Officials selected for IIHF events

Hockey Canada is happy to announce the recipients of the Kenneth R. Stiles Memorial Scholarships for the 2022-23 season. These scholarships are awarded yearly to officers within the Hockey Canada Officiating Program of Excellence (OPOE) and assist to offset the price of post-secondary schooling, as officers pursue their tutorial and officiating targets. Hockey Canada congratulates these officers for exemplifying the rules of the OPOE by means of their continued success each on and off the ice.

“It is always a pleasure to be able to award the Kenneth R. Stiles Memorial Scholarships,” says Dan Hanoomansingh, Hockey Canada’s supervisor of officiating. “A goal of the officiating program is to facilitate excellence both on and off the ice, and the Seaman Hotchkiss Foundation helps us do that. These individuals commit a tremendous amount of time to officiating, not just at the rink, but also in their training and preparation, and to see them do that while maintaining their academic progress is a true accomplishment.”

This 12 months’s recipients are six officers from throughout the nation, at numerous levels of the OPOE, representing 4 Member packages:

Adam Culbert — St. Mary’s University — Hockey Nova Scotia

Adam started his officiating profession in 2016 with the South Shore Minor Hockey Association and has progressed by means of the Hockey Canada Officiating Pathway over the past eight years. He at present officiates within the Maritime Hockey League and Atlantic University Sport. Adam was chosen to officiate the 2022 National Men’s U18 Club Championship in Okotoks, AB, and officiated pre-tournament video games forward of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, whereas sustaining prime marks within the bachelor of commerce program at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

Marc Guitard — University of Saskatchewan — Hockey Saskatchewan

Marc took his first steps in officiating in 2015 with the Prince Albert Minor Hockey Association and obtained his Member high-performance certification with Hockey Saskatchewan in 2022. He at present officiates within the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and Canada West, balancing his hockey commitments with the rigorous course load on the University of Saskatchewan, the place he’s working in the direction of his bachelor of engineering diploma. Recently, Marc attended Hockey Canada’s West Regional Camp in Chilliwack, BC, and was chosen for the Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, PE, officiating a semifinal in his first nationwide event.

Michelle Ngan — McGill University — Hockey Quebec

Michelle started her officiating profession in 2018 and joined Hockey Quebec’s provincial Program of Excellence, incomes her Level 3 certification in 2022. She at present officiates within the LHEQ U18 AAA division and RSEQ school leagues, incomes a range for the finals of the Division 2 playoffs. A multi-sport athlete in her youth, Michelle impressed in stripes this season, whereas additionally taking part in for the McGill Martlets and sustaining wonderful marks in pursuit of a bachelor of science in nursing.

Shadei Saadé — Collège Ahuntsic — Hockey Quebec

Shadei’s officiating profession started in 2018, after a decade-long love affair with hockey. The youngster of immigrant dad and mom from Lebanon, she began taking part in hockey in her hometown of Laval, QC, however discovered a brand new love for the game in her function as an official. Currently, she officiates within the LHEQ U18 AAA division, in addition to RSEQ school and college leagues. The 2022-23 season was a banner 12 months for Shadei. Provincially, she started the season incomes her Level 3 certification and completed with assignments to the RSEQ Division 2 semifinals and college playoffs. Nationally, Shadei attended the Hockey Canada OPOE Central Regional Camp in Montreal and earned a range to the Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, PE. Academically, Shadei continued her research at Collège Ahuntsic in policing, sustaining robust marks throughout the board.

Kaitlyn Sauser — University of Saskatchewan — Hockey Saskatchewan

Since embarking on her officiating profession in 2015, Kaitlyn has taken the officiating program by storm. This season, she was acknowledged as the highest official within the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League, whereas additionally officiating the Prairie Junior Hockey League and in Canada West. Kaitlyn has additionally made a reputation for herself on the nationwide stage within the final 12 months. She attended Hockey Canada’s nationwide summer season OPOE camp in Calgary, earned semifinal assignments in back-to-back Esso Cups in Okotoks, AB and Prince Albert, SK, and was chosen for the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown, PE. Not solely does Kaitlyn possess a powerful officiating background, however she additionally graduated with nice distinction with a bachelor of science in agribusiness. Furthermore, her tutorial journey will proceed as she pursues a grasp of science diploma in agricultural economics beginning within the fall.

Franco Veneziano — Confederation College — Hockey Northwestern Ontario

Franco first donned the stripes on the age of 13 and fell in love with officiating, at the same time as he continued his taking part in profession. This season, he officiated each stage of hockey in northwestern Ontario, whereas taking part in Junior B for the Schreiber Falcons and persevering with his schooling in the direction of a diploma in business at Confederation College in Thunder Bay, ON. Franco started the 2022-23 season attending the Hockey Canada OPOE Central Regional Camp in St. Marys, ON, represented Hockey Northwestern Ontario on the Ontario Winter Games and completed the season with a range to the finals of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.

The Kenneth R. Stiles Memorial Scholarship was established by the Seaman Hotchkiss Hockey Foundation (previously Project 75) and Hockey Canada in 2006 in recognition of Ken Stiles, a former president of Project 75, and his large contributions to grassroots hockey in Canada. Stiles was a catalyst in planning and designing an initiative aimed toward gamers and officers who display excellence in sport and dedication to schooling.

Scholarships are awarded on the idea of educational achievement, officiating achievement and neighborhood involvement. Since 2006, this system has awarded greater than $309,000 to officers throughout the nation. Since the mid-Nineteen Eighties, the Seaman Hotchkiss Hockey Foundation—an oil and gasoline legacy from the unique Flames possession group—has donated over $7.15 million to minor hockey growth initiatives in Canada, in addition to different charities in Alberta.

For extra data on the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, go to HockeyCanada.ca or contact your Member.