When the name of Elizabeth Mantha echoed from the heights of the Sports Rousseau Center of Excellence before the official puck drop of the game between the Armada and the Huskies on Saturday night, the crowd applauded vigorously. Even from the top of the press gallery, the official’s smile was noticeable. She then became the first woman to referee a game in the QMJHL.
Posted at 8:32 p.m.
Mantha was smiling frankly after the match, when the Courteau circuit’s director of refereeing, Richard Trottier, entered the officials’ room to deliver his comments. At his side, the other three officials were smiling too, visibly happy for their new colleague.
When asked what went through her head when she heard the crowd cheering her on, Mantha lets out a small laugh. “I don’t really like the attention… But it was a source of pride! she says.
“It’s a little girl’s dream,” she continues. When I came to see my brother [Anthony Mantha] play, I never thought that one day I would referee in this league. That’s more why I try to pinch myself and tell myself it’s real. »
Pioneer status, Elizabeth Mantha was already carrying it before Saturday. As recently as October, she was among the first 10 women — umpires and linesmen — to join the American League’s officiating roster. Since then, she has patrolled four matches on this circuit, the second in importance on the continent.
“I was a lot less nervous tonight,” she says before clarifying: “but for sure I was still a little nervous. »
But things went very well. And his colleagues, experienced officials like Olivier Gouin and Sylvain Losier, made him feel “as if [elle] was in the family. “They de-stressed me before the game,” she says.
An inspiration
Elizabeth Mantha has been talked about a lot over the past few months. Not even a week and a half ago, she was in Beijing for her first Olympic Games.
“It’s one case after another that makes me say, ‘oh my god, I didn’t expect this.’ Of course, it’s a lot of emotions, sacrifices, time. I feel it, that my body is tired. At the same time, I have a full-time job. I realize it and I live it to the fullest. These are memories that I will keep all my life. »
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
When asked what went through her head when she heard the crowd cheering her on before dropping the puck in center ice, Mantha laughs: “I don’t like the attention too much… But it was a pride! “.
Without realizing it, the 31-year-old is paving the way for the next few who dream of refereeing in the biggest leagues.
I know it’s not easy to be the first somewhere, but I rush headlong telling myself that it will pay off for the future and that there are others to come. At some point, it’s just going to be normal. There won’t be all that media attention. That’s what I want.
Elizabeth Mantha
“A little girl who lives in the United States told me that I was inspiring for her, that I motivate her to go to school every day. I never would have thought. […] It’s in these moments that I realize the magnitude [de ce que je vis]. »
open door
Richard Trottier spoke with The Press between the first and the second period. “She does that well,” he says right off the bat.
Before Mantha graduated to the AHL in October, Trottier had planned to test him in the college ranks. He had been unable to do so the previous year due to COVID. Which means that, surprisingly, the official made the leap to the professionals before going through the major junior.
“The American League replaced the university circuit, where I could not go to see her work, he explains. It’s an excellent level. It confirmed to me that she is capable of refereeing at levels above junior AAA. »
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Richard Trotier
According to Mr. Trottier, the arrival of Mantha opens the door to “all those who want to join the ranks of the League, whether as a coach, scout or official”.
“If they have the skills, the qualities to perform at this level, we will not object,” he said. We will give them a chance, but the fact remains that my responsibility is to ensure that the officials we have on the ice are able to do the job for the safety of the players. This is what is most important for the League. And for their own safety too. »
“It’s the same with a boy,” he adds. Now it will be [Elizabeth] to prove over the matches and over the seasons that it can be established. »
The main interested party, for her part, affirms that she did not feel a greater need to prove herself to the QMJHL.
“The National League is supposed to be a leader. That’s what she demonstrated with the American League. She was the first to hire women and I think the other leagues have just realized that it’s something possible and doable. »