While the men’s game has evolved over the years to become more of a “gladiator sport” where fights are commonplace and injuries are accepted as part of the game, the women’s game has largely stayed the same. Women’s hockey has always been a more gentle sport, with checking leading to minimal contact and injuries being seen as something to be avoided.
With the recent introduction of the Women’s Game Planner, it’s time for women’s hockey to evolve, too. Gone are the days where simply skating and shooting is sufficient. Now, with new positions like the pivot and the playmaker emerging, as well as new rules like off-side being implemented, women’s hockey is changing and evolving to fit the needs of these new positions and increase the player’s physicality.
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Should Women’s Hockey Be Played Without Checks?
One of the staples of the women’s game has been the lack of body contact. While men have always been encouraged to hit their opponents, the women’s game has largely stayed clear of violence. Even the late Ann Meyers, considered by some to be the mother of women’s hockey, said, “we don’t need to put hockey on the same track as football or anything else. It’s a small game, and it should remain a small game.”
Injury prevention was a big reason for this, as Meyers understood that stopping a woman from playing because she got a couple of stitches was not something men intended to do. In other words, when it comes to playing hockey, for both genders, safety comes first.
One of the biggest innovations to emerge in recent years is the Women’s NHL Elite 11 game. Played without body checking, the Women’s NHL Elite 11 aims to eliminate injuries and create more offense by integrating fighting into the gameplay. And, so far, it seems to be working. Since the game’s inception, there have been zero reported injuries in the competition.
Is More Puck Sticking Necessary?
When the game was first created, stick handling was critical, as getting the puck up the ice was considered to be the best way to score. Teams would often practice their stick handling with their fingers inside the puck’s “cage,” which, for the most part, was made of wood. But, over the years, plastic finger guards have been introduced, and since 2014, tape has also been outlawed for this practice.
While plastic finger guards and tape were intended to make handling the puck easier for beginners, the practice has still persisted among professionals. Just last season, Boston Bruins forward Hampshire Chamberlain demonstrated how important it can be to keep those hands in shape by scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues with a blistering slap shot that traveled at least 121 feet in the air. The puck itself left the Blues’ zone and traveled nearly 1,000 feet before landing in the Bruins’ zone. It was an incredible display of athleticism and power, as well as a testament to the importance of staying in shape.
Is Checking Still Necessary?
When it comes to gameplay, the answer is yes and no. While some would argue that checking is necessary in order to create a more realistic feeling game, others believe that it slows down the game and takes the fun out of it. And, in fact, there’s evidence to support both sides.
For instance, in the Women’s NHL Elite 11 game, there is no checking whatsoever. The puck never touches the ice surface during gameplay, and that’s allowed for both offense and defense. It’s a fast-paced game that encourages skilled playmakers to produce a great deal of offense and excitement. And yet, there is still a clear strategy and set of rules that makes for a more traditional hockey experience.
Will More Offense Increase the Overall Attractiveness of the Game?
Another factor at play is the increasing interest in women’s hockey across social media platforms. Thanks to the @NHL and #NHLWomen hashtag on Twitter, fans have a chance to get in on the action and show their support for the league’s newest addition. It’s no secret that women’s hockey is marginalized and has a fairly small following compared to the men’s league. But social media has opened up a whole new world of possibilities, and with the Women’s NHL Elite 11 game, the league has a chance to further demonstrate its interest in attracting more women and increasing its overall fan base.
Will Newer Positions Revolutionize Women’s Hockey?
The positions that have traditionally been considered “manly” and “manly sports” are being revolutionized in the women’s game, too. As mentioned, the popularity of the pivot position has soared, as it allows for more players to join the action. The pivot is generally positioned between the defense and offense, handling the puck and distributing it to teammates as needed. And it’s not just the puck either; the playmaker position is also breaking new ground, as it gives the players a chance to direct play from the backline, too.
The positions that haven’t traditionally been seen as “female” or “feminine” are also being given a chance to shine. Take, for example, Maddie Ziegler, a two-time gold medallist and captain of the United States women’s national ice hockey team. A graduate of Boston University, Ziegler is one of the most prolific scorers in NCAA history and an integral part of the gold-medal-winning Pivot Line with Kellie Marquise and Caitlin Sprecher. Since 2015, Ziegler has recorded 22 goals and 40 assists in just 26 games played, good for a 1.88 points per game average that would be the best in NHL history for a player that is not currently in the league.
The Evolution of Women’s Hockey Is Upon Us.
With new positions and a willingness to evolve the game, women’s hockey has a chance to evolve, too. It’s clear that more bodies are needed on the ice, especially women’s bodies, so that gameplay can increase and decrease in real-time. It’s also clear that the addition of more bodies will only serve to increase the overall entertainment value of the game. It will take some time before we begin to see the kind of change that Ann Meyers desired so long ago, but, eventually, women’s hockey will become as popular, if not more so, than men’s.