IIHF names 24 officials for November Women's Worlds in Denmark
Seven Americans and six Canadians make the crew for Herning and Esbjerg, including two referees fresh off the Milano Olympics.
The IIHF has named the 24 officials for the 2026 Women's World Championship, which runs Nov. 6-16 in Herning and Esbjerg, Denmark. The crew is 12 referees and 12 linespersons from nine countries, and the U.S. and Canada supply the biggest share.
American referees Michaela Bahl, Sydney Harris, Shannon Motzko and Laura Schmidlein made the list, with Kathryn Glover, Erika Greenen and Ashley Johnston on the lines. Canada sends referees Jennifer Berezowski, Shauna Neary and Amy Martin, plus linespersons Alannah Beres, Stephanie Gagnon and Sophie Thomson.
Neary and Finland's Anniina Nurmi both worked the Milano Olympics earlier this year. Gagnon is back after an eight-year break from the international stage.
Ferda read: a November Worlds in an Olympic year is a strange rhythm, and the officials are the one constant. Seven American stripes on a 24-person crew says a lot about where the women's game's depth lives right now.