The Fearless, Frozen Females of Hockey

Rogers Centre in Vancouver served as the backdrop for a special celebration in Canadian hockey. With Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson having retired, said celebration served as the epilogue to what has already shaped up to become a memorable 2014. Members of the Canadian men’s and women’s gold medal winning contingents at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games were joined by the Under-18 national women’s team who experienced their own golden glory at the IIHF U18 Women’s Worlds. Such a gathering was more than just a special event, it was an opportunity to reward the efforts of players, coaches and support staff with a special memento. Honored with a championship ring, the members involved with Sochi received a square shaped diamond encrusted ring in silver. The U18 team received a gold ring with the Hockey Canada logo composing the top. Taking into account that the heroes of women’s hockey consider the Olympics their Stanley Cup, a ring is very appropriate. All Stanley Cup champions...

One of the most talented goaltenders under 25 years of age in women’s hockey, Genevieve Lacasse can certainly be classified as an international superstar in waiting. Her involvement as a member for Team Canada in a gold medal effort at the Sochi Winter Games served as the final piece towards membership into the Triple Gold Club. The last three years have netted Lacasse all the components necessary to become only the second goaltender admitted into the exclusive Club, the first being fellow Canadian, Kim St. Pierre. Beginning in 2012 as a member of the Canadian contingent that claimed the gold at the IIHF Women’s Worlds in Burlington, Vermont, Lacasse would follow it up one year later with a memorable performance in Markham, Ontario. Standing between the pipes for the Boston Blades, Lacasse would backstop the black and gold to their first-ever Clarkson Cup championship. The experience was enhanced by the fact that she was the first rookie goaltender to win the Clarkson, along w...

Rivals at the collegiate level in the WCHA and at the international level in the IIHF, Hilary Knight and Noora Raty are looking to extend their careers in a most unique way. Following in the footsteps of ground breaking women such as Manon Rheaume, Erin Whitten, Danielle Dube and Hayley Wickenheiser, they are looking for the chance to compete in competitive men’s leagues. With possible opportunities in Finland and Sweden, the involvement of Raty and Knight may not only help increase the awareness of the sport, it could help create other opportunities in North America. Considering some members of the CWHL’s Montreal Stars have participated in intergender games, there is no question that Stars competitors such as Caroline Ouellette and Charline Labonte are worthy of consideration for AHL or ECHL play. The greatest female goaltender in the history of Finland, Raty shocked hockey fans throughout the world when she announced that Sochi would represent her last foray in female hocke...

Heading into the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, one of the key components for the Canadian national women’s team was definitely change. From new faces at every position to a new coaching staff, many members of Canada’s contingent were truly Winter Games rookies. In a semi-final game against Switzerland, a pair of rookies, Natalie Spooner and Melodie Daoust, would score their first-ever goals in Winter Games competition. Having broken the Toronto Furies franchise mark for most goals scored in one season, Spooner was certainly eager to get on the scoreboard for Canada. At the 7:29 of the opening frame, Spooner would manage to score on Swiss goaltender Florence Schelling (who faced 69 shots against Canada in the preliminary round), with the assist credited to Hayley Wickenheiser. It represented a significant milestone for Spooner, as she logged her first-ever goal in the Winter Games. Canadian captain Caroline Ouellette beat Schelling with a slapshot but the goal was disallowed due...

From the outset, the fact that the United States outshot Sweden by an astounding 70-9 margin does not bode well for the cynics who believe women’s hockey should be removed from the Winter Games. While IIHF president Rene Fasel advised USA Today that he is optimistic about the sports’ future at the Games, the fact that Sweden qualified for the medal round is truly admirable. Considering that the Swedes were in the relegation round at the 2013 IIHF Women’s Worlds in Ottawa, Canada, they were not favored to be competing for medals in Sochi. A pair of visceral upsets, Switzerland defeating Russia, and Sweden upending their eternal rival Finland, certainly indicated that competition is improving in the women’s game. Although Canada will play the United States in the gold medal match for the fourth time in the history of the event at the Winter Games, Sweden’s goaltending definitely should encourage their fans to believe that a bronze medal is highly possible. Valentina Wallner and ...

For a generation of Canadian hockey fans, the idea of fan favorites such as the legendary Kim St. Pierre and the charismatic Tessa Bonhomme not donning the Canadian jersey on the world’s biggest hockey stage is nothing short of shocking. After providing such strong and emotional performances on home ice in Vancouver four years ago, no one could have foreseen how time would provide change four years later. Having both inspired many young girls to lace on the skates and play the game, their legacies in the game are assured. Despite their absence from the ice, neither is too far from the game. Both have taken on new roles as broadcasters, and providing a superlative performance. Working with Radio-Canada, Kim St. Pierre brings her expertise to the French-Canadian airwaves. As the analyst for Team Canada ’s broadcasts, she works with color commentator Martin Leclerc, who brings 20 years of experience in covering the game. One of the winningest goalies in the history of IIHF ...

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...

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 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...

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 ...

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...