A historic step forward in the hockey world included Grace Barlow of Prince George.
She was a member of the first all-female officiating crew to work a Junior A hockey game in Canada.
The 23-year-old joined Megan Howes, Melissa Brunn, and Colleen Geddes during Sunday’s BCHL game between the Surrey Eagles and Langley Rivermen.
Barlow told MyPGNow.com the significance of the moment didn’t sink in until she stepped onto the ice for the first time.
“It was really cool stepping out onto the ice and doing our first lap and having the crowd give us a quick applause. It felt really good to know that everyone was really supportive of what the BCHL was doing in putting us out there as a crew.”
“When we found out this was going to happen we all felt really excited and not just about the history that was going to be made but just getting to work together. Typically, we don’t get to work together all the time because Melissa (Howes) lives in Kelowna and all of us are more in a mentorship role and we work in a female division so it’s tough to get us together.”
Barlow comes by the game honestly having played with the Northern Cougars/Capitals U-18 AAA programs for three seasons between 2013-2016.
Like most players, life after hockey can be a tough adjustment for anyone but this was particularly true for Barlow who found a way to get back into the game after some time away.
“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to kind of see the game at every level and growing up through the Prince George Minor Hockey Association and stepping into the U18 AAA league it was a transition and then once I was done, I felt a little bit lost. I stepped away from the game for a year and I didn’t really know what to do, thankfully, I started reffing at the advice of Tyler Garden.”
“After that, I kind of caught the itch and wanted to coach. My dad Mark has been a coach for decades and I thought maybe I should coach as well, kind of getting the rounded idea and gaining empathy for the players and coaches out there.”
Barlow is enrolled at the Faculty of Dentistry at UBC where she has plans to return to the northern capital once her studies are complete.
“Hopefully, in the next couple of years I will be graduating in 2024 and I will be Dr. Barlow at that point. That is one of my biggest passions is helping people and working in health care, once I am done I will hopefully be coming back to Prince George and practicing there.