He served as a committee member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) from 1993 to 2008, and was a supervisor of officials at World Championships and Winter Olympic Games.

His contributions to the IIHF and international ice hockey were recognized in 2008 when he received the Paul Loicq Award.

[1][2][7] He made his professional referee debut at age 19, and was the youngest official in the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League.

[5][8] Okoličány became chairman of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation in 1990, and served a chair of the youth commission.

In December 1992, Ján Mitošinka was elected as the new chairman, who in turn nominated Okoličány as vice-president of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation.

[1][2] Okoličány was the manager of the Slovakia men's national ice hockey team at the 1993 Olympic qualification.

[11][12] He stated that new referees were rarely chosen for the championship final, and his goal was to prepare officials for future Winter Olympic Games.

[3][4] In May 2008, Okoličány was honored with the Paul Loicq Award, presented for "special contributions to the IIHF and international ice hockey".

[13] Fasel said in memoriam, "The entire international ice hockey family is devastated by Juraj's death.

[5][13] Juraj Okoličány was the fourth generation of a notable Slovak hockey family formerly named Okolicsányiovci, originating from the town of Liptovský Mikuláš.

[5] His son Martin won a Slovak championship playing hockey in Ružinov, but decided against a career as a referee to the disappointment of his father.