Nearly five dozen officials will represent Canada on the international stage this season.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has licenced 58 Canadian officials — 29 referees and 29 linespersons — for international competition during the 2023-24 season. Specific assignments will be announced by the IIHF throughout the season.

This year’s list is headlined by Olympic officials Michael Campbell (Surrey, BC), Alexandra Clarke (Weyburn, SK), Stéphanie Gagnon (Princeville, QC), Cianna Lieffers (Saskatoon, SK), Elizabeth Mantha (Montréal, QC), Lacey Senuk (St. Albert, AB) and Justine Todd (Alliston, ON). Furthermore, 11 officials will be looking to make their international debuts during the season.

“Hockey Canada is always proud of our officials who represent Canada at the international level,” says Dan Hanoomansingh, manager of officiating with Hockey Canada. “The opportunity to participate in international competition is a career highlight for officials. Every Canadian official who is licensed by the IIHF competes for years to earn that opportunity and once they have, there’s someone trying to take their spot. The achievements of these officials are a credit to themselves, as well as their Member programs, who aided in their development.”

As part of the IIHF program for the 2023-24 season, 15 officials — seven referees and eight linespersons — will participate in the IIHF’s From Good to Great program this season. This program is in its inaugural season and is designed for individuals who have been identified by national associations as future top international officials.

“This is a fantastic initiative from the IIHF and we are thrilled for our officials who will participate,” says Hanoomansingh. “It is always an adjustment for officials when they progress from the national to the international level. However, this program will provide an opportunity for our officials to be introduced to the expectations of the international game, so that when they receive their first assignment, they can achieve immediate success.”

Four Canadians will also work as part of the IIHF officiating coaching staff this season: Todd Anderson (Calgary, AB.), Kevin Muench (Moose Jaw, SK), Jacqui Palm (Newmarket, ON) and Vanessa Stratton (Windsor, ON).

The Hockey Canada Officiating Program is for anyone who is interested in officiating, from the grassroots to the international game. Hockey Canada's 13 Members provide a path for anyone to participate in officiating, develop a love for the game and achieve their goals.

For more information about the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, visit HockeyCanada.ca/Officials.

CANADIAN OFFICIALS LICENCED FOR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS FOR 2023-24 SEASON

CANADIAN OFFICIALS PARTICIPATING IN THE IIHF FROM GOOD TO GREAT PROGRAM

Hockey Canada has selected six officials to participate in the Officiating Program of Excellence (OPOE) Women’s Summer Camp in St. Catharines, ON, presented by Hockey is Hers and the Hockey Canada Foundation. Officials will participate in on-ice practices, off-ice development and fitness testing, and officiate games as part of Canada's National Women’s Under-18 Team selection camp.

All six officials featured in U18 national championships during the 2022-23 season, highlighted by referees Darby Hucaluk and Alex Foreman, who were selected for the gold and bronze medal games, respectively, at the 2023 Esso Cup.

“We are excited to welcome this group to St. Catharines next month,” said Dan Hanoomansingh (Vancouver, BC), manager of officiating with Hockey Canada. “These officials have been monitored through the OPOE over the last year, attending regional development camps and earning selections to national championships. The summer camp is a fantastic opportunity to prepare officials for top-level success at those U18 national championships and beyond.”

The OPOE is the pathway through which Canadian officials are selected for top national and international assignments. The objectives are to provide a clear developmental pathway for aspiring elite officials, provide developmentally appropriate coaching for elite officials, prepare officials for national and international competitions, and assist Hockey Canada in making evidence-based decisions for national and international events.

“We are very grateful for the support of the Hockey Canada Foundation in supporting and development of our women officials,” said Hanoomansingh. “It is crucial that we continue to support our officials throughout the year, with both in-person and virtual mentorship opportunities. Our volunteers are second-to-none, but the Hockey Canada Foundation makes this possible.”

The officiating coaches for the Women’s Summer Camp are Hanoomansingh, Heather Richardson (Toronto, ON), and Vanessa Stratton (Windsor, ON).

For more information about the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, visit HockeyCanada.ca/Officials.

Hockey Canada is pleased to announce the recipients of the Kenneth R. Stiles Memorial Scholarships for the 2022-23 season. These scholarships are awarded annually to officials in the Hockey Canada Officiating Program of Excellence (OPOE) and help to offset the cost of post-secondary education, as officials pursue their academic and officiating goals. Hockey Canada congratulates these officials for exemplifying the principles of the OPOE through their continued success both on and off the ice.

“It is always a pleasure to be able to award the Kenneth R. Stiles Memorial Scholarships,” says Dan Hanoomansingh, Hockey Canada’s manager of officiating. “A goal of the officiating program is to facilitate excellence both on and off the ice, and the Seaman Hotchkiss Foundation helps us do that. These individuals commit a tremendous amount of time to officiating, not just at the rink, but also in their training and preparation, and to see them do that while maintaining their academic progress is a true accomplishment.”

This year’s recipients are six officials from across the country, at various stages of the OPOE, representing four Member programs:

Adam Culbert — St. Mary’s University — Hockey Nova Scotia

Adam began his officiating career in 2016 with the South Shore Minor Hockey Association and has progressed through the Hockey Canada Officiating Pathway over the last eight years. He currently officiates in the Maritime Hockey League and Atlantic University Sport. Adam was selected to officiate the 2022 National Men’s U18 Club Championship in Okotoks, AB, and officiated pre-tournament games ahead of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, while maintaining top marks in the bachelor of commerce program at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

Marc Guitard — University of Saskatchewan — Hockey Saskatchewan

Marc took his first steps in officiating in 2015 with the Prince Albert Minor Hockey Association and obtained his Member high-performance certification with Hockey Saskatchewan in 2022. He currently officiates in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and Canada West, balancing his hockey commitments with the rigorous course load at the University of Saskatchewan, where he is working towards his bachelor of engineering degree. Recently, Marc attended Hockey Canada’s West Regional Camp in Chilliwack, BC, and was selected for the Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, PE, officiating a semifinal in his first national tournament.

Michelle Ngan — McGill University — Hockey Quebec

Michelle began her officiating career in 2018 and joined Hockey Quebec’s provincial Program of Excellence, earning her Level 3 certification in 2022. She currently officiates in the LHEQ U18 AAA division and RSEQ college leagues, earning a selection for the finals of the Division 2 playoffs. A multi-sport athlete in her youth, Michelle impressed in stripes this season, while also playing for the McGill Martlets and maintaining excellent marks in pursuit of a bachelor of science in nursing.

Shadei Saadé — Collège Ahuntsic — Hockey Quebec

Shadei’s officiating career began in 2018, after a decade-long love affair with hockey. The child of immigrant parents from Lebanon, she started playing hockey in her hometown of Laval, QC, but found a new love for the sport in her role as an official. Currently, she officiates in the LHEQ U18 AAA division, as well as RSEQ college and university leagues. The 2022-23 season was a banner year for Shadei. Provincially, she began the season earning her Level 3 certification and finished with assignments to the RSEQ Division 2 semifinals and university playoffs. Nationally, Shadei attended the Hockey Canada OPOE Central Regional Camp in Montreal and earned a selection to the Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, PE. Academically, Shadei continued her studies at Collège Ahuntsic in policing, maintaining strong marks across the board.

Kaitlyn Sauser — University of Saskatchewan — Hockey Saskatchewan

Since embarking on her officiating career in 2015, Kaitlyn has taken the officiating program by storm. This season, she was recognized as the top official in the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League, while also officiating the Prairie Junior Hockey League and in Canada West. Kaitlyn has also made a name for herself on the national level in the last year. She attended Hockey Canada’s national summer OPOE camp in Calgary, earned semifinal assignments in back-to-back Esso Cups in Okotoks, AB and Prince Albert, SK, and was selected for the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, PE. Not only does Kaitlyn possess an impressive officiating background, but she also graduated with great distinction with a bachelor of science in agribusiness. Furthermore, her academic journey will continue as she pursues a master of science degree in agricultural economics starting in the fall.

Franco Veneziano — Confederation College — Hockey Northwestern Ontario

Franco first donned the stripes at the age of 13 and fell in love with officiating, even as he continued his playing career. This season, he officiated every level of hockey in northwestern Ontario, while playing Junior B for the Schreiber Falcons and continuing his education towards a diploma in business at Confederation College in Thunder Bay, ON. Franco began the 2022-23 season attending the Hockey Canada OPOE Central Regional Camp in St. Marys, ON, represented Hockey Northwestern Ontario at the Ontario Winter Games and finished the season with a selection to the finals of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.

The Kenneth R. Stiles Memorial Scholarship was established by the Seaman Hotchkiss Hockey Foundation (formerly Project 75) and Hockey Canada in 2006 in recognition of Ken Stiles, a former president of Project 75, and his tremendous contributions to grassroots hockey in Canada. Stiles was a catalyst in planning and designing an initiative aimed at players and officials who demonstrate excellence in sport and commitment to education.

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, officiating achievement and community involvement. Since 2006, the program has awarded more than $309,000 to officials across the country. Since the mid-1980s, the Seaman Hotchkiss Hockey Foundation—an oil and gas legacy from the original Flames ownership group—has donated over $7.15 million to minor hockey development initiatives in Canada, as well as other charities in Alberta.

For more information on the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, visit HockeyCanada.ca or contact your Member.

As another season comes to an end, officials are gearing up for Hockey Canada’s spring national championships.

Forty-four officials – 22 referees and 22 linespersons – from across the country have been selected by Hockey Canada for the Esso Cup, Men’s U18 National Club Championship and Centennial Cup.

Officials selected for Esso Cup

The officials chosen for the 2023 Esso Cup in Prince Albert, Sask., are part of the Women’s Officiating Program of Excellence, presented by the Hockey Canada Foundation. As part of this program, they have attended development camps, received ongoing mentorship in their Member programs and been evaluated by national officiating coaches prior to a final selection by Hockey Canada.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for these officials to finish the season with a championship event,” says Dan Hanoomansingh, manager of officiating with Hockey Canada. “These officials have shown well at our development events and we are excited to continue working with them at this championship. As always, we are incredibly grateful to the Hockey Canada Foundation for supporting this program and the development of women and girls in officiating through Hockey Is Hers.”

The officiating coaches for the Esso Cup are Hanoomansingh, Theresa Llorente (Edmonton, Alta.) and Kim Sobkowicz (Outlook, Sask.).

Officials selected for Men's U18 National Club Championship

The officials chosen for the 2023 Men’s U18 National Club Championship in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., are part of Hockey Quebec’s program of excellence. They have undergone a lengthy identification and evaluation process by Hockey Quebec during the 2022-23 season, with several attending previous Hockey Canada Officiating Program of Excellence camps and national events.

“The U18 club nationals is an exciting opportunity for the officials of the host Member program,” says Hanoomansingh. “These officials have collaborated and competed all year in their home league, forming a cohesive unit, and earned their selection to the national championship.”

The officiating coaches for the Men’s U18 Club Championship are Serge Carpentier and Doug Hayward.

Officials selected for Centennial Cup

The officials who will officiate the 2023 Centennial Cup in Portage la Prairie, Man., are the top officials in their Junior A leagues from across the country. The referees are drawn from Hockey Canada’s National High Performance Program, while the linespersons are drawn from both the National High Performance Program and their Member high performance programs. Officials were coached and evaluated throughout the season across the Canadian Junior Hockey League, prior to their final selection.

“We have high expectations for our elite officials in every game,” says Hanoomansingh. “Even with the expanded, 10-team tournament, the selections for this tournament were extremely competitive. This is an outstanding group of officials and we are looking forward to seeing them hit the ice in Portage la Prairie.”

Jenn Berezowski always wanted the opportunity to officiate at a top-level IIHF tournament.

With 15 years of experience as an on-ice official, working in numerous leagues and tournaments around Canada, Berezowski finally got the chance when she was chosen as a referee for the 2023 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Sweden.

There was just one small dilemma. Berezowski had recently given birth to her second daughter, Hannah.

“When I got the phone call in October 2022 to do the U18 Women’s Worlds in January, I was about a month postpartum with my second daughter,” Berezowski recalls. “It was going to be tight with the timing, but I couldn’t say no.”

So, a month after Hannah was born, Berezowski resumed officiating games.

“I was back on the ice again and with my daughter attached to my hip,” she says.

When it came time to leave for Sweden, Berezowski, along with her mother and baby Hannah, made the trip from their home in Trenton, Ont., across the Atlantic. Meanwhile, her husband and their eldest daughter, three-year-old Scarlett, remained at home and watched as Berezowski refereed three games, including the gold medal game that saw Canada beat Sweden 10-0 to defend its world title.

Whether it was at home or on the road, Berezowski credits friends, family and colleagues for supporting her and Hannah.

“Everyone has taken turns coming to the arena with me so that I can be away from home and continue to ref but also have her with me there so I can feed her and keep her healthy,” Berezowski says. “My colleagues have been extremely supportive, no one has blinked an eye about me feeding my baby in between periods or having a babysitter hanging around. In doing that, they are helping normalize this path locally, nationally and internationally.”

Since the U18 worlds in Sweden, Berezowski has returned to officiating various leagues across Ontario with her daughter by her side. This week, she is part of the crew working the U SPORTS Women’s Hockey Championship in Montreal.

With the added logistics of travelling with her baby, on top of being a mother of two and a referee, Berezowski is also a chartered professional accountant. She admits that the spring season is one of her busiest times of the year, with provincial championships and playoffs happening at the same time as the Canadian tax season.

“It’s all about the support I receive from everyone, including my bosses who have been very generous with allowing me to have flexible hours,” Berezowski says. “During the spring, tax season and championships come to a peak, so it’s all about giving some and taking some and being one of the hardest workers out there.”

Normalizing newborns at the rink

Since donning the stripes when she was 16 years old, Berezowski says she has only once seen a mom with her newborn at the rink. However, she is optimistic that over time, it will be commonplace.

“We used to have to choose one of the two. I would’ve had to choose between continuing to do this or is it time to have a family,” Berezowski adds. “Now, people have opened their minds to the possibilities and you can do both. I’ve been lucky to be able to pursue everything.”

Berezowski is also in contact with the growing community of women officials. Whether it’s sharing experiences or bouncing thoughts and ideas off each other, the community continues to be very supportive. By sharing her story, Berezowski hopes to serve as a role model for other women, particularly new moms.

“I have a lot of colleagues that are young, and they haven’t started families yet, and through that online group, we’re transparent and showing that we’re in 2023, we can do this stuff if we want to, and I love that I can show that within my province and on the ice,” she says.

At the end of the day, Berezowski is encouraged by the support from the hockey community.

“It’s super rewarding to have a career, be an official on the ice and a mom, too,” she says. “Seeing people like Natalie Spooner and all she’s doing, we’re showing moms what is possible, and that we can do anything that we want to once we set our minds to it.”

Twenty-six officials – 13 referees and 13 linespersons – have been selected by Hockey Canada for the U SPORTS men’s and women’s championships. The tournaments will run concurrently from March 16-19, with the men’s U Cup taking place in Charlottetown, P.E.I., and the Women’s Hockey Championship taking place in Montreal.

“Hockey Canada would like to congratulate all the officials on their selection to the university championships,” said Dan Hanoomansingh, manager of officiating with Hockey Canada. “The U SPORTS championships provide some of our best domestic competition, in a challenging, single-elimination tournament. These officials have continued to hone their craft throughout the season to be ready for this event.”

The officiating coach for the Men’s U Cup will Todd Robinson (Sackville, N.S.). The officiating coaches for the Women’s Hockey Championship will be Hanoomansingh and Gabrielle Ariano-Lortie (Laval, Que.).

All selected officials have come through the Officiating Program of Excellence and the Women’s Officiating Program of Excellence, presented by Hockey is Hers and the Hockey Canada Foundation.

“Our program is for anyone who is interested in officiating, from the grassroots to the international game,” says Hanoomansingh. “Hockey Canada's 13 Members provide a path for anyone to participate in officiating, develop a love for the game and achieve their goals.

Officials are integral to the game, enforcing the standard of safe and fair play in arenas from coast to coast to coast. No matter what the level, without officials, there is no game.”

For more information about the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, visit HockeyCanada.ca/Officials.

Forty-eight officials – 24 referees and 24 linespersons – from all 10 provinces have been selected for the Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island. The men’s tournament will take place Feb. 19-25, followed by the women’s tournament from Feb. 27-March 3.

“The officials who have been selected for the Canada Winter Games should be very proud of this accomplishment,” said Dan Hanoomansingh, manager of officiating with Hockey Canada. “While it only occurs every four years, this is an important development event for our high-performance officials. If you look at many of our current top officials, they were successful at past Canada Winter Games tournaments. We have similarly high expectations for this crop of officials and are excited to see them perform on the ice.”

Officials selected for the Canada Winter Games are part of the Officiating Program of Excellence (OPOE) and attended regional camps across the country prior to their selection. This is the first season of the Women’s OPOE, presented by the Hockey Canada Foundation, which allows officials to receive mentorship and coaching prior to the final selections.

Gabrielle Ariano-Lortie (Laval, Que.), Corey Hayne (Antigonish, N.S.) and Vanessa Stratton (Windsor, Ont.) will join Hanoomansingh as officiating coaches.

All selected officials are leaders in their Member leagues and high-performance programs, and being selected for Canada Winter Games is not only an accomplishment for the official, but also a credit to their Member and local development programs.

“Our program is for anyone who is interested in officiating, from the grassroots to the international game,” says Hanoomansingh. “Hockey Canada's 13 Members provide a path for anyone to participate in officiating, develop a love for the game and achieve their goals.

Officials are integral to the game, enforcing the standard of safe and fair play in arenas from coast to coast to coast. No matter what the level, without officials, there is no game.”

For more information about the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, visit HockeyCanada.ca/Officials.

As Hockey Canada’s fall events return for the first time since 2019, the officials are ready to hit the ice.

Thirty-six officials – 17 referees and 19 linespersons – from across the country have been selected for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, World Junior A Challenge and Para Hockey Cup.

“Our fall events are a great opportunity for individuals participating in our Officiating Program of Excellence,” said Dan Hanoomansingh, manager of officiating with Hockey Canada. “These officials have worked hard to sharpen their skills since their last opportunity at one of our camps. We have been tracking their progression and they have earned their opportunity to officiate these exciting events.”

The Officiating Program of Excellence (OPOE) is the pathway through which Canadian officials are selected for top national and international tournaments. The objectives of the OPOE are to provide a clear developmental pathway for aspiring elite officials, provide developmentally appropriate coaching for elite officials, prepare officials for national and international competitions, and assist Hockey Canada in making evidence-based decisions for assignments.

For more information about the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, visit HockeyCanada.ca/Officials.

World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (Langley & Delta, B.C.)

The officiating coaches for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge are Dan Hanoomansingh (Vancouver, B.C.) and Kirk Wood (Stratford, Ont.).

World Junior A Challenge (Cornwall, Ont.)

The officiating coach for the World Junior A Challenge is Hanoomansingh.

Para Hockey Cup (Bridgewater, N.S.)

The officiating coach for the Para Hockey Cup is Paul Boese (Arnprior, Ont.)

As the 2022-23 hockey season gets underway, the Hockey Canada Officiating Program of Excellence (OPOE) is back with a full slate of camps. One hundred officials will be selected for regional identification camps, with a further 30 attending the prestigious National High Performance Selection Camp.

“It was thrilling to re-launch the Officiating Program of Excellence over the summer and these fall camps are the next step,” said Dan Hanoomansingh, manager of officiating with Hockey Canada. “Our regional camps provide officials with an introduction to the national level and prepare them to compete for national assignments at the U18 level. It is particularly exciting to be holding our first-ever regional camps for the women’s stream of the OPOE, presented by Hockey is Hers and the Hockey Canada Foundation.”

The OPOE is the pathway through which Canadian officials are selected for top national and international assignments. The objectives are to provide a clear developmental pathway for aspiring elite officials, provide developmentally appropriate coaching for elite officials, prepare officials for national and international competitions, and assist Hockey Canada in making evidence-based decisions for national and international events. Officials enter the OPOE through the regional identification camps, based on nominations from their Member programs.

The 30 officials who will attend the National High Performance Selection Camp will participate in an intensive four-day experience intended to help them develop the tools needed to succeed at this elite level. All of the officials were part of a months-long evaluation process, including input from their respective Member programs, prior to a final selection by Hockey Canada. Upon successful completion of the camp, the officials will join the national high performance program and compete for Junior A and senior national championships, as well as international assignments.

National High Performance Selection Camp (Calgary, Alta. – October 20-23)

The officiating coaches for the National High Performance Selection Camp are Matthew Davey (Ottawa, Ont.), Dan Hanoomansingh (Vancouver, B.C.), Pat Malloy (Ottawa, Ont.), Kyle McDonald (Regina, Sask.), Todd Robinson (Sackville, N.S.) and Vanessa Stratton (Windsor, Ont.).

The officiating coaches for the Men's Central Regional Camp are Hanoomansingh and Greg Kimmerly (Toronto, Ont.).

The officiating coaches for the Women's Pacific Regional Camp are Stratton and Sandra Lowe (Burnaby, B.C.).

The officiating coaches for the Women's Atlantic Regional Camp are Hanoomansingh, David Crane (Bay Roberts, N.L.) and Jacqui Palm (Newmarket, Ont.).

The officiating coaches for the Men's West Regional Camp are Hanoomansingh, C.J. Senkow (Grande Prairie, Alta.) and Kirk Wood (Stratford, Ont.).

The officiating coaches for the Men's East Regional Camp are Hanoomansingh, Christian Gohier (Saint-Jérôme, Que.), Marc Maissonneuve (Gatineau, Que.) and Peter Moraitis (Longueuil, Que.).

The officiating coaches for the Women's Central Regional Camp are Palm, Gabrielle Ariano-Lortie (Montreal, Que.) and Stéphanie Campbell (Montreal, Que.).

The officiating coaches for the Women's West Regional Camp are Hanoomansingh, Palm and Ashley Desjardins (Winnipeg, Man.).

For more information about the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, visit HockeyCanada.ca/Officials.