A painful setback for a true pioneer: Julia Kainberger, the only female referee in the ICE Hockey League, recently had to take a break after breaking her jaw. The 30-year-old from Salzburg, who works full-time as a high school teacher, suffered the injury during a U20 game – and shows once again that she is real tough not only on the ice, but also in life.
“An unsuccessful build-up pass hit me directly in the face – unfortunately I immediately realized the break,” says Kainberger, describing the scene in an interview with the “Tiroler Tageszeitung”. “But the rescue chain worked great, I’m on the road to recovery.” Despite the setback, the former national team player is already thinking about her big goal: the 2026 Olympic Games. “If the healing process goes according to plan, my participation shouldn’t be a problem. The Olympics are definitely my dream.”
Respect on the ice – gender doesn’t count
Kainberger has been leading games in the ICE Hockey League for three years, and she also has appearances in the Champions Hockey League on her CV. At first, some players were still curious or skeptical, she says – but that quickly subsided: “On the ice, performance counts, not gender. If you are consistent and fair, the players respect you.”
What she can’t stand at all? “Disrespect. Emotions are part of it, but when insults or unsportsmanlike behavior cross the line, I don’t see any fun. You can clarify everything, but on an equal footing.”
“You must never be satisfied in order to become better”
Kainberger is considered a role model for many young girls in ice hockey. Your recipe for success: discipline, fairness and self-confidence. “I want to lead by example – show that you can do anything if you stick with it,” she says.
This also includes hard work: “We have regular fitness and ice training, rule tests, video analyzes and international seminars. Many people underestimate how much effort goes into it – after all, we run our games in our free time.”
And despite her impressive career, she remains down-to-earth – and ambitious: “I want to continue to learn, be a good role model and advance the sport with my work. Passion is the best motivation. You can never be satisfied in order to get better.”
Pic: ICEHL
