Officials go international

Officials go international

22 Canadians selected to work IIHF world championships and Olympic qualification tournaments for 2016-17 season

Jason La Rose

October 11, 2016

Canadian officials are taking their talents around the world.

Twenty-two officials – 11 referees and 11 linesmen – have been nominated by the International Ice Hockey Federation to work world championships and Olympic qualification tournaments during the 2016-17 season.

“Congratulations to all of the officials selected to work internationally this season,” says Todd Anderson, senior manager of officiating with Hockey Canada. “These officials have worked tirelessly to reach this point, and to be considered among the best in the world. No doubt they will represent Canada proudly whenever they step on the ice.”

CANADIAN OFFICIALS ASSIGNED TO IIHF EVENTS FOR 2016-17 SEASON
Referees (hometown)	Event	Location
Gabrielle Ariano-Lortie (Montreal, Que.)	IIHF Women’s World Championship	Plymouth, Mich.
Gabrielle Ariano-Lortie (Montreal, Que.)	Women’s Olympic Qualification, Group C	Arosa, SUI
Melanie Bordeleau (Lavaltrie, Que.)	Women’s Olympic Qualification, Group D	Tomakomai, JPN
Darcy Burchell (Hamilton, Ont.)	IIHF World Junior Championship	Montreal, Que./Toronto, Ont.
Scott Ferguson (Sudbury, Ont.)	IIHF World Championship, Div. II-B	Auckland, NZL
Alexandre Garon (Blainville, Que.)	IIHF U18 World Championship	Poprad/Spisska Nova Ves, SVK
Olivier Gouin (Terrebonne, Que.)	IIHF World Junior Championship, Div. I-A	Bremerhaven, GER
Fraser Lawrence (Edmonton, Alta.)	IIHF U18 World Championship, Div. III-B	Mexico City, MEX
Meghan Mallette (Fredericton, N.B.)	IIHF Women’s World Championship, Div. I-B	Katowice, POL
Vanessa Morin (Acton Vale, Que.)	IIHF Women’s World Championship, Div. II-A	Gangneung, KOR
Lacey Senuk (St. Albert, Alta.)	IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship	Prerov/Zlin, CZE
Michelle Stapleton (Saskatoon, Sask.)	IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, Div. I-A	Budapest, HUN

Linesmen (hometown)	Event	Location
Maxime Chaput (St-Jérôme, Que.)	IIHF World Championship, Div. I-B	Kyiv, UKR
Stéphanie Gagnon (Sherbrooke, Que.)	IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship	Prerov/Zlin, CZE
Stéphanie Gagnon (Sherbrooke, Que.)	Women’s Olympic Qualification, Group D	Tomakomai, JPN
Michael Harrington (Stoney Creek, Ont.)	IIHF World Junior Championship, Div. I-A	Bremerhaven, GER
Marie-Pierre Jalbert (Montreal, Que.)	Women’s Olympic Qualification, Group J	Mexico City, MEX
Cianna Lieffers (Saskatoon, Sask.)	Women’s Olympic Qualification, Group J	Mexico City, MEX
Kelsey Mahoney (Winnipeg, Man.)	IIHF U18 World Championship, Div. III-B	Mexico City, MEX
Elizabeth Mantha (Longueuil, Que.)	IIHF Women’s World Championship, Div. II-B Qual.	Taipei City, TPE
Dustin McCrank (Guelph, Ont.)	IIHF U18 World Championship, Div. III-A	Taipei City, TPE
Vanessa Stratton (Toronto, Ont.)	IIHF Women’s World Championship, Div. I-A	Graz, AUT
Justine Todd (Alliston, Ont.)	IIHF Women’s World Championship	Plymouth, Mich.
Justine Todd (Alliston, Ont.)	Women’s Olympic Qualification, Group C	Arosa, SUI
Nathan Van Oosten (Surrey, B.C.)	IIHF World Junior Championship	Montreal, Que./Toronto, Ont.

In addition, three referees, Darcy Burchell (Hamilton, Ont.), Olivier Gouin (Terrebonne, Que.) and Brett Iverson (Richmond, B.C.), and three linesmen, Nicolas Chartrand-Piché (St-Jérôme, Que.), Bevan Mills (Langley, B.C.) and Nathan Van Oosten (Surrey, B.C.), are among the 75 officials shortlisted for the 2017 IIHF World Championship in Cologne, Germany, and Paris, France.

The final list of officials for that tournament will be named in February 2017.

All of the officials are products of the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, which includes six levels of certification. Most of the officials nominated for international duty are Level V or Level VI, which are reserved for top-tier referees and linesmen.

“The Hockey Canada Officiating Program is for anyone interested in officiating the game of hockey, from beginners to seasoned veterans. There are six levels in the program, from those looking to get started to the highest level of officials,” says Anderson. “Officials play an important role in keeping the game safe and fair for players and their teams – two crucial elements to ensuring we continue to grow the game across the country, and internationally.”