When will the NHL let women play? Dont they know how much publicity they would get?

Question

I know they are allowed to play, I was meaning more when would they be openly invited and yes i know about Manon Rhéaume playing goalie.

I'm amazed that none of the current answers think women could handle the physical part of the game, havent any of you ever watched womens hockey? The talent level would make an immediate impact and he only thing to get hurt would be some male pride.

Answer 1

As most have pointed out, there's no expressed rule against women playing in the NHL.

Kelly Dyer and Erin Whitten played for mens' minor-league teams while, of course, Manon Rheaume played for the Lightning. While playing in the NHL is a feat in and of itself, it's important to note Rheaume played a single exhibition game in tenure at Tampa Bay. That may be impressive as it has never been done before, but I would hesitate to claim she made a lasting impact on the gender biases of the game.

It's no coincidence that women who have played on the mens' professional level have been goaltenders. In goal, agility, flexibility, and reflexes are highly valued over sheer size, which allows women to succeed in such a position, even in a mens' league.

The average player size in men's and women's hockey is vastly different -- about 6'1'', 194 lbs versus 5'5'', 139lbs, respectively. Women's hockey has no checking, but allows body contact. As a result, the game -- like women's sports as a whole -- is more focused on the fundamentals than pure strength and speed. It would be very difficult for a woman to overcome the physical limitations of being smaller to go toe-to-toe with a top male NHL player.

Publicity, in this case, is a moot point. The NHL has already screwed with fans enough with the rule changes and the lockout. If they even thought about instituting something like the Rooney Rule the NFL has (which mandates coaches interview at least one minority candidate for open coaching positions) with women players in hockey, they would lose far more fans than they would gain. It may be a nice human interest piece, a fluff story to keep the color guys yapping while the game is being played, but it would hardly help the NHL's cause at all.

Answer 2

I've played in a co-ed league in the past and I do have a few reasons why this won't happen anytime soon, if ever. Hockey, especially in the NHL is a collision sport. Everyone gets hit and everyone is expected to give hits. Having women in a predominately male league would disrupt this aspect of the game. For the most part, a guy isn't going to hit a woman, especially not the way he would hit another guy. Even if the woman was more built physically, a guy isn't going to hit her the way he would another guy. And if you notice in female hockey leagues, penalties are called for physical contact thats just 'part of the game' in the NHL. So while I'm not saying that they don't have the skill or the physique to compete, they would be treated far different on the ice than other players and it would upset the balance of the game.

Side note: The reason I mentioned playing in a co-ed league is because this is exactly what happened with us. We'd take runs at the other guys but the girls wouldn't get touched.

Answer 3

This is a point that has been brought up many times before.

First of all, the NHL doesn't really need the extra publicity...sure, it would give them a little boost for a bit, but you would have to find a female hockey playre who is truly good enough to compete at that level.

And if you look at the differences between female hockey, even at it's highest levels, it is a completely different style of the sport. Just watching a male and female game next to each other, you can pinpoint many different things about the way they play, their passes, their speed, and their body contact.

The NHL does let woman play, but even woman playing male hockey would have a hard time achieving this goal. I'm sure if there was a female hockey player out there who was truly good enough to play in the NHL, she would be there.

Answer 4

Well speaking as a girl and a huge fan of hockey I would have to say that I think allowing women to play in the NHL would ruin it... more than it already has been ruined by stupid rules (such as the instigator...don't get me started on that one). Here are two reasons...

1)People don't like seeing women get beat up. Think about it...In most action movies you see today, most of the people that are killed/beat up violently are men. The most gory/horrific movies are the ones that show women and children being hurt. Seeing has how the NHL is EXTREMELY contact driven with the occassional fights and such (although lately you could beg to differ...again, I won't go there) I don't think most fans would appreciate seeing women get hip-checked into the boards or being swung at by another player. And if you think about that, what guy would honestly feel comfortable fighting a girl let alone check her...it wouldn't be fair to the players. And the fans would just get bored because there would be less contact...hockey like any professional sport is an entertainment business and since hitting is a huge part in hockey, fans would be less entertained.

2)Women are just physically not as strong and there for not as fast...and that doesn't mean necessarily that men are better because they are stronger and faster. It just makes them more entertaining to watch, and thats true for any sport. For example, I go to a small college and we have mens and womens basketball teams. Both are pretty good, but more people come to watch the boys games than the girls and it has nothing to do with people thinking girls aren't as SKILLED as boys...but rather the boys are more entertaining to watch because they are stronger, faster and more aggressive comparitively than the girls. Their games are more entertaining to watch. And thats pretty much true with any sport at any level...guys are just biologically stronger and therefore compete with seemingly more speed and intensity which again makes for a more entertaining game.

Again, its not that i think women do not make good hockey players...i have a few friends (girls) that play hockey and they are pretty darn good but they would also be the first to tell you that they would much rather see a women's professional league be created rather than joining the NHL for the reasons I have given.


ps...GO Bruins

Answer 5

They have, once. A woman named Manon Rhéaume played in two games for Tampa Bay back in 92 and 93, although she only played in exhibitions(pre-season). They definitely did get a lot of publicity. Although I doubt the NHL would let a woman play forward or defense, I've always said I think one day there will be a woman starting goaltender in the NHL. Myself being male, I remember being 12 or 13 and playing hockey around the time when body contact comes into the game and they start separating the leagues by sex. We lost some of our best players.

Answer 6

Correct me if I'm wrong, but checking is illegal in women's leagues.

There were some girls in my high school league. No self-respecting guy will run over a girl like he would another guy. Her teammates and refs will protect her even more would a (male) goalie. If she gets bumped, the team drops the gloves, and the team that did the checking will probably get a penalty. She would probably get almost any call she wanted.

As for publicity, can you imagine what ESPN would say if some chick was on the receiving end of a Stevens-Kariya or Armstrong-Letowski-like hit? Women in the NHL would screw up the game and give the league a horrible reputation.

Answer 7

There are probably not enough women that will play to make a nhl for them. Women can still play good. Didnt you see the olympics. The women came in 2nd or 3rd. I cant remeber. But the mens olympic hockey team make the tope 3. I know from experience about hockey. I play roller blade hockey. I might one of 4 or 5 girls that play out there. The rest are boys. But I play just as good as they do.

Answer 8

Yes, I have watched women's hockey, and they best couldn't compete in the NHL seriously, not yet anyway. Then there is the whole locker room problem. We are too hung up on such things. An NHL female player would be looked upon as not feminine most likely. It may not seem fair, but that's the way it is at least right now.

Answer 9

Be serious dude. It will never happen! Women have their game and men have theirs. A woman in the NHL would get eaten alive. The Rehumme thing with Tampa was a publicity stunt that worked well for them. Thats it , nothing more nothing less. I hate these disussions. Women play womens sports and mens play mens. Other than mixed teams , like mixed doubles tennis ect.

Answer 10

It should be pretty soon, considering how tame the NHL is nowadays.

The NHL is like watching the Ice Capades with a puck and a stick. I am waiting for Peggy Flemming to try out personally.

Thanks Commisioner!