Female referee officials have been getting more opportunities to participating in professional sports leagues like the CFL, NFL, NBA and even in the 2017 FIFA world cup. But for female hockey officials, they aren't even able to train at Hockey Canada's highest referee level.

Two Albertan female hockey officials feel because they're female that certain opportunities have been taken from them to officiate in some of Alberta's hockey leagues.

Teams themselves don't seem to be ones that aren't in support of female officials and say gender shouldn't be a factor when it comes to reffing for hockey.

 "It should be based on their merit and ability."

Darrin Harrold Director of Hockey Operations for AMHA stated what should be looked for in an official, "It should not have bearing on anything whether the person is a female or male when it comes to officiating hockey games, it should be based on their merit and ability."

 Harrold also pointed out that officials need the chance to advance in training so they can referee at any hockey level, "In order for there to be hockey games played, we also need female officials right. So we have to grow that portion as well, not just you know developing hockey players. You need to develop your officials too because if you don't have officials to be able to referee that hockey then there's not going to be that hockey."

"The female game right now is growing exponentially throughout the world right, so people need to be well aware of that it's one of the fastest growing games is female hockey in the world." says Harrold.

Many people in the hockey community, hope to eventually see women officials in the NHL.

 

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