Julia Kainberger is set to debut as the first female game official in the Champions Hockey League, officiating the ZSC Lions Zurich vs. Straubing Tigers and Genève-Servette vs. Ilves Tampere games in Switzerland.

At 29, the Austrian will serve as Head Referee, marking a significant milestone in her career. Kainberger has officiated over 460 games in Austria across various leagues, as well as 30 games in Sweden (SDHL and Division 1 & 2). In 2023/24, she served as Head Referee in her first ICE Hockey League games and officiated her first playoff games in the Alps Hockey League.

Internationally, Kainberger has officiated at five World Women’s Championships (including one gold medal game), two U18 World Women’s Championships (including two gold medal games), and one Olympic Games. She joins the CHL through the cooperation with the IIHF Referee Exchange Program and will be alongside National League Head Referees Michael Tscherrig (in Zurich) and Mikko Kaukokari (at Genève-Servette’s home game in Visp).