Canadian junior-hockey history was made Sunday at South Surrey Arena, when four officials formed the first-ever all-female officiating crew for a BC Hockey League game between the Surrey Eagles and 黑马磁力 Rivermen.
Grace Barlow and Megan Howes refereed the game, which ended in a 4-3 shootout victory for the Eagles, while Melissa Brunn and Colleen Geddes will work the lines.
鈥淏eing on an all-female crew is both exciting and comfortable,鈥� said Barlow in a BCHL news release issued Sunday prior to the game..
鈥淭hese women beside me have been my friends, as well as my colleagues, for years. Getting the opportunity to make history with them is an honour. I hope other young women can watch this game and know that all aspects of hockey are for everyone.鈥�
The BCHL, as well as other junior 鈥楢鈥� leagues across the country, has had female officials before, but never an entire four-person crew made up of women.
鈥淭o share the ice with strong athletes is one thing, but to skate alongside strong female athletes at this level is another. I am tremendously proud of our journey thus far,鈥� Howes said.
Howes and Brunn have both previously officiated BCHL games, while Barlow and Geddes are in their first seasons in the league.
鈥淭his is another step towards a more inclusive approach to hockey,鈥� said Vanessa Stratton, female officiating lead for BC Hockey. 鈥淭hey are leaders for the next generation of young female officials and that is something to be so proud of.鈥�
Sunday鈥檚 game was a relatively calm affair, as far as penalties go 鈥� Barlow and Howes called only five penalties between the two teams, including two to Surrey Eagles forward Michael Abgrall and one to Rivermen forward Riley Wallack, who is a Semiahmoo Peninsula resident.
On Monday, BCHL commissioner Chris Hebb, a Semiahmoo Peninsula resident, tweeted that he is 鈥減roud of the work the women have put in.鈥�
鈥淪ome day this will not be a news story,鈥� he added.
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