As women’s para hockey looks to expand its footprint, two Hockey Canada officials are heading south.

This week, World Para Ice Hockey is hosting the first-ever Women’s World Challenge in Green Bay, Wis., and Canadian officials Jane Ogilvie (Truro, N.S.) and Danielle Williams (Aurora, Ont.) will be a part of the inaugural event.

This four-team tournament will see Canada’s Women’s National Para Hockey Team compete alongside Great Britain, the United States and Team World, which comprises athletes from seven different nations. The tournament is intended to continue developing competitive women’s para hockey, with the eventual goal of a women’s world championship and a place in the Paralympic program.

As the popularity of para hockey continues to grow, the Hockey Canada Officiating Program is improving its resources to train and develop officials for the sport.

“The role of the official is to facilitate a safe and fair game and that’s no different in para hockey,” says Dan Hanoomansingh, manager of officiating with Hockey Canada. “Officials play a key role, and it is our responsibility as a world sport leader to provide those tools to our officials to benefit the game.”

Ogilvie, the oldest of four children growing up on a dairy farm in the Annapolis Valley, joined the ranks of the Hockey Canada Officiating Program in 2014. Since that time, she has represented Hockey Nova Scotia at the Esso Cup, the Atlantic Challenge Cup and the Atlantic University Sport women’s hockey championship.

“I cannot wait to be a part of growing the women’s side of para hockey,” she says. “This is an opportunity to take my skills as an official and truly contribute to the growth of the game.”

Williams has been involved in the game in a variety of roles for well over a decade, first as an off-ice official and then as an on-ice official, starting in 2009. Her experience in the Greater Toronto Area has taken her to multiple OHF championships and OHL Cup tournaments, as well as becoming more involved as an instructor and mentor for the next generation of officials.

“We’re all passionate about hockey, but the opportunity to build something from scratch is something entirely different,” she says. “I am excited to do my part to bring women’s para hockey to the world stage and bring those experiences back to other officials at home.”

Ogilvie and Williams headed to Green Bay this week for two days of training with the rest of the officiating staff before the tournament starts on Aug. 26.

“We are very grateful to World Para Ice Hockey and USA Hockey for offering us the opportunity to send two officials to this event,” says Hanoomansingh. “Hockey Canada is fortunate to have two world leaders in para hockey officiating in Paul Boese (Nepean, Ont.) and Kevin Webinger (Calgary, Alta.) taking on leadership roles with our program.”

The Hockey Canada Officiating Program is for anyone who is interested in officiating, from the grassroots to the international game. Hockey Canada's 13 Members provide a path for anyone to participate in officiating, develop a love for the game and achieve their goals. For more information on the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, visit HockeyCanada.ca/Officials.