NHL signals historic change coming and changes the official definition of referees

Moments ago, Oilers writer and insider Mark Spector revealed a major change that could soon be incoming to the NHL. According to Spector, the league has changed the NHL game sheets from saying the word ‘linesman' to ‘linesperson', seeming to indicate that the gender barrier could be broken soon.

Spector highlighted Kirsten Walsh, an up and coming linesperson who may be soon selected to make the jump to the NHL.

Walsh could be the first woman to serve as a referee or official in an NHL game in history. Recently, the NBA has seen the emergence of female officials, and it seems the NHL will soon follow suit.


This is a fantastic move for the NHL and personally amazing for Walsh. With this move seemingly coming in the near future and the startup and immediate success of the PWHL, Women's hockey in North America is taking great steps.