BC HOCKEY AWARDS: MIKE LANDUCCI DEVELOPMENT AWARD - OFFICIATING, VANESSA STRATTON
By MARIO ANNICCHIARICO
An accomplished on-ice official who has represented both Hockey Canada and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) at such events as Olympic qualifiers, the Women’s World Championships, World U18’s, ESSO Cup, National High Performance and Elite Women’s Officiating Program of Excellence (OPOE) camps and many others, is being recognized for her efforts in B.C. and Yukon.
Vanessa Stratton is BC Hockey’s Mike Landucci Development Award – Officiating recipient for this year. But it’s her work in developing officials that is being honoured.
The award was more than a big surprise for Stratton, who usually sat in on the selection process for award winners in officiating for BC Hockey.
“I was laughing because we were having an ongoing joke because I’m usually part of the committee that selects the officiating awards. I said to Sean (Raphael, BC Hockey’s Referee-In-Chief and Vice President, Programs), ‘I thought you were just doing me a favour and letting me off the work because I’ve had a bit of a busy year,’ ” she said.
“He said, ‘No, no there was a reason,’” Stratton recollected with a laugh. “It’s super cool and super exciting. As much as for me, this might sound bad, but I don’t need the recognition, but it’s always nice when you get it.
Stratton moved to B.C. from Ontario in 2017 to work at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. The accomplished on-ice official has since moved back where she is employed at the University of Western Ontario, but remains involved with BC Hockey remotely and is a big reason for their success in developing officials and, specifically, for women and girls.
“Vanessa quickly embraced taking on a leadership in coaching officials and a mentorship role,” said Raphael. “She took on the role of mentoring and teaching officials. When Covid-19 hit she was elevated into a more prominent role, in particular with the female development programming. Since that time, we’ve seen officiating double in B.C. and Yukon as far as participation is concerned. She took that over and she’s been in our branch lead female role for the last four or five years.”
BC Hockey’s officiating numbers have gone from 4,000 with 350 women and girls - so under 10 per cent - to roughly 14 per cent, with more than 6,000 officials and nearing 800 women and girls, he said.
“Vanessa helped us invent how we’ve looked at female hockey development for our officials across B.C. and Yukon,” added Raphael. “She’s helped us shape a program that can give officials an opportunity no matter where they were from (across B.C. and Yukon) and helped foster along this new generation that we’ve seen come to fruition. She’s helped identify these officials. The program has come a long way under her guidance.”
Stratton is quick to share the accolades that have come her way.
“I pass part of it to our officials because their success is what makes me look good,” Stratton said. “It shows that it works and that the investment and time we put into our program is working. To me, that’s what matters.”
That’s the type of person Stratton is. Personally, she has participated as an official in 10 National Championships and seven World Championships. She joined the leadership of BC Hockey’s officiating program quickly and became BC Hockey’s Female High Performance Officiating Coach in 2021.
The success here has shown not only in the growth numbers but in her ability to open doors for emerging women and girls in officiating. During her five seasons in the Female High Performance lead role she has helped 17 officials attend Hockey Canada OPOE camps, 24 National championships, 10 IIHF events and camps, in addition to two officials joining the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) staff.
Stratton is currently the only woman on the IIHF Officiating Committee and is not only a leader within BC Hockey, but also across the Nation and World.
“We’re a leader now as a province that other people model their programs after, where before we were never in the conversation. I’m super proud of where we’ve got to in a short time,” Stratton said of the program. “We have such a solid group.
“We’ve built a culture of holding each other accountable and holding each other to a different standard and to not be afraid to embrace conflict and have tough decisions, then lift each other up when you have to make those decisions.”
She insists they are not only looking for the best officials, but best humans, with the ability to have good dialogue and conversations.
“I’ve had a great career as an official and I’ve had a great few years in the coaching and leadership lens, so it’s been good,” said Stratton, who occasionally gets back on the ice, even in B.C. when she returns for events. She also still officiates university hockey in Ontario from time to time. “It helps keeping you up to date and on your toes and current.”
But her priorities are on development.
“We’ve seen our numbers skyrocket both in participation and success in our events. At the national level, in the last four seasons or so, we’ve had our first two officials get international events, which has never happened in B.C.,” she said proudly.
“We’ve had the highest number of high-performance officials get medal-games at national championships, which realistically was few and far between before. We have our first two officials in the PWHL and we kick-started just our general success at different levels, but especially in the high-performance realm.”
Stratton has played a huge role in the success.
“Overall, she is very dedicated and well respected,” said Raphael. “She has been a tremendous ambassador for BC Hockey, particularly women and girls”.
Mario Annicchiarico is a freelance writer based in Victoria who has previously covered the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers, as well as the Western Hockey League.