SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 20: Jayna Hefford #16 of Canada talks with referees after a penalty for too many players on the ice during the Ice Hockey Women's Gold Medal Game against the United States on day 13 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 20, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Report: NHL '100 percent open' to female on-ice officials

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Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Sport / Getty

It appears the NHL is trending toward adding women to its group of on-ice officials.

"The National Hockey League is 100 percent open to it, it's inevitable, it is going to happen," TSN's Darren Dreger said on Thursday's "Insider Trading" segment. "What we don't have is a timeline as to when it is going to happen."

Dreger notes that women have attended the league's officials combine in the past, but the league is taking the initiative to ask them to participate this year.

"I know that the NHL is putting out the invite to college players, national team women, absolutely, come to this combine, go through the experience and if you're up to pace then we'll find a way to get you in," said Dreger.

If a change is made, the NHL will join the NFL and NBA as major North American professional sports leagues to employ women as referees.

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