Women’s hockey has been played for over a century, but the modern era and rise of women’s hockey began in the 1990s. In 1990, the first Women’s World Ice Hockey Championships were held in Ottawa, Canada. The tournament was won by Canada, and the event was a milestone for women’s hockey, as it marked the first time that an international women’s ice hockey tournament had been held.
In 1998, women’s ice hockey was added to the Winter Olympics for the first time, and Canada took the gold medal. Since then, women’s ice hockey has been a regular part of the Winter Olympics, with Canada and the United States dominating the competition.
In 2007, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) was established, providing professional opportunities for women’s ice hockey players. The CWHL was the top women’s ice hockey league in the world until it ceased operations in 2019.
In 2015, the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) was established in the United States, becoming the first professional women’s ice hockey league in North America. In 2019, the NWHL became the first women’s professional ice hockey league to offer its players a salary.
In 2018, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) announced that it would no longer operate after its 2018-2019 season. In response, a group of more than 200 players formed the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) with the goal of creating a sustainable professional league for women’s ice hockey players.
Currently, women’s ice hockey continues to grow in popularity and visibility, with the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, showcasing some of the best women’s ice hockey talent in the world.
To date, no woman has played in a regular-season game in the National Hockey League (NHL), which is the top professional ice hockey league in North America. However, there have been a few women who have played in NHL exhibition games.
The first woman to play in an NHL exhibition game was Manon Rhéaume, a Canadian goaltender, who played in two exhibition games for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992 and 1993. In 1998, Canadian forward Hayley Wickenheiser, widely considered one of the greatest female hockey players of all time, played in an NHL exhibition game for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Although no woman has yet played in a regular-season game in the NHL, the league has made efforts to support and promote women’s hockey, including hosting events such as the NHL All-Star Game’s women’s 3-on-3 game featuring top players from the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) and National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL).
Notable Women Hockey Players
There have been many accomplished women’s ice hockey players throughout history. Here are some key players and their achievements:
Hayley Wickenheiser – Canada: Considered one of the greatest female hockey players of all time, Wickenheiser won four Olympic gold medals and one silver medal. She is also a seven-time World Champion, and was the first woman to play in a professional men’s league in Finland.
Angela James – Canada: James was a trailblazer for women’s hockey and is often referred to as the “Wayne Gretzky” of women’s hockey. She was the first woman inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) named their MVP award after her.
Cammi Granato – USA: Granato was a key player on the U.S. women’s national team for over a decade, winning an Olympic gold medal in 1998 and a silver medal in 2002. She was also a five-time World Champion and the first woman inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Marie-Philip Poulin – Canada: Poulin is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, scoring the game-winning goals in both the 2010 and 2014 Olympic gold medal games. She is also a five-time World Champion and has been named the tournament MVP at both the Olympics and World Championships.
Hilary Knight – USA: Knight is a seven-time World Champion and a two-time Olympic silver medalist. She has also been named to the All-Star team at both the Olympics and World Championships multiple times, and is a leading voice in the fight for gender equity in hockey.
Kendall Coyne Schofield – USA: Coyne Schofield is a six-time World Champion and won an Olympic gold medal in 2018. She is also known for her impressive speed, winning the fastest skater competition at the NHL All-Star Game in 2019.
These women, and many others like them, have made significant contributions to the sport of ice hockey and have helped pave the way for future generations of female hockey players.
Women’s hockey has come a long way since its early days, and today, women are making significant strides in the sport. While the road to gender equity in hockey has been a long one, the establishment of professional women’s hockey leagues, the inclusion of women’s hockey in major international competitions like the Olympics, and the growing recognition of female athletes in the sport, are all signs of progress. Women’s hockey has also provided young girls and women with opportunities to participate in and excel in a sport that was once predominantly male-dominated. As women’s hockey continues to grow in popularity and visibility, it is inspiring a new generation of female hockey players, and paving the way for even greater achievements in the future.
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