Even though Austria’s women’s national team missed qualification, the red-white-red ice hockey team is represented at the 2026 Olympic women’s tournament in Milan: Julia Kainberger was nominated as one of twelve main referees – and is the only referee outside of the major ice hockey nations.
“The anticipation is huge,” said the 31-year-old from Salzburg, who was already working as a linesman at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, to “Laola1“.
The former national team player and multiple World Cup participant has worked her way into the circle of top international referees over the years. “We have been preparing for the last four years. You are in a cycle, then there are twelve left who have the honor,” explained the AHS teacher from Zell am See, who took time off from school for the Olympics.
After retiring from her career as a player, Kainberger unexpectedly switched to refereeing, initially refereeing men’s games and later also women’s games. “It’s just a little bit of an adjustment from the plays and our positions,” she said of the move between leagues.
Kainberger has set several milestones in recent years: at the end of 2023, she became the first woman to referee a game in the ICE Hockey League, and shortly afterwards she became the first main referee to referee a match in the Champions Hockey League. Internationally, she was used at, among other things, World Cup finals, semi-finals as well as in North America and Sweden. Now comes the next highlight with the Olympics:
“It’s the highest thing an athlete can achieve – it’s the same with us referees. It gives you goosebumps.”
In Milan, the Salzburg native will meet colleagues from Canada, the USA, Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic. The entire team of referees completed a camp together beforehand. “We looked at the paths on site, the video system, the ice rinks,” she reported.
Kainberger was also proud of Austria: “I can represent my country and show that we have potential in Austria if there is the right funding.” Young talent is particularly important: “Without young talent, there are no referees – it’s a wheel that turns.”
Image: ICEHL
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