The Fearless, Frozen Females of Hockey

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...

Leading into the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, the Topps trading card company is immortalizing Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux on cardboard. With a card-set featuring prominent American male and female athletes going for the gold in Sochi, the Lamoureux twins are part of the group of athletes getting the trading card treatment. A 192-card set, other remarkable athletic women include Gretchen Bleiler, Lolo Jones, Hannah Teter and Lindsey Vonn. For the Lamoureux twins to be considered in the same stratosphere as such accomplished athletes are testament to their talent.  Having joined a moribund North Dakota hockey program and turning it into a nationally-ranked power that attracted quality recruits from around the world, it may prove to be their greatest legacy in hockey. Considering that Topps has not manufactured cards featuring hockey players in a decade, it is a welcome sight for Topps collectors to see hockey players back on cardboard. Joining the Lamoureux twins in the car...

While the 1997-98 Collector’s Choice series marked the first time that women’s hockey cards were produced by Upper Deck (in line with the Nagano Winter Games), many fans had assumed that the company would repeat the feat for the Salt Lake Winter Games in 2002. Unfortunately, other companies such as Fleer and Topps failed to issue any women’s hockey cards either. Despite the absence of product, there were some regional issues that appeased fans. In anticipation of the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, a set of cards featuring the women of the US National Team was issued. Produced by HSJ Incorporated, Gerry Thomas was the photographer for all the images in the set. For many of the women on the US team, it would mark their first appearance on cardboard. Some of the notable players included Julie Chu (the first woman to win three consecutive Clarkson Cups) and Natalie Darwitz (the NCAA record holder for most points in one season). The one notable omission was head coach Ben S...