MOST Profile: Women's Hockey

A dress and skates were the uniform of the day. Long skirts proved most helpful as players would crouch in front of their goaltender with the hems of their skirts spread out to stop the shots taken on net.


Women playing hockey goes back over 100 years when Lady Isobel Stanley, daughter of Canada's Governor General at the time, was one of the first females to play. Lady Isobel enjoyed the game so much - initially playing with her two brothers - she was able to convince her father to donate a trophy for hockey, which became known as the Stanley Cup. Who knew women's hockey would become so popular? Perhaps Lord Stanley would have provided a second trophy called the Lady Stanley Cup.
What was once a predominantly male sport, the past 20 years has seen the number of women playing hockey across Canada grow substantially. In fact, Hockey Canada reported a 400 per cent increase in participation in women's hockey in the past 10 years and identified it as one of the fastest growing sports in the world.
While they may not be Cassie Campbell and Hayley Wickenheiser caliber, two local women lace up and hit the ice each week - usually more than once.
Nancy McCutcheon and Jane Hilliker were busy mothers of young daughters when introduced to hockey through a couple of mom/daughter games. A few of the moms got together, found some ice in Plattsville and began playing an informal game of pick-up. And 10 years later they're still playing.
 "I was very excited because I knew a few of the women who were organizing it were pretty good at playing hockey," recalls Hilliker. "I know a lot of us in our minds think we know how to play  - but to go out on skates! A lot of us had to switch from figure to hockey skates. It was very informal - no expectations, we just went out to have fun," she recalls.
Today McCutcheon and Hilliker play for the Kitchener-Waterloo Women's Recreational Hockey League. There are approximately 14 teams and each year the teams are drafted to have  a balance of strong, medium and weaker players. "It's supposed to be about sportsmanship, recreation and fun. We try to keep that mantra," says McCutcheon.
Some players, like McCutcheon, play year-round - two games per week in the summer and four or five played throughout the winter season. A few even take up skills training at a hockey school run by Eric Calder over the summer. "They set up drills where you have to skate around tires and pylons and carry the puck. They teach you how to shoot and different skating skills - going backwards and forwards, just like they teach the kids," adds McCutcheon. 
Hilliker and McCutcheon both agree that it's more than hockey. "You get a little addicted to it and it's the social (component). It's the friends and connections you make  - the fun you have," McCutcheon says. "I think perhaps, I found a lot of women that are like-minded which is refreshing," says Hilliker who just turned 51. Both are part of a core group of women who also play golf together, which is a regular hangout for Hilliker in the summer as she's also a Marshall at RiverEdge Golf Course in Kitchener.
Although Hockey is growing in popularity both for the young and the over-40 crowd it is still seen as a man's game to some.
"A lot of women continue to shy away from the sport," says Hilliker. Her advice to women who want to give it a try, "just come out", watch a game, borrow some equipment, take a fundamentals class or try playing a noon hour pick-up game on Wednesdays or Fridays. "You have to get over that initial hump of being intimidated," adds Hilliker.      
And what keeps them coming out year after year? "I love the game," says Hilliker. "It's that 50-minutes of playing where you think of nothing but playing the game. It almost cleanses your mind if things are stressful," adds McCutcheon. But both of them are also quick to comment that it's the people, the friendships they've developed that extend far beyond the ice to other social events - Christmas gatherings and birthday parties. 
They joke about how long they'll be able to continue to play. "We say that all the time - when are we going to quit?" says McCutcheon. 'I'm not quitting till you quit' is the quick reply. "If we're all together, we'll just keep playing until we can't. The stick will hold us up. We'll go into the same nursing home and maybe, we'll be able to play wheelchair hockey in the hall," laughs McCutcheon. "We know our years are numbered so we don't complain about it," adds Hilliker.    
And from time to time, they play in tournaments where the only real winner is the charity for which funds are raised. The proceeds for last year's "Hockey for Hope" Tournament were donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Family Violence Relocation Project. Unclaimed clothing and prizes were donated to Reaching Our Outdoor Friends (ROOF), an outreach program for street youth in Kitchener and the toys were given to the Angel Tree Fund. "I find at my age, I'm competitive but I would just as soon go out and play a proper game of hockey ... a good game of hockey and have fun. I don't really care if I win or lose," says Hilliker. And who can argue with that.



By article: Joyce Minten