What started as a part-time job when she was a teenager became one OHA official’s ticket to the Olympics
By – David McPherson
Cambridge, ON – While it’s been only two weeks since the XXV Winter Games ended, for Laura Gutauskas—one of three Ontario officials wearing the black and white stripes last month in Milan, Italy—all the special moments of this dream-come-true experience still linger.
“You show up and the Olympic rings are everywhere,” Laura says, reflecting on her inaugural time as a linesperson at the XXV Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. “That automatically makes these games feel a lot more special … that was something I didn’t really wrap my head around until I got there and saw everything decked out.”
Laura was a linesperson for five women’s ice hockey games in Milano Cortina. Her first game, on February 5–when she was on the ice for the game between Italy and France—was by far the most memorable. It was not only her debut as a Winter Olympics’ linesperson, but it was the first game held at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, which leading up to these Games faced construction delays and critiques about the quality of its ice. Once the puck dropped all of the headlines outside the rink were forgotten and the atmosphere inside the new arena was electric. Joining Gustaukas on the officiating crew for this match, which the host country won 4-1, were Élizabeth Mantha from Quebec and Jennifer Cameron from the United States.
“I was fortunate enough to work the Italian’s home opener against France,” Laura says. “That was really special.The atmosphere was just awesome and the crowd was so loud. All the Italian fans were so passionate. Any home crowd of a hockey game is always loud and into it, but you definitely felt something different with that match being an Olympic home-country game.”
Besides the men’s and women’s ice-hockey games, Milan hosted two other events: speed skating and figure skating. When she was not working, Laura made certain that she soaked in as many of these Olympic Games as she could. She bought tickets to several short-track speed skating events and became an instant fan and she was also lucky to attend the Canada versus U.S. men’s ice hockey gold medal game.
The biggest difference Laura noticed about the Olympic hockey experience, from having a close-up view of all of the women’s on-ice action she officiated, is just how fast the players are and how palpable the stakes felt for each team.
“It’s a different intensity level,” she says. “You can see a mindset shift with the women on the ice when they’re playing for their country versus playing with their PWHL team. Obviously, it’s best on best at that point, so the skill level rises, but you can also see that increase in individual intensity in their eyes and in their demeanor.”
One wonders if Laura was nervous before working the lines in her first Winter Olympics? “Not really,” she says. “I always like to keep myself focused at ice level, but I have to remember to stop every once in a while, at a media time out or something, and look up to the crowd and kind of soak it all in. I use those times to soak in my moments, but between the whistles, I’m very much just ice-level focused.”
With the XXV Winter Games in the rearview, the linesperson is not counting out another trip to the Olympics when they land in the French Alps in 2030—as long as she is healthy and capable and gets the call—but for now Laura’s focus is back to her regular hectic on-ice and travel schedule of calling the lines and officiating hockey games for both the OHA and the PWHL.
“I’m looking forward to a well-earned break over the summer,” she says.
About the Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association (OHA)was founded on November 27, 1890, and is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior hockey in the Province of Ontario. It is comprised of three Junior hockey leagues and two Senior hockey leagues: Junior A – Ontario Junior Hockey League; Junior B – Greater Ontario Hockey League; Junior C – Provincial Junior Hockey League, Senior –Allan Cup Hockey (AAA) and Ontario Elite Hockey League (AA). For the 2025-2026 season, these five leagues encompass 132 teams. 3100 players, and about 6,000 games each hockey season. The majority of our players are 16 to 21 years of age.
The objectives of the OHA are to foster and encourage the sport of amateur hockey, to conduct competition in the various categories established, to determine teams for entry into the inter-branch competitions that may be provided by Hockey Canada, and to provide for the affiliation of other hockey organizations.
The OHA provides administrative resources, coordinates programs, services and events for hockey participants and provides support to various Development Programs for coaches, officials, trainers and players, Safety and Risk Management Issues and offers resources for Harassment and Abuse education.
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For more information or to set up an interview, please contact:
Chris McCleary
General Manager, Operations & Marketing
Ontario Hockey Association
