Tashkent, Uzbekistan, August 5, 2023: A first generation Lebanese living in Canada, Nancy Constantin has been identified by the International Ice Hockey Federation as the torchbearer for women game officials in Lebanon in the future.
“I was initially registered as a coach for this camp, but then the IIHF asked if I would be willing to take on the role of a game official so I agreed,” says Nancy, one of nearly 20 umpires participating in the first ever Olympic Council of Asia/IIHF U16 Asian Ice Hockey Youth Camp in Tashkent.
Lebanon has no ice rink to boast of, and only one registered umpire, a male. Nancy, a native of Montreal, will be the first female umpire from Lebanon and she is expected to carry the flag and spread the message among the Lebanese community in Canada.
There are close to 500,000 Lebanese living in Canada and Nancy is expected to reach out into this community and propagate the sport of ice hockey and unearth umpires.
“At this moment there are no ice rinks in Lebanon, so my job will start in Canada and one day, hopefully, I can return to my homeland with others and spread the word,” she says. Her country is currently in political turmoil.
Nancy’s parents left Lebanon long ago, in 1980, and she was born in Canada. As a young girl, she participated in many sports with ice hockey and basketball among her top favourites.
“I started playing ice hockey when I was 10, then I left the sport and played a number of other sports before gravitating back to ice hockey a few years ago. I never played ice hockey at a high level but I hope I can make my mark as an umpire.
“This camp has been an eye-opener for me. Having watched ice hockey at a high level, I had a basic knowledge of the rules, but now I’m learning more. This is all new to me and it’s been fantastic. I hope I can promote the sport when I get back home,” added Nancy.
The IIHF will be hoping too, having recognised Nancy as the vanguard for female umpires in Lebanon.