All-female officiating crew to oversee Summerside hockey jamboree

Theofficiating crew working thegirls hockey jamboree in Summerside, P.E.I.,this weekend will be made up entirely of women a first for Hockey P.E.I.

"I'm really pleased that we're we're able to get all these females together in officiating the tournament," saidPaul Matte,manager of officiating.

"We're extremely proud but we're also wanting to use the event as a bit of a platform to kind of spread the word."

A hockey jamboree is used as a tune-up prior to the start of hockeyseason.Each teamplays a series of games and participate in some off-ice bonding,all in an effort to get ready for the season ahead, said GeoffKowalski, executive director for Hockey P.E.I.

The weekend event will include teams from the atom AA division through midget AAA.

Encouraging women

Over the past few years Matte said Hockey P.E.I.'s officiating committeehas been increasing efforts to encouragewomen to become referees.

"We've created a new position on the committee that's solely focused on the female officiating side of the game," he said.

Matte said the association also hopes the jamboree could provide some professional development for the women who are refereeing the games.

"What's even more important is that we'll have some senior officials, boots on the ground and some supervisors and assessors in the stands watching them and then it'll be used as a development opportunity as well," Matte said.

The officiating committeealso plans touse the jamboreeto raise awareness of the abuse that officials sometimes faceand to discuss how young officials can be negatively affected.

The event will take place at the Credit Union Place in Summersidefrom Oct. 18 through Oct. 20.

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