This a community for fans and supporters of all forms of women's hockey.
Introduce Yourself
Seeing as there has been a large number of people join /womens_hockey in the last few days, I figured a new introduction thread would be helpful.
If you want to post here with a different username than on the rest of Imzy please create a profile in the bottom right hand corner before you hit post for the first time. That will become the username you're known by in /womens_hockey.
Now, the fun stuff!
- How did you first get into women's hockey?
- Did you play as a child/adult?
- Have you watched an international tournament on television?
- What do you think has been most effective at spreading the Women's game?
- Favourite player
- favourite team
- favourite league
- Have you been to a women's hockey game?
- I'm new and want to know more!




Hello!
I started watching Women Hockey when the NWHL had it's first game, before that I watched dude hockey. Apart from the playoffs, I pretty much stopped watching men hockey :/ mostly because of the behaviour of some players and the lack of reaction from the league.
Hockey is unknown in my country, the Olympics got me into it! I never lived in a city that had a rink so I never played.
I thing the internet and the fans have been quite effective at spreading awareness of the game.
Favourite players: Nana Fujimoto and Jenny Scriven Favourite team: The Riveters
I've never been to North America so I've never been to a game. The NWHL games are scheduled at a time I'm awake unlike the NHL games so I've been able to watch lots of games live!
It sucks that you lost both of your favourite goalies at the same time! Hopefully you'll find some new favourites in the new NWHL season.
It's okay, there are a lot of amazing goalies out there! I'll still support the Riveters :)
Hi Everyone, I think the first time I thought about women's hockey was in 1959 when I tried to sneak my sister on to my team in the Toronto Township Novice hockey league . She desperately wanted to play hockey and was not allowed. I blew it because of my basic lack of knowledge of biology. The coach asked me how old she was and I said she's the same age as me only a couple of months younger. Ontario did not have a sex ed curriculum at the time and gestation periods were well beyond my ken. So he saw through my ruse and said, "No, she's too young." I tried. My sis never forgave hockey and is only a distant fan at the moment although I am trying to bring her back to Women's hockey. I continue to work on her. As for my personal journey in women's hockey I guess it started around 1999 when the Brampton Thunder gave out free tickets to schools and I found that free tickets to a Thunder game were a pretty good motivational tool for my students. Since then I went to games regularly and became a faithful fan in around 2007. In 2009 I started to volunteer with the Thunder and since then have volunteered at the Clarkson Cup, two Women's World Championships and a Women's World Under 18 Championship.
I played hockey from the age of 5 until 61. I was a goalie(hence the name Keeper)
Yup I have watched international tournaments on TV and live.
The Olympics are definitely a factor in the increasing awareness of Women's hockey. All of the finals have been high-drama affairs.
Oh god, do I have to pick one favourite player? Well I think I will start with the Holy Trinity of Women's Hockey ---- (mother, daughter and holy ghost being all one person?---maybe?) ----- Hefford, Ouellette and Wickenheuser. They are the top 3 players in the history of Women's Hockey so who can choose between them? But there is a long list: Szabados, Howe, Nana Fujimoto, Maschmeyer, Kessler, Knoxie, Britney Smith, Fortino, Birchard, Laroque, Laquette, Rattray, Vint and so on and so on and so on......
Ha any question --- The Brampton Thunder
The Cdub
Ummmmm --yeah --I've missed 1 Thunder home game since 2009--- been to games in Toronto and Montreal Outreach games in Georgetown, Orangeville, Windsor and somewhere northeast of Toronto---- going to a game in Buffalo in October ---
I think it is important to create an oral tradition about Women's hockey and this might be a good place to start that --- although it is not so oral -- but I think it can spring from places like this to the oral tradition. That is what is strong in all of the men's sports like hockey, football and baseball.
Welcome to the forum! I hope you don't mind that I've responded to practically all of your posts, but it makes me so happy to interact with people who love women's hockey as much as I do! Your history and knowledge of the women's game are amazing!
The story about your sister is so sad! It's my hope that we're moving towards a hockey world where women and men have equal access to playing hockey whenever and wherever they want. On a last note, I'm happy to meet somebody who also appreciates Rebecca Vint! I think she did an amazing job last season and I was crushed that she didn't get Rookie of the Year.
Oh I just thought of a Vint story. Having an all out, full steam ahead style, she attracts a lot of attention from the referees. So much so, that the penalty box crew put up a sign in the back right hand corner of the penalty box saying "Reserved for Rebecca Vint". No one else sits there.
Ha ha! That's hilarious!
I feel like such a derp posting here months after it was first posted, but I finally got around to trying Imzy and couldn't resist when I saw a whockey community!!
I first got into women's hockey literally a month before the NWHL was announced. I only started following men's hockey in 2014, and just started researching the CWHL when the N burst onto the scene. Funny coincidence.
I have not played. Heck, the first time I ever went ice skating was when I was 16!
In terms of international competitions ... I'm a bit of a newbie, but I followed the most recent Olympics and a couple of Worlds. I've focused more on women's competitions since I started to follow whockey. So I watched Four Nations last year, and plan to do so again this year.
Social Media is definitely a plus when it comes to spreading the sport. I've also found word of mouth is extremely effective. I go to many Devils games and the sports crew I hang out with seem reasonably interested when I start talking about the women's league. Of course the best tie in is when I can include a "personal" hockey connection, so Amanda Kessel helps immensely in terms of name recognition. Also, a gentleman who I talk to about the N, lives in the same town as a 2014 Team USA silver medalist who retired due to concussion symptoms. He ranted to me that the local high school overlooked her when they were selecting the new team coach and he was not pleased. I'm going to try and get him to come to a Riveters game before the season is done. Also, ngl the drama between the two leagues did help propel much more news and discussion about the women's game. While it sucks, I think ultimately it will be worth it (especially if they ever sit down and discuss a possible merger ... but that's a pipe dream for now).
I really don't have a favorite player? Though I enjoy when Gabie Figuroa plays, because I'm generally sitting near her mom during games and watching her reactions is hilariously entertaining!!
The NWHL is the league I follow since they placed a team in my 'town'. I'm proud to say I'm a two year season ticket holder for the NY Riveters!!
Hey! Don't feel bad about posting here months after this thread was first posted. It's here so everyone can meet up, read old intros and see who's here and introduce themselves.
That's good timing to start getting into the women's game, just before the NW came into the scene. Sounds like you're in a great location to be able to watch games live.
I spent the whole summer of 2015 researching and really getting into the sport! Found some people who were planning on going to the Rivs games as well so we created a game day group. Made trekking out to Aviator a lot easier. I'm super grateful the team moved to Newark after playing in Brooklyn. Much easier to get to and takes far less time than two busses and two subways did!
Welcome! Congrats on being a two season Riv's season ticket holder! I heard a lot of grumbling about the team's move, so it's nice to hear somebody being happy about the change. I'm nowhere near NY so I doesn't matter to me, but a lot of people were upset. I think it's awesome that you chat about women's hockey with Devils fans! Once you convince somebody to follow women's hockey, they tend to be fans for life.
Before it was announced, most of us had a feeling the move was coming. So that's when the grumbling started to happen. Though the new venue really is eons above Aviator, so it was the right choice in terms of hosting a small professional league. The good news is I saw a bunch of old faces in the crowd for the home opener. I also saw a lot of new faces which is even better!
The first time I became aware of women's hockey was during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. When I started my hockey tumblr in 2013, I came across some women's hockey posts and that's how I learned about the CWHL. I've skated most of my life, but playing hockey is way beyond my skill level. I try to watch women's hockey games on television whenever I have access to Sportsnet or TSN, which isn't as often as I like. I think the internet has helped women's hockey grow in spades! It allows fans who live far away to support the teams and spread awareness. On the flip side, the internet also allows the teams to share the team experience with fans all over the world in the form of internet game streaming, selling merchandise, twitter interactions etc. I have many favourite players (sorry about the long list): Marie-Philip Poulin, Julie Chu, Brianna Decker, Kelley Steadman, Caroline Ouellette, Ann-Sophie Bettez, all the CWHL starting goalies last season (Lacasse, Kessler, Labonte, Brian, Howe), Rebecca Vint and Rebecca Johnston. I honestly love all the teams, but when it comes to which team I enjoyed watching the most last season, it was Les Canadiennes due to their depth. My favourite league is the CWHL. Sadly, because I live in BC, I haven't been to any games, but I watch as many of the CWHL and NWHL live streams as possible.
Hey all! Here's my thing:
I got into whky because...I played as a kid, and always watched the olympics, so to have some of those olympic athletes in my hometown playing on a regular basis was incredible.
I do still play today! I play for Hockey North America, which is a co-ed league - I'm the only woman on my team but it's a really good time.
Yes I have watched international womens' tournaments. The olympics have definitely been the most effective way to spread the game. If you recall, the CWHL blew up in popularity after the 2014 olympics.
My fave player is Gen Lacasse, I'm living on a prayer that she stays with the Blades but I don't have a lot of hope. :( Fave team is the Blades, I don't have a favorite league because as a Bostonian I've gotten a very huge taste of how both leagues are good and bad.
tl;dr I run stats for the Blades/the CWHL games in boston, AMA!
You run the stats for the Blades?? That's so cool! If I lived anywhere near one of the women's teams, I would love to support them like that, but I have to content with supporting them from afar.
Yeah it's hella fun! the stats are very basic and the software the league uses is really intuitive - it's hard to keep up sometimes. writing down ten player numbers on both teams after a goal when one team is celebrating and one is immediately going for a line change is HARD, yo. XD
Do you guys have a view of the game on the ice as well as a monitor with close-ups? Can you hear the broadcaster? Honestly, without the close-up views of the stream and the broadcaster telling me what's going on, I can barely keep track of where everybody is, never mind who assisted on a specific goal or what penalty was committed. The game is just too fast for me sometimes!
I sit next to the broadcaster, yep - no monitor with close-ups, although the Canadiennes have one with instant replay (that's too fancy for us at the moment, although we might implement that this year.) Having our broadcaster right there makes it a lot easier to determine who assisted on whose goal, and we also double check everything on the official scoresheet after the game. I also sometimes have a volunteer spotter who will watch one team while I watch the other. It's very tough to do on your own, for sure!
Would you be willing to do an actual Q&A thread here?
Also, how did you get involved with helping out the Blades?
I would, absolutely! (sorry for the delay!)
I actually have an acquaintance who is friends with the Blades' GM, he put us in touch when they were looking for a stats person. Right place, right time. :)
Great to meet another Cdub volunteer. Being involved with a team is the best. You have a cool job and a great view of the game. Doing the plus/minus is one of the toughest jobs in the game. In Brampton the penalty box attendants do that so there are more people involved. They report to the statistician who has a table behind the penalty box. I heard that the Cdub has adopted a new stats program and it is supposed to be more user friendly. Pointsreak wasn't bad but this one is supposed to be better.
I haaaaated pointstreak. I'm definitely hoping this new software is better.
I think it's the same on as the IIHF uses and reports have been very favourable. So hopefully that's the program the are using.
You must be stoked that Masch was drafted by the Inferno, huh? I can't wait to see how she does! Now that Desjardins has quit the Inferno, Masch will have to compete with Delayne Brian, who did an awesome job during the playoffs last season. It'll be interesting to see how much Masch will end up playing.
I was hoping the Inferno would draft Masch all summer but I was also super worried she'd end up with the blades since they got the 1st pick and she's kinda been in the Boston area for so long. So I'm very happy she's with the Inferno now. But also, Delayne was amazing last season and I loved watching her so it'll be interesting to see what happens. I'm counting down the days to the home opener.
As if Masch was going anywhere but Calgary -- it is near her home and on top of that, it is rumoured that Melody Davidson is encouraging women to play in Calgary so the core of the National Team will be playing together already.
Great that you have seasons tickets. I follow you on Tumbler and like your blog. Keep up the good work.
Hi! Hi! I'm really excited about this community. Hopefully it will help me keep more up so date with women's hockey this season.
So I believe I first started watching women's hockey during the Sochi Olympics. I knew about women's hockey from Vancouver but Sochi is where I really got invested. I've never played but I think I'd like to try at least once.
I def try to watch games and tourneys on tv but it's so rare. I mostly just stream everything. I've gotten pretty good at being patient with streams bc of wifi lol.
Social media has definitely had a big hand in getting more people in to women's hockey. I've gotten interested in players and teams from gifsets on tumblr alone.
Fave player- Julie Chuuuu! Fave team - Les Canadiennes (I can't believe I actually spelled that right on the first try. Amazing!) Fave league - CWHL
I've never been to a game but I've had this dream for a couple of years of moving to Montreal and fully immersing myself in all things les canadiennes. Maybe one day.
I fully support your dream of moving to Montreal! I'll move with you in spirit if you go. We'll go worship Julie Chu together! She's such an amazing woman. Do you remember her frantic drive from her coaching gig to the playoffs game this past season?
Yes, that's one of my fave stories about her! Chuy is a beast! I'm so bummed she won't be around much because of coaching this season (at least that what heard). I really need to get my hands on her jersey before so does something crazy like retire lol. I always regret not being able to get a Montreal stars shirsey when they had them but shipping was so expensive :((
I support your dream of moving to Montreal too if the are your fave team. If you are that passionate about Les Canadiennes, get involved and volunteer for the team. They have a great squad of volunteers there, but volunteers are something of which you can't have too many. It's a great way to settle into the city too.
I grew up in Minnesota, so I've been a fan of Natalie Darwitz, Brad Frost, and the Gopher team since the early 2000s! (Although I never played at all.) My family enjoyed going to Gopher games at Ridder and, especially, the pep bands' chants/insults/banter. Now I enjoy rooting for team USA during the Olympics and enduring heartbreaking losses to Canada... :)
whispers
boooooo Gophers
/kidding ;)
Hello all! Glad to see the women's hockey community as one of the first ones I came across on Imzy. Hope it bodes well for building a great community.
About me:
I started watching women's hockey around the 2014 Olympics and then moved over into the CWHL.
I played a little after I moved here to Nashville, but haven't in quite a while--due to life, mainly.
I watch online. Both international tournaments and the two North American pro leagues. I don't have time to watch college, too. and there's no women's hockey on tv in my market.
I think the most important thing in spreading the women's game--outside of the Olympics--has been the fans. We're the ones who pushed for more coverage and more awareness. We're the ones who bring new fans in. We're the ones whose enthusiasm gets folks excited. :)
Favourite player--Charline Labonte, Emerance Maschmeyer, Jaimie Leonoff, Jenny Scrivens (there's a theme there, haha)
favourite team--Les Canadiennes
favourite league--no preference
Have you been to a women's hockey game?--not in person. no chance where I live.
goalie love <3
I'm pumped to see Emerance in action again this season!
can't wait. calgary's so stacked now it's scary
-Nope.
-Timeshifted only! I generally watch the Finals, since it's always USA/CAN.
-The NWHL showing up and stirring up all this ~controversy with the CWHL. The Dueling Leagues get SO MANY headlines.
-Jessica Koizumi last year, since the Whale is my team and she scored the first goal in the league! Idk, I think it might be Best Kessel this year.
-THE CONNECTICUT WHALE
-NWHL
-No, I live in Chicagoland away from the leagues. I keep meaning to look up a college team around here...
Hi everyone!
I used to talk women's hockey with my dad back when UND first got their team, but I didn't really follow the sport regularly until I moved home to North Dakota around 2011.
I have never played
Yup! If there's a game on TV that I get, I tune in or record it. I think I've watched more games hunched over my laptop screen, though
I think the intensity of the US and Canadian games has definitely helped draw eyeballs. On one hand, it's great because those games are so fun, but on the other, I'd love to see a lot more parity between teams at the international level
Hmmm, favorite players are probably Florence Schelling, Michelle Karvinen, and Alex Carpenter
My favorite teams are definitely UND and US Women's National team. I don't have a favorite pro team and generally follow along with both leagues
Yes! At the college and international level.
I'm seconding your love for Schelling and Carpenter! I'm sad that we only get to see Schelling on our screens during international plays, but it's exciting that Carpenter is on the Pride this year! I've never heard of Karvinen so I'll keep an eye out for her name.
Definitely keep an eye out for Karvinen! She can usually be found on Team Finland. In fact she was awarded top forward at Sochi by the directorate! Otherwise, like Schelling, she plays overseas in a Swedish league since her NCAA eligibility is up.
Schelling played one season in Brampton. She was Montreal property but Montreal had Labonté and St Pierre and Jenny Lavigne, so there was not really an opening for her on that roster. So in a generous gesture the Stars lent Schelling to Brampton to bolster their goaltending ranks. The Thunder although doing well with rookie goaltender Liz Knox but needed just something a little extra to get over the hump and propel them toward the Clarkson Cup. Other than the appearance in the Clarkson Cup was a 4-0 shutout of Montreal posted by Schelling in a game in Brampton.
Thanks for the info! I had no idea she played for the CWHL! And the Stars 'lending' her to the Thunder is neat!
Hi all I'm Mallory!
Hey Mallory!
Excellent choices in favourite players and teams.
I hope we continue to see you around here!
It's great to hear you're a Blais and Bolden fan! Blais really doesn't get as much fan-love as she deserves, and Bolden has always struggled to stand-out on a team overrun by USNWT players (whether she was on the Blades or the Pride). Welcome to the community!
I've answered some of these in the How did you get into WoHo thread, but I'll answer them again.
I first got into WoHo watching games during the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. I was bored and started poking around some of the game streams and was absolutely taken in by the skill and the speed, but without the murderous level of checking I was used to seeing in NHL games before I stopped watching them.
I didn't play, but I did have classmates who did, and my high school had a moderately successful team.
I watched the most recent IIHF Women's Worlds tournament at a local McDonalds at 11 at night because it was 24 hour and had all the TVs on TSN.
Honestly, I think the internet has done WONDERS for spreading the Women's Game. The NWHL coming out of nowhere really caused the CWHL to step up in their social media game. More televised games would really help with the average person's awareness though.
I'm torn between Genevieve LaCasse and Natalie Spooner as my favourite players. I adore Hilary Knight as well.
As I've previously mentioned elsewhere I'm a fan of the Boston Blades and the Toronto Furies. I also like the Buffalo Beauts.
I'm CWHL biased, but I watched an entire season of theirs before the NWHL was formed, so...
I haven't been to a Women's Game. There's no pro-teams close by (Toronto/Buffalo are the closest and they're both 4ish hour drives). I plan on getting a season's pass to my city's CIS WoHo team, though. And possibly if I can figure out transportation to the IIHF Women's World's next spring because they're only 40 minutes away (but across an international border and I don't drive)
HELLO @ ANOTHER BLADES FAN OMG HI