Erika Greenen is in her 11th season as an on-ice official with worldwide experience – and is one of three top-tiered Level 4 female referees in Illinois.
Greenen, 34, who lives in Sugar Grove, worked the 2024 U18 Women’s World Championship gold medal game and a rivalry series in Seattle in 2022 in front of 14,551 fans. She also officiated the 2023 Illinois High School Hockey boys combined division state championship game at the United Center, and admits, “I was probably more nervous for this game than the rivalry game with a packed crowd.”
She worked about 100 games last season, including juniors (NA3, NAHL, USHL), NCAA Division III, high school, AAA and select youth games.
Greenen often wears stripes at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva and All Seasons Ice Rinks in Naperville.
She already has worked eight USHL games this season, including the NTDP 18s vs. Waterloo in Pittsburgh for the opening weekend of the Fall Classic. Her NCAA Division I debut this season was October 19.
“Last season, I started to work junior hockey … never did I think I would work the USHL, but it’s something that I take pride in because (play) is (at) such a fast speed; it makes me be on the top of my game, each game,” Greenen said. “I also work in the PWHL, in the seasons before its inaugural season in 2023-24 I had worked games in the NWHL/PHF and in the PWHPA, which include the top female players in the world.”
She received her IIHF license as a linesman in 2017, thus has officiated in Krasnoyarsk, Russia for the World University Games in 2019, as well as France, Canada and Switzerland for elite-level action.
“It’s cool to go to these places and work amazing hockey, but also to get to work with other referees (from) around the world,” Greenen said. “Off the ice, it is cool to learn about different countries’ cultures. We also always bring candy from our state/ country to the tournaments and exchange it with each other.” (She voted Europe has the best chocolate, for sure.)
Greenen has been on the IHOA board for four years and is now the secretary.
She is a certified seminar instructor and the NIHL representative for the board and a member of the bi-laws committee.
“I had a ‘non-traditional path’ (as an official),” said Greenen, who started at age 24, thus brought more hockey and real-life experience to officiating.
“There were still some biases when I (first) stepped on the ice, but I just kept trying to go out and grow each game,” she said. “Now, I do not notice it as much, and that could be due to how the game has grown with leagues like the PWHL forming and having more exposure for women’s hockey.
“I try not to think (about the pressure of being a female official). I just try to go out and do my best and let the rest take care of itself.”
Greenen is the Central District female officiating coordinator, and she genuinely enjoys helping others improve as officials.
“USA Hockey has given me a lot over the years … now it’s my time to share all that knowledge to help officials grow,” she said.
Greenen is skating toward worldwide fame – and certainly an officiating goal – the 2026 Winter Olympics, with the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo hosting.
All of the IIHF tournaments she has worked the past few years have been an evaluation of sorts for the Olympics.
“IHOA has helped me to get to know other officials who have the same passion and have an outlet to help the membership and other officials grow,” she said. “It’s never too late to start (officiating) and you never know where this journey will take you. I grew up in Illinois, playing for Team Illinois and the Chicago Mission, and won multiple state championships and a national championship in 2008. I never thought about officiating until I had gotten my first job in Nashville and used it to meet people and make some extra money. Now here I am back in Illinois and it is crazy how small the hockey world is.”