On today’s episode I’m talking to Kendall Hanley, a hockey referee.
Kendall began playing college hockey at Elmira College before transferring to play at SUNY Oswego, where she earned a BS in Zoology. When Kendall first started looking for a way to stay involved in the sport she loves, she found a network of female referees in Dallas. She began working as a Director of Hockey for clubs in Dallas and Colorado while continuing to move up the ranks as a referee.
As Kendall began officiating games at a higher level, she made the difficult decision to switch career paths. While continuing to referee, she found flexible jobs that allowed her to pursue a career that could not provide stability on its own. Kendall’s love of animals led her to first start her own dog walking business and later work for a company making fresh pet foods.
Kendall has had some pretty incredible experiences and firsts in her career as a referee. She was one of the first four women selected to officiate an NHL prospect tournament in 2019. She was also part of the first all-female referee team for the 2021 NWHL season. Kendall is also the recipient of the 2020-2021 Ben Allison Award, given to the official who We hope to see her on the ice officiating games at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
We talk about:
- Pursuing a passion even when it can’t be a full time career
- Building support systems
- Appreciating the game from the other side
- Creating opportunities for new female referees
- Having big goals
- Balancing family commitments
For more information on Kendall Hanley, you can find her on social:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts
Stitcher
