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Subject: Women-in-Hockey Digest V1 #436
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Women-in-Hockey Digest Wednesday, May 26 1999 Volume 01 : Number 436
In this issue:
Wimmin's Ruggah
Labor Day Weekend tournament in Los Angeles
USA Hockey Development Camps
Re: Wimmin's Ruggah
Bruises (was Re: Wimmin's Ruggah)
Re: USA Hockey Development Camps
Re: Bruises (was Re: Wimmin's Ruggah)
Re: Bruises (was Re: Wimmin's Ruggah)
Re: Bruises (was Re: Wimmin's Ruggah)
Women in "rough" sports
Re: US Olympic Development camp
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Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 22:26:27 -0700
From: "Phil & Debbie Cottrell"
Subject: Wimmin's Ruggah
OK, people, the gauntlet has been thrown down by those women who think their
hockey sisters have it too easy, with no bodychecking and all. This is from
the Globe and Mail, "Canada's National Paper":
Booming sport puts women in bone-cracking rugby scrums
But unlike men, they have to
cover up bruises for corporate world
Patricia Young
The Globe and Mail
Tuesday, May 25, 1999
Toronto -- These women are big, they are hard and they are tough. And they
don't care if you don't like it.
But letting the boss find out is something else again.
This group of mostly white-collar, twentysomething women are ground zero of
a sports explosion that has hit Canada. They are rugby players. And that
saddles them with a problem in their business lives that their equally tough
male counterparts don't have to face.
There are lines for women in the corporate world so finely drawn that it is
almost impossible to know when you have stepped over them, Roseline Koszegi
explains. That's why she had her hands carefully manicured before a recent
job interview with a multinational firm.
"It may be all right for a man to show up at work bruised after a weekend
game, but not for women. We haven't come that far."
It's a story women who play the bone-cracking game of rugby can all recite:
makeup to cover the black eyes, false nails for the gnarled hands and dark
stockings to hide the bruising. For male players, these are badges of honour
at work, not shame.
"Society is prepared to accept the female athlete as long as she fits a
cultural idea," said Denna Naus, 1998 Rookie of the Year for the Toronto
Scottish Rugby Football Club of the Ontario Rugby Union. "But they are only
accepted as long as they remain inside those confines. Women are still
objectified. She can be an athlete, but knock her front teeth out and she
loses her feminine status.
"We are told that we can do anything, but that only means as long as we stay
within certain [cultural] confines. As rugby players we are breaking down
those perceptions and confines," Ms. Naus said.
Five years ago, only a handful of Canadian women played rugby. Even for men
it was regarded by some as a thuggish, fringe game played by beer-swilling
former prep-school boys. Today, an estimated 46,000 women across Canada play
rugby, making it the fastest-growing female sport in the country.
Ruth Squires, program co-ordinator for the Ontario Rugby Union, said there
are 300 to 400 teams playing in Ontario alone.
"In 1993 we had 10 high-school teams registered," Ms. Squires said. "There
is a lot of speculation why the game has grown so fast, but I think it is
simply because it is a great sport. The youngest player in Ontario is a
seven-year-old girl who is involved in our minirugby program."
But what is the attraction? What is it about rugby that is making young
female athletes abandon their figure skates, soccer boots and lycra aerobic
outfits and head for the rugby pitch?
Almost all the players will say it is the camaraderie and the hitting.
"Women's rugby has come into its own. I believe a huge part of the appeal is
that it is the only contact sport for women, the only one where women
compete by the same rules as men. Women's hockey has eliminated contact,"
said Allan Hawes, head women's coach for Toronto Scottish. "In rugby there
is no gender bias.
"But it's a tough sell. Look, it is hard enough being a male [rugby player]
trying to explain your scrapes and bruises to your CEO. But when you are a
woman -- a professional like most of these women are -- and you walk into
your office with a black eye . . . you begin to understand why some of these
women keep quiet about what they are doing."
In some rugby circles, the women's game is still regarded with the same kind
of patronizing acceptance some women hold for men who attend aerobics
classes.
"We are slowly clearing out the old boys, and women are being welcomed into
the clubs," national team coach Rick Suggitt said from Regina. "The level of
athlete that is now coming into the sport is impressive. They already have
the ball skills; it is just a matter of teaching the contact and the
hitting."
It always comes back to the hitting. And in a strange role reversal, it is
female players who proudly say they live by what rugby die-hards call "the
old code" -- you don't leave the field unless you're bleeding or dead.
Traditionally, rugby is played without any protective gear, even though head
and neck injuries are not unknown. Each year, more male players at the
professional and club levels are wearing padded "scrum caps" for protection,
but the notion seems lost on the Toronto Scottish team members who recently
gathered at a Toronto pub after practice.
"Scrum caps?" bellowed 29-year-old Shelley Knox in mock horror. "We'd rather
take the hit. We would be viewed as wimps with those." Another player leaned
across and said, "Listen, there is more testosterone at this table than
there is in the whole [Toronto Maple] Leafs dressing room."
Mr. Hawes has been coaching women for four years. His Toronto Scottish team
swept the 1998 Ontario championship and is 2-0 at the start of this season.
Sitting with Ms. Koszegi, his wife and a team member, he said that he gets
more satisfaction from coaching women.
He watched as his team slowly left the crowded pub and admitted that the old
clichŽs still dog the women. "I have heard it all and I am sick of it. They
look at the player and say that they are lesbians or butch, and all those
prejudices come back out. It is crap. These are outstanding athletes. I have
listened to those stereotypes and I have never understood them."
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 23:08:13 -0700
From: Ingrid Moon
Subject: Labor Day Weekend tournament in Los Angeles
LA Chill Women's Hockey Association presents:
1999 Los Angeles "Chill Out"
Women's Ice Hockey Tournament
Labor Day Weekend
September 3-6, 1999
Los Angeles/North Hills, California
Come enjoy beautiful Southern California at the end of summer--near
Westwood, Santa Monica, Malibu, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Universal
Studios, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (water park),
about 45 minutes from Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm, and so much more.
After touring the sights, cool down at Iceoplex, one of the best facilities
in Southern California and training center of the Los Angeles Kings.
Friday night Kick-off party featuring a band and catered refreshments
3 levels/divisions (ballpark):
- (A) lower advanced, upper intermediate
- (B) intermediate, upper novice
- (C) novice, recreational
3 games guaranteed plus semi-finals and finals
18 minute run-time periods until the last 10 minutes (may change to 20
min)
USA Hockey rules for senior women's hockey
Games: Saturday morning, Saturday evening, Sunday morning
Semi-finals, if necessary: Sunday evening
Finals: Monday morning
Individual trophies to division champions
Individual t-shirts (women's style or unisex)
Refreshments after every game
Souvenier programs
Much more to be announced........
Team registration fee is $1050, which is $75 per person for a team of 14.
A deposit of $300 per team is due July 15.
Final rosters and payments are due by August 5.
All cancellations must be made before August 1; refunds will be minus a $25
processing fee.
Stay at one of two hotels near the rink, or at hotels near attractions.
Fly into Burbank (BUR) or Los Angeles (LAX) airports.
For more information or to have a brochure sent to you, call Ingrid at
(818) 760-6544, or email email@hidden.
More details will be posted at our web site as we finalize them, including
official hotels, best travel destinations, and game schedules.
http://www.lachill.org/tourney.html
http://www.ingridmoon.com
email@hidden
(818) 760-6544
ICQ# 14366239
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 08:14:12 -0500
From: "Olson, Lynn"
Subject: USA Hockey Development Camps
Since 1990 USA Hockey has provided a nationwide development camp for females
in the United States. It began with 64 players and was held in St. Cloud,
Minnesota, the first three years, then it moved to Lake Placid, New York, to
take advantage of the Olympic Training Center for housing potential Olympic
athletes. It has expanded to two camps, one for 15 and 16 year olds and one
for 17 and 18 year olds with 80 players at each of those camps for a total
of 160 players. To get information on a tryout in one of USA Hockey's 11
Districts, contact your local USA Hockey Girls/Women's Committee
Representative. Depending on where you live, open tryouts are generally
held to select the individuals who will advance either to a District wide
tryout (if your USA Hockey District is comprised of more than one state) or
directly to the USA Hockey Development Camp in Lake Placid. Tryouts have
been completed for this summer's camps. If you would like the name of your
representative to contact for information, you may contact me privately at
email@hidden and I will send you their name, address, telephone
and e-mail address if they have one. In addition to these camps, USA Hockey
holds a festival/camp in August for potential National Team candidates.
Players who comprise this camp are individuals selected from the two
development camps, as well as past and present National Team members,
Olympic players, collegiate players and any individual that the scouting
staff and Ben Smith have seen during the year that they want to view as a
potential National team or Olympic caliber player. If you get a chance to
view the practices and games at Lake Placid, the dates of the camps are June
19-26 and June 27-July 4. Games are generally held in the evening the later
part of the week of the camp.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 09:28:37 EDT
From: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Wimmin's Ruggah
This rugby sounds cool, but I really have no desire to deliberately go out
there and get beaten up. In the past, I have participated in some sports
that could be considered rough - lacrosse - the REAL Nat'l sport of Canada -
(which actually is more brutal than men's lacrosse, because the women's game
does not allow you to wear any protective gear), and karate. I would get
bruises in the strangest places. And yes, I gave them up because I was too
old to walk around with all these black & blues.
In fact, I was even hesitant to start playing Ice Hockey, because I pictured
the women hockey players to be like those described in the Rugby article.
(Huge, black eyes, and no teeth.) It wasn't until I learned that women's
ice hockey is played no checking that I decided to play.
In addition, I am thankful for all the protective gear that we are required
to wear - including but not limited to the helmet, face mask, and mouth
guard. In the less than 2 years that I have been playing, this gear has
SAVED ME from WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN AT LEAST:
- -3 concussions (1 head-to-head crash with another player, 1 forward landing
head first on the ice, and one over backwards fall on my butt then knocking
the back of my skull on the ice),
- -numerous missing teeth from sticks, hands, and pucks in the face (after
suffering with braces throughout HS and then paying a stinkload of money to
have my teeth bonded, this is a primary concern of mine),
- -numerous black eyes and broken noses from sticks, hands, and pucks in the
face, faces in the glass, etc. (Anyone get a good look at Theo Fleury or
Brendan Shannahan lately?)
- -2 broken elbows
and the list goes on·..
I'm sure that rugby requires a great amount of skill, but it also requires an
equal amount of loose screws in the ol' melon. (IMHO.) Ice hockey, even
without body checking, and with the protective gear is a great sport. By no
means, do we have it easy. Put one of those rugby players in a pair of ice
skates, and see how they slip & slide, and fall flat on their face. Not only
do we have to learn a game that moves at a lighting fast pace, but we have to
learn how to ice skate as well. It's been 2 years for me, and I am still
working on the skating. I would hope that anybody attempting to play rugby
already knows how to run.
Anybody remember the old Nike commercials with Bo Jackson? Bo knows
football. Bo Knows baseball. Bo knows etc, etc. · Bo knows·. then they show
Gretzky just shaking his head "No." Case in point. You can be a GREAT
athlete, but still not be able to play hockey!
As for the bruises incurred playing hockey, I have had quite a few. Unlike
the rugby players, I do not make any efforts to hide my bruises at the
office. I once had a puck mark on my lower thigh. It was from stepping in
front of a slapshot that would have most certainly been a goal. It was a
pretty cool diversion during the weekly project status meeting. ;-)
Jill
# 77 LI Hurricanes
"Only you can prevent hockey stick fires."
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 09:48:48 -0400
From: Val Schmitt
Subject: Bruises (was Re: Wimmin's Ruggah)
Hey Jill,
Your post reminded me of a great story told by our goalie a few
years ago. She was at her yearly physical and at the end of all
the tests and inspections the doctor sat down and said "Everything
looks fine, but I noticed that you have a number of bad bruises...
can we talk about your personal relationships and whether there
are any problems I can help with?" She burst out laughing and
explained that she's an ice hockey goalie. Never did hear what the
doctor's reaction was though...
Smiles -Val
email@hidden wrote:
>
> This rugby sounds cool, but I really have no desire to deliberately go out
> there and get beaten up. In the past, I have participated in some sports
> that could be considered rough - lacrosse - the REAL Nat'l sport of Canada -
> (which actually is more brutal than men's lacrosse, because the women's game
> does not allow you to wear any protective gear), and karate. I would get
> bruises in the strangest places. And yes, I gave them up because I was too
> old to walk around with all these black & blues.
>
>[...]
>
> As for the bruises incurred playing hockey, I have had quite a few. Unlike
> the rugby players, I do not make any efforts to hide my bruises at the
> office. I once had a puck mark on my lower thigh. It was from stepping in
> front of a slapshot that would have most certainly been a goal. It was a
> pretty cool diversion during the weekly project status meeting. ;-)
>
> Jill
- --
Val Schmitt ** email@hidden Life is change.
http://people.ne.mediaone.net/vschmitt Growth is optional.
work: email@hidden Choose wisely.
Nighthawks Ice Hockey C Team Co-Captain #22 --Karen Kaiser Clark
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 09:51:43 -0400
From: "Ron Goldey"
Subject: Re: USA Hockey Development Camps
Different districts have different tryouts. Our Mid-Am district has a
one-aftenoon session, while other large-geographic-area districts may offer
a "mini-camp" environment, where players are evaluated over a multi-day
period. Districts with a large number of players may use a two-step
invitation process. The tryouts have a nominal fee to cover ice and jerseys.
If you make it to Lake Placid, USA Hockey provides room and board. If you
don't count the vending machines, Olympic pro shop, and great shops in town,
your only cost is transportation to/from L. P. If you're anywhere near L.P.
during the camps, I urge you to check them out. The caliber of play is truly
amazing. Great coaches, great atmosphere, great exposure.
Tryouts are usually in March and April. If you're a USA Hockey member you
should be receiving information about Development Camp automatically. If
not, you should contact your district representative. You will need to
become a USA Hockey member before you can try out (you can actually register
the day of the tryout in our district, I don't know about the others). A
List of your USA Hockey representatives may be found at
http://www.usahockey.com/players/girls/brochure.htm#start
Ron Goldey
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 14:06:56 GMT
From: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Bruises (was Re: Wimmin's Ruggah)
- ----- Your post reminded me of a great story told by our goalie a few
- ----- years ago. She was at her yearly physical and at the end of all
- ----- the tests and inspections the doctor sat down and said "Everything
- ----- looks fine, but I noticed that you have a number of bad bruises...
- ----- can we talk about your personal relationships and whether there
- ----- are any problems I can help with?" She burst out laughing and
- ----- explained that she's an ice hockey goalie. Never did hear what the
- ----- doctor's reaction was though...
I have heard of similar stories one of which comes to mind (not hockey
related) but does involve the perception of women in sports.
Two small boat sailors were returning from a regatta and stopped at a fast
food establishment. The women was approached by another women in the rest
room where the second women tried to give the first women the name and
number of a women's crises center. Here again the bruises were legitimate,
sports related, battle scars.
This story should NOT be taken as making light of the concern over domestic
violence. Furthermore, as much as I think it is good to strive to
acceptance of battle scars on women, I would hate to have the loss of
concern over potentially bad domestic situtions be a consequence.
Wendy
The FLASH - #21
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 10:23:01 EDT
From: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Bruises (was Re: Wimmin's Ruggah)
Having been a goalie as well as a defensive player. I can relate to the
comment about the doctor. But I always told them up front what I do.
Yes, I have heard all the negative comments about women in sports (I also
cross-country skied, played volleyball,basketball and soft ball as well as
ran track and cross country.
When I met my husband (playing pool by the way) and he indicated he was
interested in seeing me the first question I asked was did he have a problem
with a woman who played hockey.....In the men's league. He didn't. (Though I
did have to convince him I was able to defend myself in a goal mouth pileup)
terri
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 10:42:46 -0400
From: Amy Antonucci
Subject: Re: Bruises (was Re: Wimmin's Ruggah)
It's frustrating when men have a problem with women who play/do sports. My
main problem is that I'm a black belt, and when I meet a man and this gets
mentioned, more often than not they'll say something about me being able to
beat them up. The only reason I'd do that is if they'd attack me, so I
would think this would be a good quality in a partner! I even had a guy
want to spar me..he had no experience in martial arts.. *sigh*
Amy
>At 10:23 AM 5/26/99 -0400, you wrote:
>>When I met my husband (playing pool by the way) and he indicated he was
>>interested in seeing me the first question I asked was did he have a
problem
>>with a woman who played hockey.....In the men's league. He didn't.
(Though I
>>did have to convince him I was able to defend myself in a goal mouth pileup)
>>terri
- --
"Welcome to my world" -- Bruce Wayne to Terry McGinnis, the newest Batman
(_Batman Beyond_)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 10:52:12 -0400
From: "Angela Koos (NTT)"
Subject: Women in "rough" sports
***It's frustrating when men have a problem with women who play/do sports.
I've never really met anyone who actually had a problem with it, they're
usually pretty fascinated by it, although there are the guy thoughts of "Oh,
I'm SO sorry, are you okay?" after a light check on the ice.
I'm a goalie and some of the shots guys take are pretty hard, but if I
couldn't do it I wouldn't be in net. I've had guys apologize for taking
hard shots at me... If I go to a drop-in that I've never been to before
they assume I'm a boy and say "Good job little man!" after taking a hard
shot at me, but after they realize I'm female they get a really surprised
look on their faces!! =) Ha!
My point is that women who play sports are in it for the fun and
competitiveness...we don't expect to be coddled, just supported!
Angela
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 09:14:51 -0600
From: "Erickson, Pamela J (Pam)** CTR **"
Subject: Re: US Olympic Development camp
<