The Fearless, Frozen Females of Hockey

While the idea of the CWHL had not even been conceived, the players that would help to build it and shape it had left their mark on the frozen surface of Palasport Olimpico , the site of the gold medal game of the women’s ice hockey tournament at the 2006 Torino Winter Games. It is their mark that has now earned these fearless, frozen females their opportunity to be glorified with a place in the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame. Meghan Agosta’s Coming Out Party From the outset, the Torino Winter Games will always be defined as the Winter Games in which Canada discovered Meghan Agosta. The foundation was laid in Torino to signify what would be the beginning of a superlative career in international hockey. Labeled as the female Sidney Crosby, Agosta has stepped out of his shadow and staked her own claim in the game. While Crosby and Agosta cemented their legacies at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, Agosta had set the stage in Torino for what would be her coming out party. On he

While it is tragic that players in the CWHL are not compensated for their efforts, the concept of an outdoor game may seem like an unfair punishment. As the league continues to grow, and tries to write a chapter based on success and profitability, an outdoor game might be the catalyst towards reaching those goals. As the 2012 CWHL Draft promises to bring the league its best ever crop of talent, the time is ripe to grow the game and bring it in unprecedented directions. As women’s sports get less than five per cent of airtime on major sports networks, an outdoor game could be the ideal way to get that much needed television exposure. With two teams in the Greater Toronto Area, the Toronto Furies and Brampton Thunder could play each other at York University’s football stadium. As Dan Church, the Canadian National Women’s Team head coach, is also the head coach of the York Lions women’s program, perhaps an outdoor game with CIS teams could be held on the same day. A joint effort betw

Back in 2004, the Quebec television network TVA aired new episodes of a revived French TV classic, Lance et Compte. While this new version (titled Lance et compte: La reconquête) featured some of the characters that fans of the original series were familiar with (Pierre Lambert, Marc Gagnon, Gilles Guilbault), new characters occupied the program and one was highly influenced by the coach of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games gold medal winning women’s ice hockey squad, Danielle Sauvageau. The Quebec Nationals (the fictional team the program is based upon) hire a new assistant coach; Michelle Béliveau (portrayed by Maxim Roy), a female coach that had once coached the Canadian women’s team to Winter Games Gold. In one episode, she tries to motivate the players by showing her the Gold Medal. In addition, the coach has long black hair, definitely paying homage to Sauvageau. While those episodes were broadcast in 2004, the concept is still tragically ahead of its time. Throughout the

As the CWHL gears up for the 2012-13 season, one of the small adjustments it is making involves ensuring all franchises have names (including the possibility of changing the league name). While rumours have been rampant with regards to changing the Canadian in CWHL to Continental or Central, the franchise in Alberta are colloquially referred to as the Honeybadgers. Currently, the Brampton franchise is using the opportunity to have fans suggest names. Personally, the name Rosebuds would be fitting because the late Rose Cherry lived near Brampton and was an ardent supporter of women’s ice hockey. Although the Brampton franchise has not officially used the name since the contraction of the league in 2010, most aficionados have still associated the name with them. Despite sentimentality, the Thunder name will definitely be retired this summer.   Considering that professional women’s hockey in Canada does not yet have the tradition woven into the fabric of Canadian culture to the extent t

The recently christened Alberta Honeybadgers have several opportunities in the upcoming draft to upgrade their roster. One area where the squad can benefit is with the quality available at the defensive position. If defense wins championships, two members of the Canadian National Team may fit the bill. Jocelyne Larocque recently claimed gold at the 2012 IIHF Women’s Worlds in Burlington, Vermont. Tara Watchorn earned gold at the 2011 MLP Nations Cup, and wore the Maple Leaf at the 2011 IIHF Women’s Worlds. For both players, it is just the latest in a long line of awards and accolades in their storied careers. Larocque first gained prominence as a member of the Ste. Anne three (Larocque, Melanie Gagnon, and Bailey Bram). All three hailed from the same small community in Manitoba and participated in the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four. One of the last cuts for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games team, Larocque is poised to help the Canadian team repeat as champions at the 2014 Sochi games. A tw