History was actually already made before the first game that year when China and Russia took to the ice in Hamilton on the afternoon of 31st March 1997.

Of course, before the teams come onto the ice, the on-ice officials entered the playing area, to skate around and warm up, check the nets, and get ready to officiate the game at hand.

On this day, though – and for the first time – the officials were all women: referee Marina Zenk of Canada, and her linesmen, Ulrike Kahlert (GER) and Eszter Voros (HUN).

The decision by the IIHF to go to women only on-ice officials was in large measure to develop a program that was consistent with the officials as with the players. It was a slow process because the decision required time. Deciding to have all women officials and training the necessary number from countries around the world were tow different things.

IIHF referee supervisors had to recruit suitable candidates, teach them, give them experience at lower levels, and finally show in them the confidence to do the job at the top level of senior play, not just in early, preliminary-round games but medal games of the highest importance.

Since 1997 many women have distinguished themselves. Although Great Britain is not a strong hockey nation at the top level, Joy Tottman holds the records for officiating 10 games at Olympics and 20 at Women’s Worlds to date, including the gold-medal game in Sochi. She has held the whistle at all three levels of the women’s game, including WW18. Tottman gets her skills naturally, as her late father was also a referee.