Too Many Men On The Ice

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Joanna Avery and Julie Stevens combine interests in women's hockey to convey a historical reference guide to modern women's hockey in Canada and the US, while also detailing it from an international and Olympic perspective. The victory of the US women's hockey team in the Nagano Olympics was viewed as spectacular and unexpected, compared to the US men's colossal failure. Yet despite coming just after the book was published, if one views it in terms of the struggle described in the book, it is representative of the upcoming state of women's hockey today. Remember, Canada also played outstanding women's hockey in the Olympics as well.If one was to view the material in the book from a historical perspective, we would see the "Olympic moment" for the US as an eleven year assault from the creation of USA Women's Hockey (based on the breakthroughs accomplished by the Title IX legislation requiring equal opportunity and funding for women's athletic teams in colleges and universities). In Canada, a series of legal decisions in the 1980s allowed for the establishment of Team Canada in 1990.Avery and Stevens profile numerous players and coaches and administrators as well. The Olympics definitely put the focus on women's hockey to the point that there is active discussion as to whether forces in Canada and the US could create a "women's version" of the NHL.The key is that the system created be active and working in both the US and Canada. Junior and midget leagues teach players-both male and female-from age 8. Girls are now permitted to play with boys in developmental hockey until ages 12-13. Funding has improved, tournaments and leagues are created, and newspapers and television have added more coverage.Through the historical perspective the authors provide, however, it is clear this was not always the case. Pre-1960 attitudes among men in the US and Canada implied "women shouldn't play hockey." Even though women did play hockey informally as early as 1880, and some colleges had teams in the 1920s, and high schools earlier still, there was not the general support for organized women's hockey we have seen since 1972. Only by categorizing the legal fights women have gone through to achieve the equal opportunity of 1998 can one see how it was possible to reach this day.Hockey is now international-men's and women's. Women stress they should remain close to the league and Olympic men's concept, and work hard to create even greater opportunity by 2002 and the Salt Lake City Olympics. With the successes at Nagano, we can certainly hope for the best. Avery and Stevens are to be congratulated for a well-written, historical book filled with rosters, charts, tables and index. It is a pleasure to read texts as enthusiastic as this, as well as informative.


Book Description
Through research, interviews, and profiles, this book tells the story of 100 years of women's hockey. Endorsed by the Canadian Hockey Association Too Many Men On The Ice will inspire budding Haley Wickenheysers.


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The early history of ice hockey remains cloudy with many players and systems claiming development rights. Women's involvement in the game-on recreational, university, professional, and coed teams-has received little attention until now. Here the authors provide documentation for women's involvement alongside the men's in the development and popularization of ice hockey. Tournaments from the nineteenth century up to the inclusion of women's ice hockey in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, are covered. Biographies of two current players, one Canadian and one from the United States, detail their careers and motivations. Canadian and U.S. developments are treated separately, with emphasis on cultural differences affecting attitudes and support. A final chapter about gender distinctions in play and career opportunities should prompt discussions. The interior design of the book is unfortunately distracting with the narrative interrupted by oddly placed charts and tables. Overall, this is an intriguing look at women in sport and their struggles to gain recognition and support for their efforts. While today's players still face economic and societal barriers, they owe a great debt to hockey's foremothers. More importantly, readers are given modern heroes and role models in today's female players. Purchase this rough but engaging title where ice hockey and women's history are in demand. For narrower accounts, check out Proud Past, Bright Future: One Hundred Years of Canadian Women's Hockey by Brian McFarlane (Stoddart Publishing, 1995) and On the Edge: Women Making Hockey History by Elizabeth Etue and Megan K. Williams (Second Story Press, 1996). Index. Photos. Charts. Further Reading. VOYA Codes: 3Q 2P J S (Readable without serious defects, For the YA with a special interest in the subject, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9 and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).


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