Lake Forest Paramedic/Firefighter Sam Hiller will be trading in her firefighter helmet for hockey pads after being selected official Hockey Referee for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy. | Photo: City of Lake Forest Facebook

A Lake Forest Paramedic/Firefighter will be trading in her fire helmet for stripes, hockey pads and ice skates after she was named an official Hockey Referee for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.

Sam Hiller, who has previously refereed Chicago Wolves games at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, was one of 10 females from the United States chosen to work as a hockey official at the Olympics, the city of Lake Forest announced on their Facebook.

“By day, she rushes into burning buildings and saves lives in our community,” the city announced. “Come February, she’ll be making split-second calls on the world’s biggest stage as the best hockey players on the planet compete for Olympic gold.”

Lake Forest Paramedic/Firefighter Sam Hiller will be trading in her firefighter helmet for hockey pads after being selected official Hockey Referee for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy. | Photo: City of Lake Forest Facebook

The city said Hiller embodies dedication, quick thinking, and composure under pressure that define both professions.

“Whether it’s a five-alarm fire or a five-on-three power play, she stays cool when things heat up,” officials continued.

Hiller is a native of Colorado before moving to the area and working as a firefighter/paramedic, Mile High Sports said on their website.

According to her biography, Hiller began refereeing hockey at the age of 12 and steadily advanced through youth, amateur, collegiate, and professional ranks.

She has previously officiated NCAA and ACHA games before being named a referee for the American Hockey League.

USA Hockey announced on its website that Hiller is one of 10 American referees selected by the International Ice Hockey Federation to officiate at the Olympics.

Hiller will serve specifically as a referee in the women’s tournament, USA Hockey said.

The Olympics kick off Friday.