MINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg University women's hockey alumnae Sarah Buckner '16 has been nominated to serve as a women's hockey official at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has announced.
Buckner, a Duluth, Minn., native who played both hockey and softball for the Auggies from 2012-16, has been gaining acclaim as an official on the collegiate, professional and international levels for the past decade.
Photo by John Russell/Nashville Predators
Buckner has worked as a referee and linesperson in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, among other collegiate hockey leagues, and has worked in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) for the past two seasons, along with working in two prior women's professional leagues -- the Premier Hockey Federation and National Women's Hockey League. Buckner has also worked as a linesperson in the United States Hockey League, the top junior hockey league in the USA Hockey development system, and was also part of the 2024 NHL Rookie Showcase with the Nashville (Tenn.) Predators.
On the international level, Buckner has worked numerous USA Hockey national events, and was selected to work as a linesperson at the 2023, 2024 and 2025 IIHF Women's World Championships, in addition to the 2022 IIHF Women's U-18 World Championships.
Buckner will be one of 10 linespersons from six different nations working at the Winter Olympics, which will take place Feb. 5-19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Pool play will take place from Feb. 5-10, with quarterfinals on Feb. 13-14, semifinals on Feb. 16 and the gold and bronze medal games on Feb. 19. The Olympic officiating roster also includes 12 referees.
Photo by John Nicholson
Two other MIAC alums will also be working as officials in the Olympic women's hockey competition -- Gustavus Adolphus College alum Melissa Doyle (2010-14) is one of the 12 referees, and College of St. Scholastica alum Alex (Blair) Clarke (2011-15) will join Buckner as a linesperson.
Buckner played as a defender in 101 career games for the Augsburg women's hockey team from 2012-16, scoring two goals with eight assists for 10 points and recording a plus-15 career plus-minus rating. Buckner was a catcher and outfielder for the Auggie softball team during her career, playing in 134 career games with a .281 (105-of-374) batting average, 43 runs scored, 16 doubles, one home run, 52 RBI and 14 stolen bases.
