The Fearless, Frozen Females of Hockey

In the next few years, which women will follow in the footsteps of Cassie Campbell and have the honour of the Order of Hockey in Canada bestowed upon them? While current players such as Gillian Apps, Jayna Hefford and Hayley Wickenheiser are assured of their spot, there are many worthy choices to choose from in the near future.   Considering their induction into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, Angela James and Geraldine Heaney must be locks for 2013 and 2014, respectively. Both played on the first Women’s World Championship Team in 1990, and were in anonymity for many years despite raising Canada to a world power in women’s ice hockey. After that, the field widens as there are many worthy recipients. Vicky Sunohara was another leader and elite performer during the early years of modern women’s ice hockey. She was another member of the 1990 World Championship team, and played in the Central Ontario Women’s Hockey League, the predecessor to the NWHL and CWHL. B

A Canadian hockey periodical published a special edition featuring the best of everything in hockey. A section was devoted to the best women’s player, but there should have been a few more pages devoted to the women’s game. Features on the best women’s goaltender, the best women’s NCAA team, the best women’s prospect, and the best women’s coach would have been very much required. In looking at the women’s game, these areas deserve to be reviewed. The best way for the women’s game to grow is to have these sports (and exclusively hockey) publications to cover the women’s game in more detail. A publication like The Hockey News could easily dedicate two full pages every issue to review the women’s game. If THN would dedicate those pages to the game, it would help to stimulate interest in the game and at least supply the casual fan with a handy resource. It is up to the fans to suggest to the periodicals to include more write ups on the game. Despite the need to see an increase in the

One of the premier publications in the world on ice hockey, The Hockey News, recently ranked Hayley Wickenheiser and Meghan Agosta as the best two women’s players in the world. Heading into the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, that ranking may need to change to reflect Julie Chu’s status as the world’s best. While Chu may not be as prolific a scorer as Agosta and Wickenheiser, she has quietly emerged as a leader and the heartbeat of the US National Team. She was recognized by Katey Stone as the captain for the US at the 2012 IIHF World Championships. Although the US National Team has a lot of young, talented players emerging (such as Hannah Brandt, Kendall Coyne, Amanda Kessel, Meaghan Mangene), they will benefit greatly from the wisdom and maturity of a strong leader. Chu has proven she has the tools to bring out the best in younger players. For several years, Chu was an assistant coach (with Montreal Stars teammate Caroline Ouellette) at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Having learne

As a volunteer at the Ottawa edition of Hockey Helps the Homeless, I had the privilege of being the score keeper and the announcer at three men’s games (featuring National Hockey League alumni), and four women’s games (which featured pros from the Canadian Women’s Hockey League [some of which played in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games] and former National Team members competing in Canadian Interuniversity Sport). In writing about women’s ice hockey, I was intrigued as to the outcome of the women’s matches, and how the CWHL pros would play with the ladies who registered. Four women’s clubs were registered for the HHtH tournament and each team featured at least two CWHL pros. The Ottawa Mission club featured Catherine Ward and Gillian Ferrari, while the Ottawa Inner City Missions club boasted the likes of Emmanuelle Blais and Marie-Philip Poulin. Of note, Poulin was originally meant to play for Ottawa Mission, and Ferrari for Inner City Missions. The two exchanged sweaters, and created

The announcement in April 2012 that Hockey Canada would establish the Order of Hockey in Canada is another opportunity to help preserve the history of the women’s game while helping to acknowledge the legends that graced the ice. While some may have argued for Angela James, the first female recipient is Cassie Campbell-Pascall (the first female captain to lead Canada’s women to back to back gold medals in the Winter Games) and she will undoubtedly be the first of many legendary females to have this honor bestowed upon them. While the first class of recipients (Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Gord Renwick, Jean Beliveau, Campbell) will augment discussion and generate debate (because players such as Maurice Richard, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Howie Morenz, Syl Apps, Bobby Orr, Bobby Hull, Paul Henderson, Phil Esposito Angela James were not included), the reality is that Hockey Canada has an embarrassment of riches to choose from. Although Angela James was the first Canadian woman in the Ho

Based on her strong performances in international play and with the Northeastern Huskies of the NCAA, it was only a question of time before Florence Schelling knocked down the door and advised the world that she had arrived. The 2012 IIHF Women’s World Ice Hockey championship was the continuation of events in a year that has become her coming out party. She ended her senior season with the Northeastern Huskies by leading them to a regular season championship, while placing herself as one of the three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award. While she was privileged to play with some superlative talent at Northeastern (Kendall Coyne, Julia Marty, Casey Pickett), she was the heartbeat of the program. Some of her highlights at Northeastern included participating in the first women’s outdoor game at Fenway Park (January 8, 2010 versus New Hampshire), playing at Boston Arena (the rink Eddie Shore made famous), and helping the Huskies win the 2012 women’s Beanpot tournament (the Huskies first

With the 2013 Women’s World Championships coming to Ottawa, the nation’s capital is quickly becoming the hub of women’s ice hockey activity in Canada. That impact is being felt at various levels. The Ottawa Lady Senators of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League have developed many talents for the NCAA. Stefanie McKeough (from nearly Carlsbad Springs) participated in the championship game of the 2012 NCAA Frozen Four with the Wisconsin Badgers. Fannie Desforges (with the Ottawa Gee Gees) made a name for herself as a two sport star. Not only was she a Second Team QSSF All-Star selection (in hockey), but she claimed first place at the Red Bull Crashed Ice competition in Quebec City. When the city of Ottawa hosted the NHL All-Star Game in February 2012, the festivities included Canadian gold medallist Meaghan Mikkelson Reid and Caroline Ouellette at the opening of the outdoor Rink of Dreams. Canadian legend Jennifer Botterill and USA national team member Jessie Vetter were part of an XM S

In the aftermath of the 2012 Clarkson Cup, the absence of the Whitecaps from competing is visceral. As a direct rebuttal for not being part of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, it is time for the Whitecaps to raise the stakes and create a competition where teams will want to compete. A Whitecaps Invitational Tournament would give players something to compete for while providing a high quality of women’s ice hockey. With all the hockey that goes in March and April (NCAA Frozen Four, Clarkson Cup, Esso Cup, PWHL playoffs, IIHF worlds, Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships, and the Minnesota High School title), there is a severe hockey hangover for fans of women’s ice hockey. An autumn tournament hosted by the Whitecaps would be a great way to start the season. A four team tournament that could feature the Whitecaps battle the CIS champion, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association champ, and a fourth club (either from Minnesota High School, NCAA Division III, or a CWHL club that

Despite the best efforts of rival conferences such as College Hockey America, ECAC, and Hockey East, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association claimed their 12 th consecutive NCAA Frozen Four women’s title in March 2012. Despite the best efforts of schools such as Cornell and Boston College, the elusive Frozen Four championship remains a dream for them to attempt to claim next spring. In a deserving finish, the top two ranked teams (both from the WCHA) played each other for the right to be called national champion. The Wisconsin Badgers (WCHA regular season champions) and Minnesota Golden Gophers (WCHA tournament champions) escalated their already intense, visceral rivalry to another level in an epic battle to be named National Champion. Although NCAA hockey offers an extremely high level of competition (with 32 teams competing), the dominance of the WCHA in the Frozen Four makes the thought of parity an unlikely one. Many women’s sports at all levels seem to be defined by a high leve

With the Montreal Stars winning their third Clarkson Cup in four years, Stars skater Meghan Agosta became the fifth member of the Triple Gold Club for Women. To gain entry into said club, the feat is gained by winning a Gold Medal in the Winter Games, gold in the IIHF Women’s World Ice Hockey Championships, and the Clarkson Cup. Personally, my first exposure to such an idea was presented by renowned ice hockey author Andrew Podnieks in his book Canadian Gold 2010. The IIHF recognizes a Triple Gold club for men, which encompasses Winter Games gold, IIHF gold, and a Stanley Cup (which can be accomplished by players and coaches). To this day, a Triple Gold Club for Women is not yet officially recognized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Although the Clarkson Cup finds its home in the still growing (and financially beleaguered) Canadian Women’s Hockey League, it is the only championship for women outside of Winter Games, IIHF sanctioned tournaments, and the NCAA. Although the Cla