Girls Hockey

Archive for the ‘Womens Hockey’ Category

Did you know that womens’ hockey is increasing in popularity? Hockey has typically been a mens’ sport, not a womens sport. Women hockey players have increased by 350% over the last ten years. However, the number of womens professional hockey leagues is still significantly smaller than mens professional hockey leagues. Still, you might be surprised at how many womens’ professional hockey leagues there are.

In 1970, a woman officially became a professional hockey player. It was then that the Marquette Iron Rangers signed Karen Koch on as a contract player. The very first time womens hockey was included as a medal sport in the Winter Olympics was in 1998. During that year, the United States won the gold medal, Canada the silver medal and Finland took home the bronze medal. You might be surprised to learn that in 1992 the Tampa Bay Lightning, an NHL team, played some preseason ice hockey games with a woman as goaltender. Manon Rheaume is the first and only woman to play an NHL preseason exhibition game. She also played many minor league ice hockey games between 1992 and 1997. Also, there have been other women ice hockey players in the minor leagues.

In womens ice hockey leagues, there is one major difference in hockey play. In womens’ hockey there is no checking. This is also a big difference in the youth ice hockey leagues. Girls hockey also does not allow body checking. Penalties are given by the referee when checking occurs in girls hockey games. Women also wear full face masks. You don’t see the fighting and roughness in womens hockey either. As more girls discover womens’ hockey by watching the Winter Olympics, it is likely we will continue to see this sport gain in popularity.