Cudworth native Cianna Lieffers is a regular fixture reffing SJHL games, including Saturday night’s Broncos tilt with the Melville Millionaires. Now, the 27 year old veteran official is poised to become one of 11 women joining the reffing ranks in the AHL. 

Lieffers has taken those skills around the globe to the 2022 Beijing Olympics and the IIHF Women’s World Championships in 2021 and 2022. In her decade plus of officiating, she’s covered everything from minor hockey in the province, to USports, the Prairie Junior Hockey League, and of course the SJHL. In a previous interview with CBC, about her progress through ascending to this point. 

“You just develop a tough skin [as an official]. Learning how to manage [the abuse from coaches and fans] is a big thing and one of the strides I’ve made,” said Lieffers. “There are so many opportunities for females, nationally and internationally, and you just have to keep working for them.” 

Lieffers can expect a full travel itinerary in a league like the AHL with teams spanning the country, from the Abbotsford Canucks in the west to the St. John’s Ice Caps in the east.