Both Guay and Welsh have seen their careers and their prospects bolstered by attendance at the Exposure Combine in 2019 and 2021 -- the 2020 version was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic -- and by participating in the 2020 Mentorship Program, an NHL initiative to have NHL officials work with elite female officials to spur conversation on the profession, including tips, tricks and advice.
It's no surprise to those who have followed her career that Guay is among the group rising to this level. Two years ago, when she became the first woman to officiate in the Beanpot, longtime NHL referee Paul Stewart, who is the director of officiating for ECAC hockey, said, "If I had to pick from all the women that I've seen, at every level, that could break the glass ceiling in the NHL, she could," praising her skating in particular.
"My goal had always been the Olympics and so, when I had that opportunity in 2018, that's what I had been focused on for so long and that was a long-term dream and a long run to get there," Guay said. "I thought I made it to the top. It was around that time frame that the opportunity to attend the Exposure Combine came up, and so it was great to be able to then set my sights on a new goal and aim bigger."
It has allowed, as she said, for the women who have been working for years to see that recognized, to have it noticed. It has also allowed others, who, like Welsh, may never have known this was an option to remain in the game, and even reach the professional ranks.
"Any time people are given a chance and new paths are formed, it opens eyes for others to dream bigger," Guay said.
At this point, that's the AHL. But the NHL remains a realistic goal for the upcoming generation of women.