Moose Jaw hockey referee heading to the Olympics

By Shawn Slaght

Moose Jaw’s Michelle McKenna has been named to the officiating crew for women’s ice hockey at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy.

McKenna has been part of the international pool of officials since 2017. Last February, she worked an Olympic qualifying tournament as her final chance to make the Olympic crew.

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Following the tournament, officials received individual calls from the IIHF to learn if they had been selected. McKenna said she was in Ottawa refereeing a Professional Women’s Hockey League game, and was back at the hotel with her parents, husband and daughter when the call came.

“It was pretty cool to get to share the news with them immediately after getting that phone call,” McKenna said.

She added that refereeing Olympic hockey games has always been her dream.

“It’s a dream come true, or something I’ve been working for pretty much my whole officiating career,” she said.

Currently, McKenna is working on the ice at PWHL games. Locally, she officiates Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and university women’s hockey, along with many levels in between.

This won’t be McKenna’s first experience on the international stage. Last April, she was part of the refereeing crew for the Women’s World Hockey Championship in Czechia. She said she looks forward to comparing that experience with the Olympics.

“It’s pretty cool to build on those experiences that I had in Czech in April and apply them to this opportunity at the Olympics,” she said.

McKenna said her preparation will be similar to any other tournament, including a refresher on the IIHF rulebook. A test event is scheduled for December in Milan to prepare for the games.

She said the biggest difference will be the spotlight at the Olympics.

“There’s a little bit more pressure, more eyes on you, but the key is to go out there and act like you would in any other game. Be calm, cool, collected, like you would with games back home — like the first game you’ve ever reffed. Hockey is hockey, so just making sure you’re going back to the basics,” she said.

The women’s ice hockey tournament will be played in Milan at the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena and Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. The women’s event begins on February 5, though McKenna said officials will likely arrive a few days early to prepare.