NHL moving forward with female officiating

BUFFALO, NY - Once the butterflies and adrenalin rush of officiating her first NHL prospects game subsided, Kirsten Welsh woke up on Saturday eager to get back on the ice again.

Whatever miscues Welsh made and hesitancy showed during her debut at the Buffalo Sabres prospects tournament a day earlier were overshadowed by how much she enjoyed the experience. There was also the realization she might have a future as an NHL linesmanor is it lineswoman?

"I just think this is what I love. This is what I've always been about," Welsh said. "Having the opportunity to pursue this is just unbelievable. I can't tell you how thankful I am."