Cando's Jessica Coleman is coming off her first IIHF assignment at the Female U18 and U22 Canada- United States series in Calgary from August 17 to 20. Coleman continues to have a strong year at officiating hockey, as she refereed the Esso Cup gold medal final, which is U18 Female AAA earlier this year. Back to the IIHF assignment, she talked about her experience at the tournament. 

“It was amazing, it was a fantastic experience. It was my first experience doing anything international, the IIHF, but yeah, the level of competition was outstanding. The coolest thing about what I got to do is I think a lot of us female officials say, is it was something we were never able to achieve playing hockey so, when that is done, being able to have another avenue to achieve higher success,” Coleman said. 

Coleman is also a part of the development program here in Saskatchewan, and she talked about the need for officials in the province. 

“We've been trying to attract the Junior A players once they're done, I'm trying to get them. Then for the younger ones, just come out. We need officials, Quebec has a shortage, they have had to cancel games and we would hate it, there's so much hockey in Saskatchewan, to have to cancel games because we cannot find officials,” Coleman added. 

The process of signing up to become an official is an easy one, as Coleman explains. 

“Go to the Hockey Sask website, and then there's a referee tab and then from there it's pretty self-explanatory from there, register and then they'll send you the info. You'll have to do a little online portion, then have to do some on ice, and then you're ready to go. It’s for anyone 14 and older.” 

The direction Hockey Canada is going developing female officials is promising according to Coleman.  

“Hockey Canada has done a really good job that they're really focusing on their female development this year. During the selection camp, they had camp for female officials for the younger group moving up, and they're going to have a few more throughout the year as well.” 

Coleman will continue to officiate high end hockey this upcoming winter, as she officiates SJHL, SWHL, Female CIS, and both Male and Female U18 AAA Hockey.