The Fearless, Frozen Females of Hockey

With a playoff spot in sight, the red-hot Calgary Inferno are heading into their weekend series with the first-place Montreal Stars hoping to build on their momentum. No longer a last-place team, the chance to play for Lady Clarkson’s coveted Cup has strengthened morale and increased confidence. Adding to their motivation is the fact that several franchise scoring records could soon fall. From the outset, Jenna Cunningham has tied Sam Hunt’s franchise record for most points in one season with 14. Cunningham also has the opportunity to surpass her own franchise record for most goals scored in one season. Having scored 10 goals in the 2010-11 inaugural season, which is also a franchise rookie record, Cunningham enters the Montreal series with eight goals. With three games against Montreal, the chance to register three goals and set a new mark is feasible. Heading into the weekend series, Cunningham sits sixth in the CWHL scoring race. On pace to be the first player in the history of

While it is a great moment for women’s hockey, one cannot help but wonder if the appointment of hockey hero Hayley Wickenheiser as Canada’s flag bearer for the Winter Games marks the closing of a chapter in the sport’s history. Along with teammate Jayna Hefford, they are the only two women to have played in every women’s ice hockey tournament at the Winter Games. As Wickenheiser has battled injuries over the last few years, would a gold medal at Sochi serve as her swan song? Fans cannot help but wonder if this is mirroring Bobby Orr, whose last great moment with Team Canada, after years of knee injuries, resulted in a championship and MVP honors at the 1976 Canada Cup. Former teammate Danielle Goyette was selected as Canada’s flag bearer for the 2006 Torino Winter Games. Marching behind Goyette, Wickenheiser would tease her, telling her not to trip. While she now has the honor bestowed upon her eight years later, it may also yield a result similar to Goyette’s. Although so

While the world of women’s hockey is dominated in international play by Canada and the United States, the borders in the global game are slowly dissolving. Last season, All-World goaltender Florence Schelling spoiled Canadian hockey fans by competing with the CWHL’s Brampton Thunder. In January 2014, Sweden’s LHC Dam (also known as Linkoping) has reciprocated by bringing Bailey Bram into the fold. Truly a historic signing, it recognizes the value that women's players from North America mean to the growth of the game globally. Ironically, Bram was Schelling’s teammate with the Thunder for the 2012-13 season.   The sojourn to Sweden represents the third country where Bram shall play competitive hockey. In addition to her native Canada, she played four years of collegiate hockey in the United States with Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania. Reputed as a great team player and a friendly personality, Bram is the perfect ambassador for the game in Sweden.     Having pla

Heading into the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, the Swedish national women’s team has strong momentum. Prior to Christmas 2013, legendary Swedish forward Pernilla Winberg participated in her 200th career game in the famous gold and blue Swedish jersey.  The 200th game for Sweden sets the stage for what hopes to be an even more improved 2014. Along with Kim Martin, Winberg is one of the most recognizable and famous faces from the Swedish team. After a disappointing seventh place finish at the 2013 IIHF Women’s World Championships in Ottawa, Canada, where Sweden played in the relegation round, Winberg’s milestone game could not have come at a better time. The magical milestone occurred during Sweden’s participation in a 4-nations tournament in Orebro from December 11-15, 2013. Competing against other European nations that shall take part in Sochi 2014, including Russia, Germany and arch-rival Finland, Winberg helped Sweden to a second-place finish.  Depsite a 3-2 loss in overt

Heading into her second season with the Montreal Stars, there was no question that Ann-Sophie Bettez would be an impact player for their decimated roster. With scoring sensations such as Meghan Agosta-Marciano and Caroline Ouellette answering the call to compete for the Canadian contingent in Sochi, the 25 year-old native of Montreal has managed to lead a high-powered offensive attack that is setting the standard for the rest of the CWHL. In every game this season, Bettez has recorded at least one point. Teammate Cathy Chartrand (a teammate of Bettez at McGill University), who inherited the team captaincy from Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux opened her season with a point in 12 straight games. Her streak would be snapped on January 19 in a road victory over the Boston Blades. Complemented by talented scorers such as Vanessa (Vinny) Davidson, her former teammate at McGill University, multiple Winter Games gold medalist Sarah Vaillancourt, Marieve Provost, the all-time leading scorer

For a Minnesota Golden Gophers squad that has made its share of NCAA women’s hockey history, January 18 marked a new milestone for the proud program. Competing at TCF Bank Stadium, the Golden Gophers competed in their first home outdoor game. It was also the first NCAA Division I outdoor game ever held in the state of Minnesota. With an attendance of 6,623 fans, it was the largest attendance for a home game since November 2, 1997, the first game in program history (an 8-0 win against Augsburg). Of note, the Golden Gophers played in one other outdoor game, a January 29, 2011 contest on the road versus the Wisconsin Badgers. Attendance for that event was 10,668 fans, the highest attendance for a road game in program history. Playing against fellow WCHA rivals, the Minnesota-State Mankato Mavericks, the Hockey City Classic marked what fans hope can become an annual tradition. Improving their mark to 21-1-1 on the strength of three points by Sarah Davis, the Golden Gophers have

As the Calgary Inferno continue to push towards qualifying for their first-ever Clarkson Cup, a key component is succeeding on the road. A weekend road swamp of the beleaguered Brampton Thunder is helping to make that postseason dream a reality. Since the arrival of 2013 first-overall pick Jessica Wong last weekend, an air of confidence has surrounded the squad. Fittingly, Wong would get things started in the January 18 contest at Brampton’s Cassie Campbell Centre. At the 7:09 mark, she would put the biscuit in the basket against workhorse backstop Sonja van der Biek for the 1-0 advantage. Rookie sensation Julie Paetsch would assist on Jenna Cunningham’s power play marker at the 12:43 mark to extend their lead over the home team. Special teams played a huge part in the successful first frame for Calgary. Cunningham’s goal was scored on the only power play opportunity for Calgary in the period. Despite Brampton enjoying three power play opportunities, DeLayne Brian nullified th

In the aftermath of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, the changeover from Vancouver to Sochi shall take place very soon. Despite the fact that the national women’s hockey team, along with the rest of Canada’s athletes shall be far from home, the Molson Canadian Block Party in Banff, Alberta was a fitting send off and a remarkable way to boost athlete morale while meeting fans. While not all of Canada’s athletes were present, the national women’s hockey team made its presence felt. Greeting fans and making new ones, the event provided joy for rookie and veteran alike. Even Canadian head coach and NHL veteran Kevin Dineen joined in the celebrations. The January 11 event saw smiles all around as feelings of friendship and jubilation encompassed the event. Accompanied by musical performances from The Sheepdogs and The Arkells, TV personality George Stromboulopoulos (there could not be a jersey big enough to fit his name on the back of one) was the Master of Ceremonies. Former Alpin

Concordia University in Montreal held its own super Sunday for women’s ice hockey. Ed Meagher Arena would serve as the backdrop for a doubleheader featuring some of the finest talent in Canadian Interuniversity Sport and the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. Generations intersected at the arena as Concordia holds a unique place in the hearts and minds of the many remarkable women that graced its frozen surface. Three-time Clarkson Cup champions, the Montreal Stars hosted the Brampton Thunder in CWHL play while the defending CIS national champions, the Montreal Carabins were the visiting team against the Concordia Stingers. Of note, many Stars players have polished their game at the renowned university. Stars founder Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux led the Concordia Stingers to the CIS championship as a player. She would follow it up by becoming the first captain in CWHL play to win three Clarkson Cups. The night before, she would even log the 100th point of her distinguished CWHL care

After a convincing 5-2 victory over the Boston Blades launched 2014 on a positive note for the Montreal Stars, another memorable event would soon follow. January 5 would provide four Stars competitors with an opportunity to grace National Hockey League ice. As one of the signature franchises in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, the Stars were privileged to have Ann-Sophie Bettez, Cathy Chartrand, Fannie Desforges and Dangerous Dominique Thibault as special guests during the Montreal Canadiens fan practice, sponsored by Provigo. It would prove to be a memorable Sunday morning for this fantastic foursome of women’s hockey heroes. Bettez is not only a former member of the Canadian national women’s hockey team; she is the all-time scoring leader in McGill Martlets history and the 2013 CWHL Rookie of the Year. Another former national team member, Chartrand holds the rare honor of having served as team captain for the Martlets and the Montreal Stars. Heading into the 2013-14 s

As the first CWHL game of 2014 marked a crucial matchup in determining if the Stars could maintain their stranglehold on first place, two players contributed with key performances. Marieve Provost, the all-time scoring leader in CIS history, has found her scoring touch in a sensational sophomore season. Recording the first hat trick of her career, it would prove to be the difference in a convincing 5-2 victory. In addition, McGill Martlets legend Stacie Tardif and 2013 CIS National Champion Casandra Dupuis logged the first goals of their CWHL careers. The milestone was enhanced by the fact it was scored on the power play (Blake Bolden was called for bodychecking). Her marker opened the scoring at the 9:02 mark as Emmanuelle Blais earned the assist. While Blades rookie Jillian Dempsey buried the puck past second-generation star Catherine Herron with less than two minutes remaining in the opening frame, the game would not stay tied for long. Merely 94 seconds into the second sta

The road that Cheyenne Matus followed on her way to university hockey is one that many have taken before her. Competing in boys’ hockey, the feelings of resentment add to an uneasiness that is all too often, a sad yet character-building rite of passage. While she competed in other sports, such as soccer and softball, the Friday Night Skate at the local armory had captivated her. Three years later, the experience of house league hockey and private lessons paid dividends as Matus became a budding star in the various Boys Leagues. Reality would rear its ugly head once Matus became of high school age. Despite the fact that her skills were such that she was invited to compete in the high school spring league (before her freshman year was to begin), she found herself unfairly isolated and ostracized because she was the only girl competing. Once summer became autumn and school bells filled the air, Matus had endured three difficult days of tryouts. Despite showing hard work and d

After helping Canada to a gold medal effort at the 2013 Four Nations Cup, Jenelle Kohanchuk was one of the first wave of players that were released from Canada ’s Centralization Camp. Despite the heartbreak, Kohanchuk has bounced back with the Toronto Furies. On a squad that must still cope with the loss of Rebecca Johnston, Natalie Spooner and Jennifer Wakefield, Kohanchuk has provided an injection of leadership for the blue and white. In addition to her experience with the Canadian National Team (which has also included a gold medal at the Meco Cup), she has accumulated 138 career points with the Boston University Terriers in the NCAA. During her tenure with the Terriers, some of her teammates included Wakefield and other Canadian national players such as Marie-Philip Poulin and Catherine White. In her final season with the Terriers, she not only helped the club to a Hockey East title, but she scored a goal in the NCAA Frozen Four title game against Minnesota . Makin

In the unfolding history of women’s hockey, the friendships and playing relationships that forge unbreakable bonds are one of its defining characteristics. Such a friendship is one between Lyndsey Fry and the Turgeon family. On the surface, it would be easy to observe their history and feel like it was directly from a novel by Mitch Albom. In truth, it is a moving series of events that help provide a human side to a game that can be blinded by the intense level of competition. Such intensity is one that Fry will endure as she becomes the first native from the state of Arizona to be named to the United States Winter Games team. As Canada and the US prepare to write the next chapter in their eternal rivalry at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games team, Fry’s experiences helps to put such intensities into perspective. Like many of her generation, Fry was greatly influenced by The Mighty Ducks movie series released by Disney. The result was a motivation to succeed at the game, resulting in

Although the previous series of articles and observations have revolved around the women who play the game, Joe Kocur’s gesture of class at the NHL Alumni Game on December 31, 2013 reinforced a strong message. There are other women that are just as important to the game, the wives and the mothers who provide the emotional support and the dedication that supplies great worth. When Kocur graced the frozen surface in the middle of Detroit’s Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers baseball club, he did so to a roar of approval from both Detroit and Toronto fans in attendance. Donning the jersey of Bob Probert, with its bold, red number 24 on the reverse, Kocur ended hockey in 2013 with a heartwarming moment. It was more than a gesture recognizing his fallen teammate; it was also a tribute to the family that he left behind. His loving widow Dani Probert and their four children, three daughters and one son, are his true legacy. While time will tell if Probert’s children shall

In an effort to capture an elusive gold medal in Winter Games play, USA Hockey declared that the future is now in naming 19 year-old hockey prodigy Alex Carpenter to its roster for Sochi 2014. As the US has not captured a gold medal in women’s ice hockey at the Winter Games since Nagano 1998, it is a streak of futility that does not want to continue into the 2018 games at Pyeongchang. Carpenter first came to the attention of many hockey fans in the summer of 2011, when she suited up for the US Under-18 team in Rockland, Ontario (east of Ottawa). At the time, fans could not have anticipated that two years later, she would make her presence felt once again in Canada’s capital region. Having earned a spot on the US Senior Team, she would be part of the gold medal winning roster at the 2013 IIHF Women’s Worlds. Considering that Canada had never lost a gold medal game on home ice during the history of the IIHF Women’s Worlds, Carpenter had the opportunity to be part of history. Sho

For every women’s hockey player, there is no greater thrill than to don the jersey of your home country. The moment is truly enhanced when one can do so on the world’s biggest stage. Megan Bozek, the best defender to ever come from the state of Illinois (her hometown is Buffalo Grove), is looking to maintain her winning ways at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. Having played for the undefeated Minnesota Golden Gophers squad in 2012-13, it is an accomplishment in sport as prestigious as the 1972 Miami Dolphins or the 1996 Chicago Bulls who won as astounding 72 games. Quite possibly the greatest women’s hockey team assembled in US women’s collegiate hockey history, Bozek’s tenure on the team has immortalized her as a true legend. Of note, other members from the undefeated Minnesota squad joining Bozek in the quest for gold include 2013 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Amanda Kessel and Lee Stecklein, who towers in at 6’ tall, one of the tallest on the squad. While she goes about her tim