Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/68638
BY HARRY THOMPSON A Ref For All OCCASIONS W Dina Allen Shows Her Diversity By Officiating At Both Youth Nationals And Women's Worlds all the dirty tricks of the trade. Not only has she whistled off offending play- ers in her role as a USA Hockey official, but she probably tried a few of her own back in her playing days. By her own admission, Allen wasn't the most law-biding player during her four years at Princeton University, so it may seem unusual that she's one of the rising stars in stripes for USA Hockey's officiat- ing program. hen it comes to law and order on the ice, it's hard to pull any- thing over on Dina Allen. She knows "I was a pretty highly-penalized player," admits Allen, who still holds an NCAA women's record with five penalties in a 2006 game against the University of Minnesota. "I grew up with hitting and physical con- tact, so it was hard to make the switch to girls' hockey." that she was never a big fan of officials dur- ing her playing days. It wasn't until her hus- band Kyle began officiating while she was attending law school that she thought about putting on the stripes. And now, in a relatively short amount of time, Allen has shot up the ranks among Therefore, it should come as no surprise 24 JUNE/JULY.2012 During her playing days at Princeton University, Dina Allen always played with a bit of an edge. Those traits are helping her now as she continues to progress up the ladder as a USA Hockey official. female officials, while catching the eye of those in the USA Hockey officiating hier- archy. "Being a former Div. I college player, her development as an official has really fast tracked as many of the tools necessary for her to be a successful official are the same as when she played," says Matt Leaf, USA Hockey's director of the Officiating Education Program. So much so that the 27-year-old Wheatfield, N.Y., resident was recently USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS BY Steve DeMeo; Beverly Schaefer; IIHF Images on Ice (3)