The NHL has been around for 98 years and still not having a single female ref. However, Heather McDaniel was the first woman who reffed an NHL game in 1995. However, in 1999 she quit because she became pregnant. Since then, not one female ref has joined the NHL.
McDaniel was the first and the last woman to ref a professional hockey game. She stated, "At that point there wasn't really any women's hockey that could challenge me and help me hone my skills," she said. "The way I looked at it, I just wanted to move up the ranks. I didn't have this idea of male and female, I just wanted whatever was the best hockey to make me the best official. And there really wasn't much of a choice."
There are 2800 women referees, but none reffing higher than the junior levels. However, female and male refs go different paths when reffing hockey games. According to Terry Gregson, the NHL Director of Officiating, "In the international game and the women's game there isn't the same sense of aggression that there is in the [NHL]. [The women's game] is more of a free-flowing type of hockey game where contact is less."
McDaniel was the first and the last woman to ref a professional hockey game. She stated, "At that point there wasn't really any women's hockey that could challenge me and help me hone my skills," she said. "The way I looked at it, I just wanted to move up the ranks. I didn't have this idea of male and female, I just wanted whatever was the best hockey to make me the best official. And there really wasn't much of a choice."
There are 2800 women referees, but none reffing higher than the junior levels. However, female and male refs go different paths when reffing hockey games. According to Terry Gregson, the NHL Director of Officiating, "In the international game and the women's game there isn't the same sense of aggression that there is in the [NHL]. [The women's game] is more of a free-flowing type of hockey game where contact is less."
Erin Blair (left) and Katie Guay (center) both are very high refs in hockey, but neither has ever worked a professional game like McDaniel(right), but they have worked men's games.