Understanding Hockey/Understanding Canada

Understanding Canadian Women through Hockey

Historians, sociologists and a range of other academics have addressed at length the enigmatic Canadian identity. Who are we? What are we? What defines us? Traditionally many Canadians have looked to hockey celebrities like Wayne Gretzky, Guy Lafleur, and Paul Henderson as a way of defining the sport and sometimes our identity. But, as the increasing number of women and girls playing hockey illustrates, hockey in Canada isn’t just a sport for men and boys. Women and girls are equally passionate about playing, watching and participating in the game in a range of levels.

While hockey can tell us about Canadians— who we are, what we do, and what brings us together as Canadians—hockey can also tell us about the differences that separate us and the ways in which gender and gender expectations inform Canadians’ lives. In this unit, you will be asked to consider how hockey highlights our differences in terms of gender and how hockey and sports can reflect the tensions and issues related to gender issues in Canada.

1. In order to begin thinking about these questions, use the web (or any other resource you have access to) in order to find out the following information about women and hockey.
  • What is the history of women and hockey?
  • What playing opportunities are available for women?
  • What kind of options are there for women in professional hockey?
  • Has a woman ever played for an NHL Team? Could/can women play in the NHL? Research Manon Rheaume. Visit her website.
  • Are there policy prohibitions preventing girls from playing on junior teams, and school teams?
  • What role do female fans play in keeping the game alive?
  • What role do female fans play in picking heroes for the community?
  • What role do governments (local, provincial and national) play in promoting women and hockey?
2. In small groups or on your own, draw on the research you’ve done and think about the following questions. Write about or talk through your answers.
  • If a 6 year old boy and a 6 year old girl want to play hockey competitively, what are their opportunities to play the game? Are their opportunities similar? Different? What factors influence their opportunities to play?
  • Now, think about if a 16 year old boy and a 16 year old girl want to play hockey competitively, what are their opportunities to play the game? Are their opportunities similar? Different? What factors influence their opportunities to play? Are the opportunities different from the 6 year olds?
  • Now, consider if an 18 year old boy and 18 year old girl of similar skill levels wants to play in the minor leagues or the major leagues. What opportunities do these 2 players have in terms of teams, leagues, money etc? What chances do they have for getting university scholarships in Canada or the United States?
  • What programs or guidelines have been established to enable both genders to play the game of hockey? How effective have they been? Can they be more effective? Why or why not? What can be done to make opportunities even more equal?
3. Read Diane Weber’s "Ice Dreams— for those who came before" and discuss the relationship between women and hockey.

Diane Weber
"Ice Dreams— for those who came before"

At midnight, at two and at three,
black north country nights
in black north country winter,

long ago girls
race down the ice, screaming,
tasting deep the chilled air,

gliding along on the cold edge
of danger, gasping
for breath, fingertips beating

the pulse of the heart, slamming
the boards, feet flying
out, sliding along on the blade

of ice, melting skin into ice,
swallowing hard a mouth full of plastic,
protecting against the curved stick,

the black disk of fury flying. . .
Nights on the ice, fought for
and embraced, by long ago girls,

skating and weaving, creating a team
of women playing hockey—
women plotting anarchy

Questions for discussion or personal reflection: