Lyndsey Janes always wanted to be a coach. She just thought that opportunity would be a little further into the future.

Instead, the former U SPORTS athlete is wrapping up her first season as assistant coach with the women’s hockey team at the University of Manitoba.

“Sports has always been the biggest part of my life. I knew it was something that I wanted to continue to be a part of once I was done playing,” Janes says. “I knew I wanted to coach in some capacity, but I just kind of thought it would be coaching my kids one day.”

Janes, who spent six seasons (2019-25) at Mount Royal University (MRU), captaining the Cougars in her final two years, got her first full-time coaching opportunity thanks to the Creating Coaches program through the Hockey Canada Foundation.

“I wouldn’t have been able to be in this position if it weren’t for the Creating Coaches program,” she says.

Creating Coaches provides selected student-athletes with mentorship, resources and support to ensure their coaching experience is positive. The goal of the program is to expose athletes to future opportunities in the game.

Janes started her schooling at MRU pursuing an education degree, but switched to a double major with bachelor’s degrees in business administration and marketing. She never felt comfortable with her schooling choice because she always envisioned herself in hockey in some capacity.

Head coach Scott Rivett suggested the Creating Coaches program; that was when she started dreaming a new role for herself after her playing days were over. She was nominated by Rivett and submitted her application, where she was accepted into the two-year program as part of the third cohort in the fall of 2023.

“[Scott] knew I had some experience coaching a tournament back home in Alberta, and he reached out asking me if I would be interested in the Creating Coaches program,” Janes says. “He nominated me, I applied and got accepted and the rest is kind of history.”

Janes was connected with two girls’ minor hockey teams in the Calgary area, spending one season as an assistant coach with the Airdrie U18 AA Lightning and another with the Calgary U18 AAA Fire while she was finishing her degree at MRU.

“My role was part-time since I was still playing, but I think that really sparked the idea that maybe this is something I could do as a career,” she says.

She learned a lot from the coaches she worked, seeing how to run the dressing room, practices and games to build rapport and trust with the players.

“My first experience of being on the bench as a coach was a cool experience,” Janes says. “I wasn’t always the fastest skater, had the best shot or was the most skilled. But one of my strengths was my IQ, my vision and the way I see the game. I found that coaching allowed me to use those strengths in a different way.”

Janes knows what it feels like to have both sides of coaching. Throughout her playing years, she experienced positive coaches that increased her love for the sport. She also experienced harder seasons with poor coaching.

“My journey through hockey was mostly a positive one in my development and all the opportunities that I got to have,” she says. “I had my fair share of great coaches who taught me so much and I also had my share of poor experiences. I knew that I want to give my players a positive experience and have an impact on the next generation of athletes.”

The opportunity with the Bisons came together quickly last summer. In May, the team hired Jordan Colliton, who was Janes’ associate coach during her time at MRU. She also spent two years as head coach of Leksands IF in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League.

Janes and Colliton got in touch and discussed the role and went through the hiring process. Janes is grateful for the Creating Coaches program for helping her get to this role and opportunity with confidence.

“It wasn’t an opportunity that I was necessarily expecting, so when it was presented to me, it was something I couldn’t pass up,” she says. “In the span of a couple of weeks, I moved to Winnipeg. This is something I did not expect to experience so early in my coaching career.”

The Bisons had a so-so regular season, finishing fifth with a 13-15 record, but got hot at the right time; they upset MRU in the Canada West semifinals to reach the championship series, where they came up just short against the University of British Columbia.

Next up, they’ll face the best from across the country at the U SPORTS national championship, March 19-22 in Waterloo, Ontario.

“I’m so glad I took this chance because I have learned so much and they are such an incredible group of athletes,” Janes says. “I’ve never seen a team so close-knit before and have something so special going on within the locker room. It was just an awesome year.”

Now that Janes has turned her ‘one day’ dream into reality, she wants to stay present and enjoy the moment with the Bisons and the continue to learn and grow as a coach. But she’d also be lying if she hasn’t set her next big goal of coaching the best players in the world.

“This year absolutely solidified that I want to be a coach. There is no other place I can see myself than being on the bench. Coaching is the first thing I’ve experienced that has given me the same feeling of passion and excitement that playing hockey did,” she says. “Obviously, the gears start turning and you start thinking about where you want to take it and as a female, it’s an exciting time in hockey and I think the opportunities are kind of endless.

“I know I am talking big dreams, but I would love to coach in the NHL or PWHL with the world’s best players. But I am super thankful that I am already working with such elite-level athletes today.”

As women’s hockey basks in the glory of another successful Olympics, I can’t help but look back at my own career and how much things have changed.

When I reached the highest levels of the game as a player, we didn’t have a true professional league to call our own.

Those leagues were really just a place where a collection of the best players played as they tried to make their national teams. Others I played with simply wanted to keep playing the game they loved as long as they could—while working full-time jobs off the ice.

In addition to competing in the league, the dream was to play for your national team. To wear your country’s colours at the IIHF Women’s World Championship and, every four years, the Olympic Winter Games.

But that was then.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has changed the game for everyone involved—players, coaches, management, officials, fans. It’s a whole new women’s hockey.

The dream of young girls to play for their national team will never go away, and it shouldn’t. But now they can embark on their own journey in the game with the dream of playing in the PWHL and winning a Walter Cup.

After previous Olympics, driven in large part by classic Canada-United States showdowns for gold, there was always a spike of excitement and interest in the women's game, but then it would die down again until the next one. It was really difficult to be a women's hockey fan, because you never knew when the next game was. You never knew where you could go watch the athletes compete and, if there was a game, sometimes it was hard to find.

Not this time.

Anyone who became fans of our athletes in Milan—who witnessed their world-class talent, learned their stories and fell in love with their game—can now keep following them through the PWHL. Whether they watched women’s hockey for the first time or they’re the avid fans we love so much, they now know where to go and where to watch. And that's a game-changer.

I think that allows us to finally, in a meaningful way, drive the growth of the game.

And that growth comes in a variety of ways, starting first with the players themselves.

Research suggests that new fans follow athletes and not teams. We have a group of athletes with an amazing range of interests and passions beyond hockey, and they're incredible ambassadors. They represent the game itself so well, but they have another side to them. That’s how we connect with the new fans.

And then once people become fans, it’s about providing an environment that makes them want to come out to games. I think that’s where we really excel as a league across all eight markets.

The atmosphere in our buildings is special. There's such a happy, joyful, passionate vibe, because, together, we've created this community that people love being a part of. And we're creating an open, welcoming space for new fans to the game—and for anyone who may not have felt welcome in hockey in the past.

And we're really trying to build out our grassroots clinics and camps to help young girls and boys discover and enjoy hockey.

Even if they never play in the PWHL, hockey, and sports in general, is beneficial to kids in so many ways, and we want to give as many of them as possible the chance to experience it.

While the main focus is on the present and the future of the game, I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the past. About the players who helped push the game to where it is today—whether they were the players before me, the teammates I played alongside or the current generation—the road to where we are now hasn’t always been easy.

In the history of how the PWHL was formed, it was critical that the players stuck together and put the common goal of a sustainable professional league above all else. Guided by the advice of Billie Jean King telling them they needed a united voice, it was about growing the game and providing stability that hadn’t ever existed for the sport. It was incredibly powerful to be part of a movement where people from so many different places and experiences came together with one goal: to build something meaningful they could leave behind as their legacy.

And it wasn’t easy. I don't think many people who weren't in the midst of it could appreciate how difficult the journey was to get here. Those four years with the PWHPA, the ups, the downs, the days where you didn't think it was going to happen, people suggesting you should just accept the status quo, people questioning your motives and the people telling you it simply wasn't possible.

That’s what makes the success we’ve found so special. It not only changes women’s hockey—it reflects a broader societal shift. And that, to me, is a legacy everyone can be really proud of.

As for the former players from my generation, there are so many that have been—and still are—involved in the PWHL, as coaches, management, advisors and so many other roles. We have a remarkable collection of people who care deeply about the game who want to build it to heights never reached before. And while we talk so much about the opportunities the PWHL creates for players, we’re also providing opportunities for women in coaching, officiating, the front office, leadership—and more.

There are so many women who have been in the game for so long and have so much experience and knowledge to give. We’re truly excited and proud that there's a place for them to keep contributing.

Now, we go forward.

We had 61 PWHL players at the Olympics, with all eight of our teams represented, across eight of the 10 competing nations, and 39 of our players were in the gold medal game, which proved to be another instant classic. The competitive balance at this Olympics was the closest it’s ever been, and it’s just going to keep getting tighter as the PWHL grows. I can’t wait to see where the game will be in the years ahead.

The spotlight on our Olympians, and the spotlight on women’s hockey, has never been brighter.

In just the first few weeks back from the Olympic break, the PWHL set an all-time U.S. attendance record (more than 17,000 in Seattle), sold out buildings across the league and set new high-water marks for merchandise sales. We are seeing more and more young girls walking around in Poulin jerseys, Spooner jerseys, Fillier jerseys.

Even before the Olympics, our games at Madison Square Garden and TD Garden were already on the verge of selling out. And we just announced that we’ve officially sold out both venues for the PWHL’s debut at these historic arenas in April.

These are ‘pinch me’ moments. Five years ago, no one thought this would happen this quickly. But we continue to grow, fans continue to show up, and the game continues to develop.

The hope is that this momentum will lead to more young girls registering to play minor hockey, with their sights set on the 2042 or 2046 Games, a chance to represent their country and be the next Olympic gold medallist. But they can also aspire to be a Sceptre or a Goldeneye or a Siren— opportunities that simply didn’t exist before.

It all comes back to visibility. As Billie Jean King likes to say: if they can see it, they can be it.

I have loved this game since I was six years old. It has given me so much. Seventeen seasons and more than 250 games representing my country. Four Olympic gold medals. Seven world championships. It has given me my family and the people I call my very best friends.

So, I feel incredibly fortunate that I get to be a part of helping to give back, to ensure the game is in an even better place for the generations that follow.

The women’s game continues to get better every single day. It’s fast, it's entertaining, it's skilled, it's physical. The PWHL is just in its infancy, and we're just getting started.

After coming to Canada from Hong Kong as a young boy in 1973, Albert Wong was quickly introduced to the quintessential Canadian activity – hockey.

More than five decades later, the game still plays a role in Wong’s life – as a player, an official, a father and as a volunteer. Giving his time to national and international events in Calgary, Wong has had a front-row seat to more than one memorable Team Canada moment in recent years.

HockeyCanada.ca caught up with Wong on a break from his volunteer duties at the 2025 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, to ask him about giving back to the game.

HC: Which events – both hockey and not – have you volunteered for?

AW: My journey started when I volunteered for 2021 IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship in Calgary. It was such a positive experience, so the next spring I was a driver for the TELUS Cup and Esso Cup in Okotoks. And just a few months later I got to be involved and watch at ice level the Hockey Canada summer camps for men’s and women’s teams at WinSport as a timekeeper. I was on penalty box duty and kept track of plus/minus at the 2024 World Para Hockey Championship, and I just started at the 2025 Centennial Cup as a driver. I have also been a league chair with Hockey Calgary for seven seasons.

I have also volunteered quite a bit in golf for the 2009 Presidents Cup in San Francisco, the 2012 U.S. Open in San Francisco, 2015 U.S. Open near Seattle and 2018 U.S. Open in New York.

HC: What’s your favourite volunteer memory?

AW: Definitely the 2021 Women’s Worlds in Calgary in 2021 when Canada beat the U.S. in overtime and we got to celebrate with Hockey Canada staff and other volunteers. It was a culmination of three weeks of volunteering and lots of great hockey. And of course it was Marie-Philip Poulin who scored in overtime. Those three weeks of driving, picking up officials, executives and even getting groceries seemed all worth it to watch an incredible gold medal game.

Also getting to volunteer on the golf course maintenance team at the U.S. Open golf championship at the Olympic Club in San Francisco in 2012 was also incredibly memorable. It is my career field, and to watch 50 staff and 140 turf managers volunteer from all over the world to get the golf course ready in two hours for the best golfers for a major championship was amazing. Being a golf fan, I got to see Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson amongst others at an iconic course steeped in tradition.

HC: Why do you volunteer?

AW: When I first started volunteering with the golf course maintenance crew in 2012, it was for a variety of reasons. I wanted to know firsthand what it took to get a golf course ready for a major championship. I also to network with turf grass managers from all over the world, which led to future volunteering at other U.S. Open courses in 2015 and 2018. This was my career and I could learn agronomic tips to bring back to the golf course I worked at in Calgary, so it was educational trip as well.

I like to help and I feel I am a small piece to the success of an event. I find it extremely rewarding. Being married to my wife Le for many years and watching her help her large extended family on a regular basis has shown me the incredible energy she has, and her constant giving has rubbed off on me.

When I signed up to volunteer for Hockey Canada events, it was also to be involved with the world’s best players and just be a fan. It is remarkable how fast the game has become, and to watch these great players do what they do in such little time and space. The skill and speed of the game is what I’ve always enjoyed, and it is fun to be a part of.

HC: How important are volunteers to the success of events?

AW: Volunteers are critical to the success of any event. It does take a lot of people to make it enjoyable. The people of Calgary are willing to give up their time to show off Calgary and all the great things that make this city world class, and I find lots of the same volunteers are at different events throughout the year as I converse with them during down time. There were over 3,000 volunteers at U.S. Open golf tournaments, and depending on the event run by Hockey Canada, probably 100-300 people willing to give up their time to make it successful.

HC: What would you say to someone who is thinking of volunteering?

AW: You should definitely volunteer if you have the time. Find out what interests you and what works with your schedule. There are lots of wonderful people you will meet. There are different areas to volunteer, so it is a great avenue to explore. I have always found it to be gratifying when I look back and say I was a part of that event.

HC: How has hockey played a role in your life?

AW: I took up hockey as an adult, and I am a goalie. I really enjoy trying to read the play and trying to stop people from scoring, and I’m still playing into mid-50s. My son Austin played minor hockey and I would help coach. Austin is entering his fifth year as an official and has moved up the ranks, and I just started officiating so hockey has been a huge part of my life and his.

A benefit of being a driver for Hockey Canada events is that I have driven some of the officials that fly in for these events and we get to talk about the officiating game and how they became an official.

HC: Why do you think hockey is so important to Canadians?

AW: Moving to Calgary from Hong Kong, watching hockey every Saturday night became regular television viewing for me and it is how I learned about the game and how it inherently is part of Canadian culture. I got to experience Canadian winters and outdoor rinks, and watch Hockey Hall of Famers every weekend. And that is very Canadian, which I think is amazing.

And I think there is such a love for Team Canada. We have been a powerhouse for many decades, although other nations are catching up. There is a sense of Canadian pride when we compete in international events.

The stage that women and girls have in hockey today has been paved by many talented and dedicated women.

That history is not lost on the coaches and players on the U18 Girls Prep team at Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver Island.

It’s also a history they use to build their culture of mentorship, inclusivity and giving back to community so the next generation can achieve greater strides in the future.

“We have tried to teach the girls that there are other opportunities and there is more to life than hockey,” says Carly Haggard, head coach of the U18 team. “Hockey is a huge part of why they come here and what we do. We celebrate hockey, but there is a lot more that we try and teach them so that they are ready and successful at the next level – whether that’s university or whatever they want to strive for.”

Haggard helped start the girls’ program at Shawnigan almost 10 years ago and has overseen its growth on and off the ice. She is also a teacher and lives in one of the boarding houses on campus.

“I think one of the reasons why I love coaching at Shawnigan is the kids who come here,” she says. “They understand that there’s so much more than hockey. You build deeper connections, and you become family.”

Every year, the team holds a special game night with a theme, and donations are collected for the cause. Previous events included Lunar New Year, World Cancer Day and Breast Cancer Month.

This year, with women’s hockey in the spotlight in March, the team honoured women in sport and women in hockey. For their Senior Night game against the Greater Vancouver Comets, the players donned replica pink Team Canada jerseys from the 1990 IIHF World Women’s Championship. Donations raised went to the Hockey Canada Foundation’s Hockey is Hers initiative.

“It just felt right to celebrate … women in sport and honouring the generations of women that have paved the way to make this team have the opportunities they have now,” says Haggard. “We did the pink replica Team Canada jersey, and they were cool and special, and the girls loved them. They felt so proud putting them on and understanding the significance of what they were.”

For alternate captain Dawson Benson, one of the team’s seniors, wearing that jersey was a highlight of the year and an honour.

“Our special game nights are so much bigger than just the game,” she says. “It felt like we were part of something important and it was such a surreal experience. We took so much pride in playing for females in sport and women in hockey.”

Those iconic pink jerseys were symbolic because it was the first official Women’s Worlds, a groundbreaking moment in the history of the game, and Team Canada won gold on home ice in Ottawa. Wearing the jersey meant something different to every player.

“We wanted them to understand the women and female hockey players who paved the way – not only for them, but for other little girls that are coming up to play hockey,” says Lexxi Smith, the team’s assistant coach. “Every player has experienced women empowerment a little differently, but for them to be able to celebrate this event was special and they were excited.”

Haggard and Smith have been the driving force of building the game in the area by including local girls’ hockey teams and associations to share their knowledge and passion of the game.

“I’ve been at Shawnigan for five years now and one of the first things I noticed, and it’s been continuous through my time here, is the culture that this program has and recognizing that hockey is bigger than just us,” says Smith. “Being on Vancouver Island, female hockey is continuously growing, but having support from a program like Shawnigan in a small community is needed.”

Every year, the program hosts local girls from the Kerry Park Minor Hockey Association to join the team through mentorship opportunities. Their guests come to campus and can join the team on the ice as well as take part in the pre-game and post-game activities.

“The girls are constantly looking for ways to connect with the community and share their passion for the game with the younger generation,” says Smith. “The girls love it when we host our mentorship games. They adore when the girls come into the locker room and can share what it means to play hockey at Shawnigan.”

For Benson, it means so much to be able to share her passion through these mentorship games.

“It is so special to be able to have the opportunity to inspire younger girls,” she says. “Growing up, I played with boys most of my life, so I think it’s important for the next generation of girls to play against other girls and have female mentors. Seeing how much passion those girls have and their dreams they want to achieve makes you feel lucky to provide an opportunity to help them.”

Building a legacy for a better future of young hockey players is important to Haggard.

“We talk a lot about the impact they have without even knowing it,” the coach says. “We talk a lot about them being role models and the impact they have on the next generation, so those girls don’t have the same struggle. We can pave the way for future generations.”

That philosophy has been built into the culture at Shawnigan that the players live every day.

“These past years at Shawnigan have been an honour. It is something I hold close to my heart,” says Benson. “It is such a privilege to play here and wear this crest. It is a program that prides itself on player development, and not just on the ice. They care about every player. I am happy with what I am leaving behind. It is amazing that other players will come in and continue with the Shawnigan legacy.”

One of Canada’s most decorated linespersons during her on-ice career, Vanessa Stratton has smoothly transitioned to her latest role as an officiating coach, one of just three dozen around the world.

The Toronto native’s career included 10 national championships, seven world championships, U SPORTS championships and multiple Clarkson Cup Final games in the now-defunct Canadian Women’s Hockey League. She is also the only woman on the IIHF Officiating Committee and works as the female high performance officiating lead with BC Hockey.

HockeyCanada.ca got the chance to sit down with Stratton and ask about her journey, her favourite moments and her advice for young officials just getting into the game.

HC: You transitioned from competitive figure skating to hockey when you were 13. Who inspired you to become an official?

VS: I was fortunate enough to grow up on skates. From the time we could walk, my sister and I were enrolled in figure skating. Both of us took to it and ended up competing at various levels. When we moved to Windsor, I went on the ice for a practice, got off the ice and said to my parents that I was ready to try something different and wanted to play hockey.

Switching to hockey led to my journey in officiating. A lot of my friends were getting part-time jobs at different places. My dad suggested I try officiating. It was a way to make some cash, but also make my own schedule. I enrolled in a certification course, got connected to the local association and referee-in-chief and off to the races we were.

The cool part is my dad had a bit of a vested interest. He played in the OHL and NCAA and then had a similar pathway where it was suggested he try officiating. He climbed the ranks quickly, officiating in the OHL and IHL, and did a quick stint in the NHL for exhibition games. It’s fun to really look back and see how our journeys were different streams, yet similar pathways and I give him a ton of credit for promoting officiating to me as it wasn’t something I had considered at the time.

HC: What is the most memorable game you officiated?

VS: Anything at the international level is always such a privilege, but nothing beats a Canada-U.S. game. I was afforded the opportunity to do a few. Kamloops hosted the 4 Nations Cup in 2014 and Women’s Worlds in 2016, and I was selected to do both events. I was skating the gold medal game in 2014, Canada vs. United States. It was a sold-out crowd – at the time, women’s hockey was starting to really gain some traction and it was such an electric atmosphere.

Why this one was so memorable is that it just recently created a full-circle moment. Prior to some games, we have a group of young officials come on the ice with us for opening laps and the anthems. That game we had four young officials on with us. Fast forward to when I was living out in British Columbia and took on the role with BC Hockey, I found out that two of those officials were on the ice that day with me. Years later, it made that game even more special.

HC: What is your favourite part about your role as an officiating coach?

VS: Here’s the really unique thing about both officiating and coaching – the team that you work with is very rarely the same. In both roles, you have to adapt how you work together, communicate with one another and leverage each other’s strengths in short-term competition. It’s more prominent in my role as an officiating coach and it’s something I appreciate the challenge of.

Secondly, seeing the officials you work with gain success and achieve their goals is something that is just so special. And lastly, the people really make the experience. I get to work with such a variety of people in officiating – whether it be provincially, nationally or internationally – and many of them have become lifelong friends. Gabrielle Ariano-Lortie and I went to almost every one of our international events together, we were roommates at almost all of them and skated a good chunk of games together. Now we get to be officiating coaches together and she has become one of my very good friends.

HC: What do you look for in a young official that can help them get to the next level?

VS: Of course, the technical skills – skating is at the forefront of those skills. Agility and mobility, along with strength and speed, are all part of the toolbox. Then, how do they react in a game – positioning and movement, how they implement and manage the rules in game. Communication is also key – how an official communicates with coaches, players and their own teammates is a predominant trait that is of growing importance for an official who is striving to do higher levels of hockey.

With the evolution of the sport as a whole, one of the aspects in officiating that our different leadership groups are really focusing on is looking for the “whole official.” We want the best officials and those that have potential to grow, and they need to have the technical skills and abilities, but they also need to be well-rounded people and bring the off-ice skills that are necessary to being good teammates and good humans in our group as well.

HC: We’ve seen how women’s hockey has grown in recent years; what has that meant for officials and providing more opportunities to showcase their skills?

VS: International women’s hockey is thriving. Professional women’s leagues in places such as Switzerland and Sweden are continuing to grow and provide opportunities for officials overseas. Specifically in North America, the PWHL has brought a focused energy that has not existed through the previous leagues and a true professional mentality towards women’s hockey in the two largest markets in the world.

However, there is still a gap when it comes to the opportunities, specifically for female officials. We don’t need to provide equal opportunities, but we should be equitable. And while there has been a phenomenal number of opportunities and attention on the players, coaches and administrators within the league, the unpopular opinion is that there have not been equitable opportunities for officials. And this is something I would love to challenge and urge the various stakeholders and decision-makers to change. Let’s close the gap across all facets of the game and truly become equitable and provide the opportunities to women in the entire game.

HC: In 2023, you became one of four people—and the only woman—elected to the IIHF Officiating Committee. What does it mean to be able to have an impact over the development of hockey officials around the world?

VS: Well, when you read that, it hits a bit on how impactful my role can be. The truth is, I felt a bit of imposter syndrome when I first started. First of all, I’m thankful for the opportunity and the trust – both from the IIHF and Hockey Canada, who supported the nomination. To be able to be a part of the development of hockey officials at a global level is incredible.

At the IIHF, there is currently a shift happening – how we facilitate and implement officiating across licensing and selections, developing and growing member national associations (MNAs) along with coaching and education are key facets that are evolving and changing. My role in that process and to be fortunate to put my own stamp on pieces of a change is such a unique opportunity. It’s exciting to be a part of such a large-scale change that will benefit and impact so many across the world and hopefully be in place for the foreseeable future.

HC: What advice do you have for young women who are beginning their officiating journey?

VS: I have a few pieces of advice…

- Develop a strong knowledge of the game – Never stop learning.

- Physical fitness is important – Fitness will help you perform better and boost your confidence.

- Seek out mentorship – Find experienced officials to support you and help guide your journey.

- Learn from mistakes – We all make them; it’s part of learning and growing.

- Believe in yourself – Confidence is key.

- Advocate for yourself – Speak up when necessary; it’s important to voice concerns or seek opportunities.

- Be resilient – Especially for young officials; you will encounter challenges and still see biases, so it’s essential to stay resilient and focused on your path.

- Enjoy the journey – Make sure you take the time to enjoy the ride, because it is really something special!

Once Ali Beres sets her sights on a goal, she will most likely accomplish it.

Switching from ringette to hockey to transitioning to officiating after her U SPORTS hockey career and embracing other athletic pursuits, Beres’ determination keeps her chasing new goals.

“I’m lucky to have athletics be a huge part of my life growing up,” says the 27-year-old. “I feel very fortunate to be involved in sports and at the level that I am with the opportunities I’ve had.”

Growing up in Lions Bay, B.C., about 30 minutes from Vancouver, Beres and her sister Maegan played ringette as there were no girls’ hockey programs. When she was 13 years old, she switched to hockey, intending to play at the university level.

Transitioning from ringette to hockey required Beres to learn new skills, including stickhandling and shooting the puck.

“When I switched from playing ringette to hockey, there was a skill and knowledge gap,” she says.

A coach told her that she was behind her peers at that age and probably shouldn’t bother, but her drive led her to participate in skill development camps and shooting 200 pucks in the family garage so she would be able to play.

“I remember that conversation with this coach when I was 14 years old. That moment shaped me and who I am today,” says Beres. “It taught me that if you want something badly and you put in the effort and hard work and you have the determination, you can still achieve your goals. Most importantly, to never give up on something you love.”

That love and passion led her on a successful hockey path, including playing for B.C. at the 2013 National Women’s Under-18 Championship and varsity hockey at Western University in London, Ontario, where she won a U SPORTS national title in 2015, a silver medal at nationals and two Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships.

As Beres finished her university career, she thought about what would come next. She knew she wanted to stay involved in the game and leaned on an aspect of the game she used to participate in – officiating.

“I wasn’t ready to just hang up the skates and call it quits after my U SPORTS career. The rink has been a part of my life since I was three,” she says. “As soon as the final game ended, it was so emotional. I knew after that I was going to have to get a job and that I wasn’t going to be playing anymore. I remembered that I loved officiating growing up.”

Beres decided she wanted to put on a new jersey, play on a new team and see where officiating could take her. After graduating, she got re-certified in Ontario.

“I just kept skating lots of games with so many different people and games as possible and learn as much as I could,” she says. “I saw so many people ahead of me in the program and saw all their accomplishments and telling my mentors that those are the assignments that I’d love to take on.”

Since transitioning to officiating, Beres has had the opportunity to participate in the Hockey Canada Officials Program of Excellence (OPOE), which is a performance pathway for officials to reach their high-level goals.

Since then, she has been a linesperson at some significant events, including the 2014 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship (Division 1B) and the Professional Women’s Hockey League Battle on Bay Street game between Toronto and Montreal earlier this year.

“I’m grateful to have had so many opportunities through officiating,” says Beres. “What I love about officiating is that you’re still part of the game. It’s intense … there’s pressure on your shoulders and you’re still competing as an athlete. It is our job to make sure the game is played fair and safe.”

Beres wouldn’t be able to balance life as a solution engineer with a procurement company, officiating and competing in triathlons without the support system of her family, particularly Maegan.

“We are best friends and we’ve always been competitive,” she said. “We’ve always tried to push each other. Our parents instilled solid values in us. While we were competitive, we also supported each other, and knowing that each other’s successes doesn’t mean the other isn’t successful.”

Like Ali, Maegan had hockey aspirations that she was determined to achieve. She played NCAA hockey for Boston College and with the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation, and won a silver medal with Canada at the 2017 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.

“We’ve always been super close, and she turned into such a big role model for me and being the younger sister, you kind of idolize your big sister,” says Maegan. “When I had a lot of success in my hockey career, she was one of the closest people to me and I always leaned on her for advice and support.”

Being athletically fit is important to stay at high-level hockey pace, but it also helps Ali stay mentally fresh and healthy and able to balance her professional career as well. Outside of officiating, Ali competes in triathlons, a sport she quickly fell in love with.

“The players are giving 100 per cent, so we need to be able to match that and give it our all too. I was a little bored of the gym, so I wanted to push my athletic comfort zone, so I signed up for an Ironman 70.3 (also known as a half-Ironman) and I got really addicted,” Ali says.

As Ali continues to set goals for herself – including officiating at the Olympics, her sister knows her drive is what will get her there.

“Once she has a glimpse of that goal, I just know she will do everything in her power to get there and accomplish it,” says Maegan. “I am very proud of her and what she’s accomplished and seeing her transition from her playing career in hockey into officiating. I’m excited to see where this journey takes her.”

I'm someone who says yes to things. I go back to this quote I came across in high school: you get in life what you have the courage to ask for. Whether it was lacing up my first pair of skates, moving to the Maritimes or putting on a headset for the first time, I found the courage to say yes to opportunities that scare me.

I grew up in a household of hockey fans. Every morning before school, I would eat my bowl of Froot Loops and watch SportsCentre on TSN, amazed that people could talk sports for a living. My father and my older brother both played hockey, so it was natural for me to follow in their footsteps. I initially played boys’ hockey, switching to girls’ hockey in U11. That accelerated my passion for the game because I walked into a dressing room and immediately met 23 girls that loved the same sport I did. To this day, I’m still close with some of my minor hockey teammates.

In Grade 12, I was playing for the Ottawa Junior Senators. My teammates were committing to colleges, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was at a crossroad. I wanted more balance between hockey, school and life. My student teacher at the time, Andrea Leacock, recommended I check out her alma mater, Mount Allison University. From the moment I met the coach, toured the town and met a few of the players, it felt right. I had never been to the Maritimes before that trip, but I chose to call Sackville, New Brunswick home for the next five years, playing hockey, studying business and discovering television along the way.

I knew I wanted to turn my hobby into a career in my fifth year of university when I saw first-hand the excitement an interview could bring to a young athlete. I had a chance to volunteer at a local cable channel, Eastlink Community TV. It was my first time filming a story, we were covering a girls’ junior high school basketball championship. I went up to the MVP and asked her the good old question, “How does it feel to have won?” The look of sheer terror, happiness and anticipation all mixed into one emotion, surrounded by her giggling teammates, was priceless. It was in that moment I realized I was seeing myself, and what it would have been like if someone came up to me and my teammates wanting to interview us after a win, recognizing our accomplishment. I knew from that moment on, I wanted to provide women athletes an opportunity to have their accomplishments honoured and voices heard.

When I joined Eastlink Community TV full-time, it was my manager, Brett Smith, who encouraged me to try play-by-play. For the first few weeks, I got my feet wet—I didn’t know much about live broadcasting. I learned quickly that in television, you learn by doing; it’s all about the reps. I knew I would either sink or swim, and I swam. Within two months, I was hosting the Halifax Mooseheads broadcasts, and within three months, I was calling hockey. Five months later, I was calling soccer, basketball, volleyball, even ringette. I began hosting a weekly community show, filling in as a camera operator and producing stories. I tried it all and loved it. I gained an appreciation for grassroots sports and began to feel a responsibility every time I called a game. A responsibility to pronounce names correctly, introduce viewers to the person behind the athlete and, most importantly, give an athlete their moment.

The night before I called my first QMJHL game on television, I was nervous. It was going to be the first time a woman provided play-by-play commentary for the league on television. People often ask me what that was like. Well, I felt as though if I did great, I did the job, but if I failed, I’d hinder future opportunities for women. The night before the game between the Halifax Mooseheads and Charlottetown Islanders, I got a phone call. It was Leah Hextall, someone who knows first-hand, on a much larger scale, the feeling of carrying the weight of your gender on your shoulders. She gave me some great advice—trust yourself, because you’ve earned this, and be present. Two tips I still remind myself.

It wasn’t too long after that, I got another phone call came from TSN for the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Calgary. This was the first time Group B games were going to be televised, so they were looking for a second commentary team. I had a few weeks to prepare, get comfortable with international women’s hockey and European names, and go into the Calgary bubble to work with the network that inspired this Froot Loops-loving, sport-obsessed nine-year-old.

Since then, I have had the opportunity to be a part of some incredible sporting events. Reporting on women’s hockey at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games was very special. The event was so unique, I’ll never forget that experience in Beijing and how it shaped me as the reporter I am today in Montreal. The most recent World Juniors in Halifax was very memorable because I returned to the rink where my television career started, in the same role, as a rink-side reporter, on the same ice. The IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Wisconsin stands out for me because for the first time, the U18 women were receiving televised coverage and I was a part of it in the booth. Exposure of the women’s game is vital for growth, and I am proud to work with fellow team members that want to even the playing field.

😂🙏🏼 what a week https://t.co/qVlAMdy84g

— Kenzie Lalonde (@KenzieTSN) September 7, 2022

And that’s why I love television—it’s a team sport. The crew and staff behind the scenes of a broadcast is where the magic is made. We all have to rely on each other; a skill I developed in hockey. I learned how to trust my teammates, who are now a colour commentator, a camera operator or the producer, who is like a coach. I know what it’s like to be a rookie, to value other people’s sacrifices and, most importantly, how to fight when the odds are against you.

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.”

Seven years old, Knox watched the likes of Danielle Goyette, Cassie Campbell and Kim St. Pierre power Canada to a dominant 8-1 victory over China at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium during the 2000 IIHF World Women’s Championship.

“That was enough for me to latch onto that dream of one day wanting to be on the Olympic team,” Knox says.

Since that game 23 years ago, the Stouffville, Ont., native has had a successful career as a goaltender, winning everywhere she played. In university, she helped lead the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks to four straight Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships . She won gold at the 2011 Winter Universiade as a member of Team Canada and in 2018 captured the Clarkson Cup with the Markham Thunder in the now-defunct Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL).

She also had a couple of chances to wear the Maple Leaf with Hockey Canada, including a silver medal with Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team at the 2009 MLP Cup and three appearances with Canada’s National Women’s Team.

As her playing career progressed, Knox found herself surrounded by influential women who inspired her to find her voice and become a leader.

During her time in the CWHL, Knox also served as the co-chair of the CWHLPA and later became a founding board member of the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement called for a time of reflection, Knox made the decision to step down from the board, inviting Sarah Nurse to join and be an influential voice.

“I wanted to make sure [Sarah Nurse] had a voice at the table,” says Knox. “We’re really lucky to have her as an advocate for our sport and she’s also doing so much outside of hockey, it would have been such a missed opportunity if I hadn’t invited her."

Today, Knox does commentary during PWHPA Dream Gap Tour games, while serving as an advisor to the PWHPA. Away from the rink, she is a firefighter with the Town of Oakville, and if that wasn’t enough on her plate, she along with long-time friend [and fellow Team Canada alumna] Karell Emard, launched a podcast called The Knoxy & Kax Show on SDPN last year.

“Before the last Olympic Games, [SDPN CEO] Adam Wylde came up to me and said, ‘We want to do a women’s hockey podcast and I want you to be the host,’ and it’s been so fun,” Knox says.

The podcast, which began as a partnership between SDPN and the PWHPA, features some of the biggest names in women’s hockey sharing their stories and experiences in and around the game. Past guests include familiar names like Marie-Philip Poulin, Jocelyne Larocque, Sarah Nurse, Emily Clark and Natalie Spooner.

“There’s a huge learning curve but what a cool opportunity to hear from these players, hear about their journey and help people understand why what we are is so important,” says Knox.

“After two seasons, we’re doing it on the fly and feeding off each other,” Emard says. “When Liz and I were playing, we never had a chance to see and get to know our idols, so I think it’s super important for our listeners to listen to not just national players, but professional players too, so they can hear different stories and that there is more to achieve."

"For too long, we’ve judged our career on whether or not we made the national team, but a very successful career is also playing professional and being successful within those leagues.”

In addition to hosting a podcast and her work with the PWHPA, Liz Knox is also a firefighter with the Town of Oakville. (Photo supplied)

Inspiring the next generation

Through events like the recently completed Rivalry Series and 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship next month in Brampton, Ont., Knox hopes the added exposure to women’s hockey brings new fans and athletes to the sport.

“It’s representation and the fact you can see yourself in that person out there,” says Knox. “Now, you get to see people like Sarah Nurse, like Cassie Campbell, all these incredible people and you see them crushing these goals on the ice or on national broadcasts, in a space that hasn’t traditionally welcomed them. It’s going to invite and inspire more dreams, more people and young athletes to chase those dreams.

“The more inclusive we make this space, the more we will learn about ourselves and each other and make for some fun hockey to consume.”

As women’s hockey continues to expand and grow, Emard has no doubt that Knox will continue to play a big role in leading the way.

“She’s always been the voice of the players,” Emard says. “The players are very trusting of her and I hope she keeps doing it because we all feel like we are in good hands when she is around.”

In the hockey community, the women’s game has never been stronger.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Hockey Canada has collaborated with some of the most successful women in the game to answer one question:

Why is it important to see women in influential positions in the game?

Alex Clarke (Drake, Sask.)

Clarke began officiating when she was 11 years old. and became the first woman to officiate in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in September 2021. She is also one of the first women to officiate in the American Hockey League (AHL), and was chosen to represent Canada on the ice as an official at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Angela James (Toronto, Ont.)

A Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, four-time world champion and a member of the Order of Canada, James recorded 33 goals and 54 points in 50 games played with Canada’s National Women’s Team from 1990-1999. Today, James is the co-owner and general manager of the Toronto Six in the Premier Hockey Federation.

Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont.)

A two-time Olympic gold medallist, three-time world champion and long-time alternate captain, Jenner is a leader on and off the ice with Canada’s National Women’s Team. She is closing in on 150 games wearing the Maple Leaf, recording 106 points (41-65—106) to rank 13th in all-time Team Canada scoring.

Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, N.S.)

Since joining the Team Canada program in 2018, Cheverie has become a familiar face behind the bench, helping guide Canada to gold medals at the 2021 and 2022 Women’s Worlds, and the 2022 Olympics. She made history last spring, becoming the first woman to serve as a coach with a men’s national team at the 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Manon Rhéaume (Lac Beauport, Que.)

Rhéaume became the first—and still only—woman to play in an NHL game with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992. As a member of Canada’s National Women’s Team, the netminder is a two-time world champion and a silver medallist at the 1998 Olympics—the first year women’s hockey was included in the Games.

Marian Jacko (Wiikwemkoong First Nation, Ont.)

Elected to Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors in December 2022, Jacko is the Assistant Deputy Attorney General for the Indigenous Justice Division of the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. Currently, she is the President of the Little Native Hockey League ("Little NHL"), the President of Anishnawbe Health of Toronto, and the head coach of the U18A team in North York.

Stephanie White (Toronto, Ont.)

A former coach of women’s hockey who won gold with Canada’s National Women’s Team in 2007 and silver in 2009 with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team, White is currently BC Hockey's chair of the board. She is currently the director of athletes at the University of Windsor and previously served as the director of sport at Western University.