Women Officials to Work Games at NHL Prospect Tournaments
As originally reported by NHL.com, four women officials will officiate NHL rookie tournaments in Irvine, Buffalo, Nashville and Traverse City.
All four officials were selected after participating in the 2019 NHL Exposure Combine in August.
The NHL is the only major professional sports league to not have a woman officiate in its' league, exhibition or regular season. They are looking to change that.
Congrats to the following four women for blazing the trail on the path to a female officials working in the NHL:
Katie Guay
- Officiated for 14 years, including 2018 PyeongChang Olympics
- Currently referees men's & women's NCAA Division 1 hockey
- Played Division I hockey for Brown University & USA Hockey's Under-22 team
- Will officiate the Rookie Faceoff in Irvine, California
Kelly Cooke
- Officiated for 10 years
- Licensed referee for IIHF & NCAA Division I
- Played Division I hockey for Princeton
- Will officiate at the Nashville Prospects Showcase
Kirsten Welsh
- First introduced to officiating at the 2019 NHL Exposure Combine
- Played Division I hockey for Robert Morris University (the same university that current NHL referee Furman South played for)
Kendall Hanley
- Officiating in her 12th season
- Licensed linesman with the IIHF, NCAA (Division I & III), & National Women's Hockey League
- Entering 4th season as a linesman in USA Hockey Officiating Development Program, working the USHL, NAHL & NA3HL junior hockey leagues
- Played Division III varsity hockey for Elmira College and SUNY Oswego