Foreman Off To Hockey Canada Selection Camps In August

By Robert Thomas

Two local residents involved in female hockey have been invited to Hockey Canada’s women’s selection camps in St Catherines, Ontario this August.

Brooklyn Nimegeers, a well known Moose Jaw Mavericks product who now plays for the Regina Rebels U18 AAA franchise, has been invited to Team Canada’s U18 team selection camp.

While Alexandra (Alex) Foreman has been invited to attend Team Canada’s national women’s team selection as well as the U18 camp Nimegeers will be part of.

But here is the catch - Foreman is not be attending as a player but rather as a referee.

ALEXANDRA (ALEX) FOREMAN IS OFF TO HOCKEY CANADA’S WOMEN’S’ SELECTION CAMPS TO IMPROVE HER OFFICIATING SKILLS - SUBMITTED PHOTO

“It makes me a little bit nervous to go, but I’m happy to go,” Foreman told MJ Independent.

This will be her fourth trip attending the development camp as part of Hockey Canada’s efforts to improve officiating in one of Canada’s two national sports.

She said during the week long camp officials are put through three main areas - fitness, classroom instruction and actual game situations.

“During the games they have (officiating) coaches up in the stands to evaluate us throughout the game.”

For Foreman attending the camp is another step towards her ultimate goal of refereeing on the international stage.

It’s something she started as a 12 year old grade eight student when she first started to referee games.

At the same time Foreman was also playing hockey as part of the Moose Jaw Mavericks program.

When she finished her minor hockey career Foreman kept on officiating. She is now four years out of high school.

It something her dad and brother were doing when Foreman first donned the stripes.

Asked if she faced harassment - from fans and parents when she was a teenage referee - she said having her dad and brother also refereeing helped her avoid being threatened on the ice.

“It wasn’t that bad at all…my dad and brother were both well known in the local hockey community…and most hockey dads don’t yell at females,” she said.

When her minor hockey playing career ended in U18 hockey she continued to referee.

FOREMAN IS CLOSE TO THE PLAY - SUBMITTED PHOTO

For Foreman attending the camp is a major step in her officiating resume.

A resume that has seen her refereeing in the prairie provinces at Esso Cup - the U18 AAA national championship - in the past two seasons.

She also refereed in Morden-Winkler at the U18 national championships in 2019.

“They all build off of each other on my way to referee on the international stage.”

Although refereeing is not her full time job, she actually works at a local insurance agency, Foreman wants to achieve being invited to referee internationally.

“Right now refereeing is a part time thing.”

Foreman said her ability to attend development camps and referee is only possible because her employer is flexible with her schedule allowing her to pursue her passion.

“I have an amazing boss who allows me to pursue refereeing across Canada.”

It’s a passion that will likely lead to her officiating on the international level.

“It’s my goal,” she said.