All of Prince George will arguably agree that BC Hockey has made the right call.
Local lineswoman Danika Kroeker is the province’s Official of the Year for the 2019-20 season after serving at all levels of the game, which included a stint with the national women’s hockey team in the Canada-USA Rivalry Series.
“It is an absolute honour to receive this award,” Kroeker tells PrinceGeorgeMatters, “and to be following the names of some amazing and successful officials, who have won this award in the past as they are officials I look up to.”
Congratulations to Danika Kroeker of @pgmha for her selection as the BC Hockey Official of the Year. Danika had an outstanding season Provincially, Nationally and Internationally. #morethandroppingpucks https://t.co/tbVgElXHgD pic.twitter.com/EAxALMeTKt
— BC Hockey Officials (@BCHockey_Refs) September 15, 2020
The 22-year-old was also given the chance to officiate the gold medal game at the 2019 National Women’s Under-18 Championships in Manitoba.
At the time, Kroeker said that was the highlight for her career before getting the call to participate with Hockey Canada in Vancouver and Victoria for the rivalry series.
She credited her BC Hockey Officiating leaders for getting her this far.
“It absolutely blew my mind [...] Getting this assignment really made me realize where I might be able to go with it,” Kroeker explained in an earlier interview.
“I always kind of doubted whether or not I would make it to an international assignment, so getting this really reassured me that maybe that is possible. I think the end-goal is definitely the IIHF, whether it’s women's worlds or even an Olympic qualifier.”
Just like that life-changing weekend in February, the Prince George Corrections Officer hopes her Official of the Year Award can open more doors skating forward.
“I plan to continue to move up the ladder from here in my officiating career and just hope to build off this past season's successes. I’m very excited to see where things go from here.”
In a statement, BC Hockey calls Kroeker one of Canada’s top up-and-coming officials and “is an excellent role model and example for young female officials across the country.”
When she’s not getting called up to officiate high-profile events, shes usually found in stripes during BC Hockey League games, notably with the Prince George Spruce Kings, university hockey, or at the U-18 and U-16 AAA levels.
Kroeker was awarded Hockey Canada’s Most Promising B.C. Official following the 2018-19 season.
.@Danika_Kroeker was caught offside when she received a call to line 2 of the final 3 games in 🇨🇦/🇺🇸 #RivalrySeries, an addition to the Prince George official's extensive resume that includes a national gold medal game | https://t.co/DCkoUKTJNL #CityOfPG @BCHockey_Refs @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/gnf0Ly6LSA
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) January 31, 2020
