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Former URI hockey player to officiate in Winter Olympics

URI alumna Amanda Tassoni to referee women’s hockey in Winter Games

Amanda Tassoni (left) of URI battles for the puck with a player from Lindenwood University. Tassoni earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in kinesiology from URI. (Photo by Ryan Prewitt)

KINGSTON, R.I. – Jan. 7, 2026 – Many ice hockey players dream of making the Olympics. When the 2026 Winter Olympics take place in Milan, Italy from Feb. 6-22, former University of Rhode Island hockey player Amanda Tassoni’s Olympic dream will come true—but not as a player, as a women’s ice hockey official.

Tassoni was one of 11 on-ice officials who were selected by the International Ice Hockey Federation to officiate the Olympic women’s ice hockey competition.

“To be selected for the Olympics and work at the top level of hockey in the world is an incredible honor and something I don’t take lightly,” said Tassoni. “I keep in mind that I represent more than myself every time I step on the ice. Because of that, it’s extremely important to hold myself accountable in my preparation on and off the ice. Embracing feedback, being coachable, studying the game, and spending hours in the gym are required to perform at the highest level.”

Officiating in the fast-paced American Hockey League has prepared Amanda Tassoni for the intensity of the hockey games in the Olympics. (Photo courtesy of the American Hockey League)

Excelling on and off the ice

That work ethic served Tassoni well as a student-athlete at Mount Saint Charles Academy, where she was an All-State player and All-Academic student. After graduating from Mount Saint Charles, she decided to study kinesiology at URI’s College of Health Sciences.

“URI offered a great kinesiology program and the ability to play hockey at the club level, which would be a less time-consuming commitment than playing at a higher level,” said the Smithfield, Rhode Island, native.  

Tassoni played hockey for URI from 2007-11, earning awards for her hockey and academic achievements, as she did in high school. She completed her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2011 with a 3.3 grade point average and finished her master’s degree in kinesiology from URI in 2013.

“My favorite memories from URI revolve around the friends I made,” said Tassoni, who currently lives in Westerly. “Some of them are still my closest friends. We often reminisce about funny moments and experiences we had at URI.”

Amanda Tassoni stands with her American Hockey League officiating peers prior to the start of a game. (Photo courtesy of the American Hockey League)

Professionally, Tassoni works as a product manager of physical activity for a company that installs fitness and wellness spaces for Fortune 500 companies. She also does some private personal training on the side.

Gaining a different perspective

Following her college career, Tassoni began officiating youth hockey games, which gave her an entirely different perspective on the sport.

“It was eye-opening to realize how much you don’t know as a player when you become an official,” said Tassoni. “I wish I began officiating sooner because it would have made me a much better player. Having more knowledge of the rules and seeing the bigger picture on the ice are vital to being a good official and extremely beneficial as a player.”

Tassoni went on to officiate high school and college hockey. In 2019, she was part of an all-female officiating crew for the NCAA Division I Women’s Frozen Four. In 2022, Tassoni received the Distinguished Service Award from the Rhode Island Interscholastic League for her officiating.

As Tassoni continued to advance in her officiating career, she developed the skills needed to reach an elite level.

“Improving the mental side of the game was something I didn’t focus on until I started officiating at the highest level,” said Tassoni. “Mental preparation, self-reflection, self-awareness, and mental toughness are areas of focus that have become much more important to elite athletes in recent years, but they were not skills I focused on during my playing career or when I started officiating. Developing those skills has elevated my game.”

Tassoni has officiated men’s and women’s professional hockey in the U.S. and Canada. She is an on-ice official in the American Hockey League, in which the Providence Bruins compete. As one of several female officials in the AHL, Tassoni is breaking barriers and serving as a role model for the next generation of female officials.

“I always want to represent the sport with integrity, respect, and professionalism, and I remind myself that the goal is always to give back at every stage of my career,” said Tassoni. “That means never forgetting where I started and also being a part of the growth of the women that come after me.”