All-women’s officiating crew to make Para ice hockey history in Green Bay

For the very first time, there will be an all-women’s officiating crew at a World Para Ice Hockey event when the Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Challenge begins this week in Green Bay, Wisconsin in the USA. 

All eight International Technical Officials taking to the ice from 26-28 August at the Cornerstone Community Center will be women: Bree Kraut (USA), Sarah Hickman (USA), Rachel Hutchinson (GBR), Bianca Bartolomei (USA), Evonne Fix (USA), Brooke Nunemaker (USA), Jane Ogilvie (CAN) and Danielle Williams (CAN). 

“I’m very excited to be involved in the first World Para Ice Hockey event for women and am excited to see future growth in the women’s game,” said Fix. 

“I am extremely thankful and appreciative that World Para Ice Hockey has committed to putting together an all-women’s officiating crew. I’m a firm believer that if women have the experience, knowledge, and skill level, they should be given first shot at stepping on the ice for a women’s tournament at this level.  I’d also like to give a tip of the cap to all the men who have poured their time and energy into developing women officials at every level.  Without them, women’s officiating wouldn’t be where it is today, nor would there be the women officiating coaches out there that there is now.” 

Fix has been officiating ice hockey since she was 12 years old, and when she first began, women’s hockey was not the norm. Her first experience with Para ice hockey was in 2011, officiating games at the USA Hockey Sled Festival, and since then she has kept her eyes open for any opportunities to work the sport. 

Increasing opportunities for women in Para ice hockey, whether it be as an athlete, coach or official, is a key part of World Para Ice Hockey’s Strategic Plan and is being implemented on a daily basis and showcased at major events such as the upcoming Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Challenge. 
 
“I think one way to promote getting more women involved in officiating is doing exactly what World Para Ice Hockey has done, commit to putting women officials on their games,” Fix said.

“I know the number of women in coaching positions has grown because young girls are seeing female coaches and the opportunities they have as a coach. Having an all-women’s officiating crew at this tournament and knowing those officials will go back to their local areas and talk about their experience will help spread the word of the opportunities available to other women.” 

Complete competition schedule and more information about the Women’s World Challenge presented by Citi can be found here.