She's a referee, and she's just broken new ice in N.L. senior hockey officiating

When hockey referee Danielle Mills stepped onto the ice in Grand Falls-Windsor, she made history in Newfoundland and Labrador senior hockey as the first woman to do so and she hopes she won't be the last.

Mills refereed a game in the Central-West Senior Hockey League on Sunday, and isfirst woman to officiate a senior hockey game in the province's sporting history according to Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador.Speaking with CBC News on Tuesday, she said it was exciting to get the call.

"The biggest thing [was] that when they asked me, they said,'We want you to referee this because you're capable and qualified and ready for this level,'"Mills said Monday.

"Obviously paving the way for females was a big part of it, absolutely, but for me it was just a hockey game."

Mills, who has officiated hockey games for more than 20 years, heads the female officiating arm of Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador.

Sheplayed and refereed games across the country in her teens, she says,but this experience was different.

"The pace was a little higher than I'm used to, of course, 'cause it's the highest level of hockey in the province.But once I got out there, those first couple of minutes, you get it out of your system and it's all good," she said.

"A couple little girls came down to the referees' room after and just wanted to give me a high five and say good job so I know it hit people in different ways."

Mills said it was great to see support for her in the stands. Sheeven got to see her nine-week olddaughter, Claire, who was at the game.

"Maybe Claire will look back on this one of these days and say, 'It was pretty cool that my mom did that.'"

Ed Flood, Hockey N.L.'s head of officiating, said Sunday's game was a big step forward for provincial senior hockey.

"She's one of our leaders on and off the ice. She's got a great rapportwith hockey players all around the province, and of course she's got an awful lot of respect," Flood said. "If you put quality officials on the ice, it doesn't matter if they're male or female."

Mills said the number of female officials in the province has more than doubled in the last five years. Mills said she hopes her accomplishment will increase the numbers.

WATCH | Danielle Mills describes officiating her first senior hockey game:

The hockey rink is Danielle Millss second home. Now its the site of a big first for her and senior hockey

10 months ago

Duration 2:30

Danielle Mills is the first woman in Newfoundland and Labrador to referee a senior hockey game. She started officiating as a teen and is now mentoring other young girls in the role of officiating. The CBCs Troy Turner spoke to Mills about getting more women involved in refereeing.

"If someone can see me out there and say, 'Hey, I can do that one of these days,' that's what it means to me for sure," Mills said.

"The player piece is definitely growing, the numbers are going up so high. So if I can take some of those players and make them into officials as well, that would essentially grow the program and it would be a benefit for the province as a whole."

Mills hopes to officiate more senior hockey this season while continuingthe development offuture officials.

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