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A second Prince George referee has received recognition by Hockey Canada

Grace Barlow’s contributions on the ice earn her a prestigious scholarship
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer

Two refs in one week.

After Danika Kroeker was honoured as the Most Promising Official in B.C., Grace Barlow is now the recipient of a Hockey Canada acknowledgement within the same week.

The Prince George official is one of three in the province bestowed the Kenneth R. Stiles Memorial Scholarship for her contributions in games and major tournaments, while also helping prepare the next generation for the sport.

The funding helps offset post-secondary education costs for Canada’s top young referees, supports their efforts to complete university, become better officials, and rewards their contributions in mentoring younger hockey officials that want to don the zebra shirt.

"I would love to thank Tyler Garden, Sean Raphael, Rachel Robillard, Dan Hanoomansingh, Prince George Minor Hockey (PGMHA), the rest of the B.C. Hockey association, and, of course, my family," said Barlow to PrinceGeorgeMatters. "My accomplishments are the result of all the support that I’ve had through PGMHA and B.C. Hockey to be given the opportunity to develop my skills as a coach and referee for female hockey in the north. My scholarship will free up time to help with development and teaching opportunities for young referees as well as coaching female hockey, as usual."

The 20-year-old was an official at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in Yukon in May and also got to teach young girls in the Whitehorse Minor Hockey Association a month prior to the tournament with B.C. Hockey.

She also attended the provincial organization’s Officiating Program of Excellence in Shawnigan Lake last year, which is part of the requirement to receive the scholarship.

Barlow is also played three seasons for the Northern Capitals, Prince George’s top-tier female midget hockey club, and was part of the B.C. Championship team three years ago.

A graduate of D.P. Todd Secondary, Barlow is currently studying at UNBC; she was named a 2016-17 high-school scholar for the post-secondary.