Several USA Officials Selected for Prominent 2026 Events

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Field Hockey is pleased to announce that three umpires and one technical official have been selected to represent USA at two prominent upcoming events.

For the upcoming leg of the 2025-26 FIH Hockey Pro League, which will take place February 5 to 25 in several locations, Allie Mikelson and Ben Peters have been appointed as umpires. The three locations are Valencia, Spain; Hobart, Australia; and Rourkela, India.

Umpire Maggie Giddens and technical official Rene Zelkin will represent USA at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifier, set for March 1 to 8 in Santiago, Chile. Giddens has also been selected as a reserve umpire at the 2026 FIH Men’s and Women’s World Cup, which will take place in the Netherlands and Belgium this August 15 to 30.

Mikelson is making her FIH Hockey Pro League debut after an extremely successful past year. She started off 2025 at the FIH Women’s Nations Cup in Santiago, Chile, where she was appointed to the final. She went on to officiate at the Pan American Cup (PAC) in August, where she umpired the women’s bronze medal match, and the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup (JWC) in Chile in December. Mikelson ended the year by being upgraded to the FIH High Potential Panel. Her previously umpired events include the 2024 Junior Pan American Championship, 2024 Indoor Pan American Cup, and 2023 Hockey5s Pan American Cup.

“I’m excited to step into the next level, gain exposure to the Pro league standard of play alongside some highly experienced colleagues, and continue growing through this new opportunity," said Mikelson. "Thank you to my family, my hockey family, and my mentors for the support and guidance that helped me reach this point.”

Peters will be returning to the FIH Hockey Pro League for the third consecutive season. He kicked off 2025 with the 2024-25 Pro League iteration, then followed it up with appearances at the PAC in August —where he was appointed to the men’s bronze medal match—and the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup in India in November. Peters’ impressive resume also includes the 2024 FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup, 2023 Pan American Games, and more.

“This will be my third Pro League season and I’m so excited to be able to go to Australia for this one," commented Peters. "The Pro League is always special as it’s a short tournament and fast paced, so it’s such a different challenge from a normal tournament. I’m very much looking forward to representing USA on the international stage again.”

Giddens, who closed out 2025 on the gold medal match at the Women’s JWC in Chile, will be making the trip back to Santiago for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in March. Giddens brings a plethora of experience to this highly anticipated event, including umpiring at the 2025 PAC, 2024-25 Pro League, and 2024 FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier in Valencia, Spain. Other prominent past appointments include the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and 2022 FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup.

“I am thrilled to be travelling to Santiago, Chile for the World Cup Qualifier at the end of the month," said Giddens. "This is a massive event with huge implications for all teams involved, whether its World Cup Qualification or world ranking points. Emotions and pressure will be high but I am eager for the opportunity and proud to represent the USA and PAHF for this big event.”

Zelkin continues to represent USA on the highest stage, most recently in the role of technical delegate at the 2025 PAC in August. She also took on that role at the 2024 Junior Pan American Championship and 2023 Hockey5s Pan American Cup. This past year, she also served as technical official on the test series between USA and New Zealand. Zelkin is a staple in the world of international technical officiating, sitting on the Outdoor Technical Officials Leading Panel and being awarded the FIH Order of Merit in November 2024. Some of her other prominent appointments include the 2024 FIH Hockey5s World Cup in Muscat, Oman (technical official), Rio 2016 Olympic Games (judge), and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (technical official).

“I am deeply honored to have been selected as an official at the World Cup Qualifier in Santiago, Chile," commented Zelkin. "This event will feature elite teams from around the world competing for qualification to the World Cup, and I look forward to being part of such a high-level international competition. It is a privilege to work alongside an exceptional group of officials and to represent USA Field Hockey and the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF). This opportunity would not be possible without their continued support, as well as the constant support of my family.”

“Congratulations to all of our USA Field Hockey officials appointed to the FIH Hockey Pro League, World Cup Qualifiers and the World Cup," said Sean Rapaport, USA Field Hockey's Director of Officials. "These appointments reflect not only your individual excellence, professionalism and consistency, but also the growing involvement of American officials on the global stage. Your presence at these elite events is a testament to the countless hours of preparation and commitment you bring to the game.”