Carnegie Earns Her Stripes

If you had asked 11-year-old Meagan Carnegie where her hockey journey would take her, picking up a referee’s whistle and wearing the stripes always seemed to be in the cards.

“My hockey journey kind of started peaking a little later than most," she explains. “My dad kind of got me into hockey and being a referee. He played hockey growing up, as did my brother, and my mom played soccer. So, we're a very sporty family.”

While many young players focus solely on their time as athletes, Carnegie took a different approach, choosing to expand her role in the game by stepping into officiating. That decision—following in the footsteps of her father and brother—not only deepened her connection to hockey but also provided a potential path to stay involved beyond her playing days.

“It came up in conversation with my mom—kind of seeing the officials out there reffing our games—and I thought, why not? It’s a way to stay in the game. It’s a way to give back to the game.”

Of course, becoming a referee came with its own challenges.

“It’s hard to get into, for sure. There’s a lot to learn—how to talk to coaches and players in a different way than when you're playing.”

But over the years, she developed a deep appreciation for the role and the importance of officials.

“Having those eight years under my belt of officiating, I’ve really learned to respect the officials because it’s not an easy job.”

That respect carries over to the way she approaches each game, no matter the level or the players on the ice.

“I work really hard when I’m out there, no matter who I’m reffing, and I love what I do. I try to mentor when I’m on the ice, and I always want to give something back to those players and fellow officials coming up.”

While her officiating career has been a steady presence, her time with the Cougars has witnessed the highs and lows of sport as well as a small sprinkling of change. The 2024-25 season marked a transition behind the bench, with longtime coaches Tony Bertone and Ken Cross retiring and new leadership taking over in the form of Cougars alumnus David Kirkup (D.K.), Charles Tweed, and Jeff Moore. Throughout the shift, Carnegie has remained focused on ensuring her team stays motivated and prepared to handle their business on the ice.

Adding to the significance of this season, Carnegie was honored with the captaincy in her final year—an achievement she takes to heart but never lets it overshadow the team’s goals.

“We are happy with how this season has gone, but are ready now to bear down. We have to play as a team because these games can go either way. We are very excited for nationals and the opportunity it gives us.”

Her leadership extends beyond the rink as well. As a Business Administration student specializing in Human Resources and a graduate of Police Studies (now Public Safety), she understands the importance of time management—something she emphasizes with her teammates.

“Balancing your time as a student-athlete is not always easy. I think my first year in Public Safety taught me a lot about time management and juggling being a student-athlete and an official. We learned a lot about time management, which has really helped me. As student-athletes, you just have to try your best, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Now in her senior year, Carnegie is gearing up for another run at the ACHA Division 2 Women’s Hockey Championships, again hosted in St. Louis. With 12 returning players, Carnegie and her teammates are determined to avenge last year’s loss to the Sault College Cougars in the championship final.

Looking beyond hockey, Carnegie has her sights set on applying to the Manitoba Emergency Services College in the fall of 2025. But before that, she has two more goals to accomplish—winning the ACHA Division 2 Women’s Championship and, if her busy schedule allows, adding another graduation to her list of achievements.