an NHL referee, officiating 1,321 regular seasons, 130 playoffs and two All-Star games, and the 2001 Stanley Cup final between New Jersey and Colorado.

The Port Alberni native refereed his first game on April 6, 1986, between Toronto and Detroit at the Joe Louis Arena and wore the red armband for the last time on March 7, 2009, as Minnesota played Los Angeles at the Staples Centre.

Shick also worked the third longest playoff game in NHL history, the Eastern Conference semifinal match at Pittsburgh that began on May 4, 2000, and was not decided until the early morning of May 5 when Keith Primeau of the Philadelphia Flyers scored 92:01 into overtime to beat the Penguins.

Shick is married and lives in California with his wife and four children.