Women & Girls Hockey

Women and girls have been playing hockey in Canada for more than a 100 years. The first known female hockey game took place on the Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in 1890. It is not, however, until the past 10 years that the sport’s popularity has soared. Before then, the words women, girls and hockey only came together such sports as women’s or girls’ field hockey. Today, women's hockey is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. There are now more players, more girls’ hockey camps and more options.

Girls’ hockey now exists at all levels from public school to Mn girls’ high school hockey to Collge and university leagues. Women now have the chance to play professionally – even as part of an NHL team. Manon Rheaume carved the way when she acted as goalie for the Tampa Bay Lightning in their preseason games. Hayley Wickenheiser followed this up when she signed with the Kirkkonummi Salamat male’s Finnish Suomi-SariLeague. There have also been female players in various minor North American minor leagues, including goalies Charline Labonté, Kelly Dyer, Erin Whitten and Manon Rhéaume, and forward Angela Ruggeiro.

In 1990, the IIHF began supporting or indicating the increased growth in women’s hockey by holding women’s ice hockey championships. Since then, except for one, Canada has won every championship. After the appearance of women’s ice hockey in the Olympics, the NCAA began hosting tournaments. This association held its first Division I women’s ice hockey championships, the Frozen Four, in 2001. The University of Minnesota-Duluth won straight for the first three years, the University of Minnesota won solo in 2004 and 2005, and Wisconsin University in 2006. The NCAA followed their initial success with Division III championships in 2002. Elmira New York’s own Elmira College won the first two years.

Although there are fewer leagues for women and girls, the success of the Canadian and American women in the Olympics and World Hockey Championships creates a positive learning atmosphere and inspires young girl hockey players. The different leagues, e.g. National Women's Hockey League, Western Women's Hockey League, provide opportunities as the highest levels. The Western Northumberland Girls Hockey Association operating out of Coburg, Ontario, the North Simcoe Girls Hockey Association near Barrie, Ontario and the Greater Kingston Girls Hockey Association provide support, training and tournaments for their players. The Massachusetts Spitfires girls’ hockey team, the Kingston Ice Wolves and the St. Thomas Panthers all benefit from the rise in interest in both girls and women’s ice hockey.

The rules for female hockey in the IIHF, Olympics and NCAA are basically the same as male hockey. The significant difference is that no there is no bodychecking. The ruling came into being because of the different body mass existing between European and North American players. This regulation, according to some pundits, is detrimental to the game as a spectator sport. Yet, the pundits be damned, women’s hockey and girls hockey and even the ball hockey girls play continues to grow yearly. Hockey girls are springing up everywhere. They attend girls’ hockey camps and play in leagues. Unlike in any time before, a hockey girl can dream of playing for a national team even playing as a woman in ice hockey in Pyongyang, north Korea.