St. Albert official Lacey Senuk has been assigned by the International Ice Hockey Federation to work an Olympic pre-qualification event in China.
Senuk, 27, will push lines in the women's group E tournament featuring China, France, Great Britain and the Netherlands, starting Thursday in Shanghai.
“It’s going to be a neat experience. I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.
It’s technically Senuk’s second IIHF assignment. Two years ago she served as a linesman at the 4 Nations Cup in St. John’s, Nfld. after making her international debut in the U22 series between Canada and the United States in Toronto.
“The 4 Nations is considered IIHF, however that one was assigned by Hockey Canada because it was in Canada. This assignment is actually coming right from the IIHF. Hockey Canada put my name forward and they made the selection,” said the graduate of the Referee Advanced Technical Training program through the St. Albert Referees Association.
Senuk is among 21 Canadian officials selected by the IIHF to do 12 different IIHF events this season. All 21 officials are products of the Hockey Canada officiating program.
“It’s pretty cool to have the backing and support of Hockey Canada and to have the IIHF recognize that Hockey Canada put my name forward by selecting me is pretty neat too,” said the former Notre Dame Hounds forward from Grande Cache.
Senuk is a rising star in the national and international officiating ranks in only her fifth season wearing the stripes.
“A lot of it has to do with the diverse hockey that I get to skate in and the exposure that I’ve had to international hockey when teams come over to play exhibition games in Canada. Right off the hop you’ve got a language barrier and you’re in Canada and you’re not even in a foreign country. You kind of learn the whole communication pieces with the different teams and how to deal with situations.”
The last major tournament for Senuk was the 2011 National Women’s U18 Championship in Saguenay, Que.
Last year she served as a referee at the Canada Winter Games’ U18 female tournament in Halifax, N.S. and the Esso Cup national midget female championship in St. Albert, where she worked the TSN televised gold-medal game between Notre Dame and the Edmonton Thunder.
Senuk hopes to land some more plum gigs next year.
“Another world championship would be absolutely awesome,” she said. “I would also like to have the opportunity to go to the CIS nationals in the spring.”
Senuk is an active official at various levels in male and female hockey.
“I’ve actually now broken into the midget AAA boys’ league as a caller,” said the St. Albert resident. “I’m still pushing lines at junior B and on the female side I’m doing CIS, ACAC and midget AAA girls. It keeps me busy.”
