Will a woman ever play in the NHL (and not just during an exhibition game like Manon Rheaume)?

Question

Who could break the barrier?

Answer 1

I do like women's hockey, but I think the only position a woman would be allowed to play is goaltender. Many of the men may be afraid to check the women playing any other position.

Jenni is right. The women do have their own league, the NWHL, but it only has 13 teams and is pretty unknown. If they could at least create a partnership with the NHL, then its popularity should increase dramatically.

Answer 2

what are you asking? for us to predict? or if it's possible?

sounds like a leading question based upon the sub-question you asked.

possible? theoretically.
probable? no.

the only way it would EVER happen is if it was as a goalie.

why is this question so important? i have no problems w/ it in theory. i just recognize the anatomical/physiological differences in the two genders. sure, there are exceptions, but you'll have to convince the NHLPA to let it fly. and you'll have at least 1 person in there who could be labeled as a "traditional, old-fashioned, chauvinist".

bottom line, it'll never happen outside of the goalie crease.

why does it matter? what would it prove?

if you're asking if there is a woman out there who is really tough and good at hockey ... probability says that there is. it's a WHOLE different thing to integrate her into the NHL.

how about this? will a man ever undergo a sex change only to then try to enter the NHL as a woman? see? what's the point? i ain't losing sleep over it.

why doesn't anyone post if a player from India will ever play? even though they may be breaking thru a "barrier"? cuz it doesn't matter. we over-emphasize these gender issues. i'll leave that for the political freaks.

Answer 3

Has this ever happened? >>> No it has never happened WILL it ever happen? >>>> Never say never. There was a time when it was thought that European players weren't good enough to play in the NHL. Today we think differently. Some day a female Patricia Roy will emerge and play in the NHL. Has anything close to it happened - such as a female playing in an exhibition game? >>>> As has been stated here. Manon Rheaume played in exhibition games for the Tampa Bay Lightning. She reached her career high playing parts of two seasons in the East Coast Hockey League.There may come a time when another woman exceeds that and plays in the NHL.

Answer 4

I don't think it happens anytime soon, if it ever does...so not going to suggest any names.

I was at the pro women's championship game in Brampton two years ago, and it was like watching a very poorly played junior hockey game.

This being said, a woman could play in goal as that is more about reflexes than it is size and speed. Size doesn't hurt, mind you...

I know its not politically correct to suggest men or women are better, but for pure athletic strength and speed there will not be a woman who could keep up as a skater. Always bothers me how we are supposed to equate the genders by mixing together in things like this. The genders are equal, absolutely...but the genders are also different, each with their own strengths...and it is more important this is taken into account before someone gets killed for the sake of equality (I suppose those who remember Martin Luther King could say this already has happened, though not from any game).

Answer 5

I suppose it could be possible for a woman to play goaltender, but I doubt even that will happen. I doubt the NHLPA would permit it and I believe the players would lead the way in stopping it.

Rheaume was more of a publicity stunt. Using her as an example, what would have happened if she were playing and a line brawl erupted. How does this sound as one of the greatest goalie fights of all time? Rheaume/Vernon or Rheaume/Osgood. For that reason alone, I don't think it will ever happen.

EDIT: Thinking about this more, if the goalie fight had been Rheaume/Biron, I might have to put my money on Manon!

Answer 6

No way in hell would it ever be a position player. Its not a knock on women, but the league is way to physical and it would definitely not work out. I highly doubt a female goalie ever gets in either. Phil Esposito admitted in his book that just playing Rheaume in a EXHIBITION game was for publicity because Tampa Bay was a new franchise. It will never happen.

Answer 7

I don't think the NHL would be as good as it is now, if women were to play in it. I don't have anything "against" it, and I wouldn't mind if it were to happen. But I think it would be best if kept this way, where the men have the NHL and the women have the NWHL.

Answer 8

Only goalie if it does happen because it isn't physical. Women cannot be a skater though, they aren't fast enough and they can't be as physical as the men. I'm not being sexist, an all star womens team would beat an average mens team (like say the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in BCJHL) but an all star mens team will beat an all star womens team.

Answer 9

it will have to be a goaltender, if ever, and i have no idea who it would be...

this isn't a sexist comment by ANY means, its just the facts...women can be VERY talented, VERY capable hockey players, but they just can't compete with the men on a sheer physical level. the US Women's Olympic team played a warm up game here in CT against a local High School...granted, it was Choate, and a VERY good prep school...a lot of those boys players go on to play D-1 Hockey...but the boys team beat the US OLYMPIANS, 6-0. it wasn't even close...and we all know that its a HUGE leap from HS to college, and an even BIGGER leap from college to pros, as far as skill level is concerned...

the games are too different, and the physicality is just too much. it may happen, but only at the Goalie position.

Answer 10

I don't think it will happen, nor do I feel that it is necessary. It would make so much sense to have an equivalent of the WNBA.

More women would have an immediate opportunity to have a career as opposed to the few who might be able to break into the NHL.