The National Women’s Hockey League recently announced that their upcoming season would feature an all female officiating staff. The league came to this decision and selected the officials with the help of USA hockey. The NWHL All-Female officiating staff will take the ice when the league restarts in January.
With the help and guidance from @usahockey, the NWHL’s upcoming season will have an all-female officiating staff.
Learn More: https://t.co/ChQCib6qgf pic.twitter.com/mCD8m9JJvJ
— NWHL (@NWHL) December 23, 2020
NWHL Announces All-Female Officiating Staff
The staff will work over the NWHL’s upcoming season, which takes place in a bubble in Lake Placid, New York. The season will be played at the Herb Brooks arena, the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics. In addition to the season being played in a bubble, the NWHL all-female officiating staff adds a historical wrinkle to the upcoming season. This decision is clearly another instance of the NWHL leading the charge in representation of women in hockey.
HUGE MOVE. #HireWomen in ACTION not in TALK! https://t.co/4KTjc3ZL2i
— Anya Packer (@battaglinoa) December 23, 2020
The officiating staff features 10 women that will serve as the first all-female officiating staff in pro hockey history. This historical crew includes Sarah Buckner, Erika Greenen, Kendall Hanley, Alicia Hanrahan, Jacqueline Howard, Jamie Huntley-Park, Jackie Spresser, Amanda Tassoni, Mackenzie Welter and Laura White
Matt Leaf, director of USA Hockey’s officiating education program had high praise for the team while speaking to NWHL.com, saying “They are the brightest and best of our current and future top-level female officials who bring a balance of experience, versatility, loyalty, and an unmatched skill and a passion to be the best they can be each time they step on the ice.”
The NWHL season takes place from January 23rd through February 5th, 2021. While the regular season runs from the 23rd through the 3rd, The Isobel Cup Finals will take place on February 4th and 5th. Six teams will compete for the championship. These teams include the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps and the brand-new Toronto Six.
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