Kim St-Pierre, left, Charline Labonte, centre, and Sarah Vaillancourt, right, of Canada celebrate after their 4-1 victory over Sweden during the final of the women's ice hockey during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. (Robert Laberge/Getty Images) Women's hockey might seem to be a relatively new sport on the international stage but its history stretches back to the late-19th century. In fact, until the Second World War, hockey was considered a sport for both men and women.
A photo from 1889 now in the National Archives shows a group of women playing a game on the lawn of Rideau Hall. In the picture is Isobel Preston, daughter of Lord Stanley himself. A story in the Ottawa Citizen on Feb. 11, 1891 is believed to be the first published account of a women's game.
Around the turn of the century, women were playing on teams across the country, in ankle-length skirts. By the 1920s, women were playing at the University of Toronto, McGill University and Queen's University. During the 1930s a national championship was played between club teams from Eastern and Western Canada.
U.S. draws even with Canada
Two members of the US team dance on the ice after winning the final game against Canada at the 2008 Women's Ice Hockey World Championships in Harbin, northeastern China's Heilongjiang province in April 2008. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)Canada continued to soundly thrash most opponents throughout the 1990s. Even the Americans, who were always Canada's toughest competition, were shellacked 8-0 in the 1992 worlds and 6-3 in the 1994 final. But by 1997, one year before the inaugural Olympic competition, the Americans served notice that they had pulled even with their Canadian rivals.
In that pre-Olympic year the Canadians and Americans appeared closely matched. In 13 pre-Olympic appearances Canada won seven. Canada, the U.S., Finland, Sweden, China and Japan were represented in that historic first Olympic tournament in 1998, but the gold medal again was a battle between Americans and Canadians.
The two teams first met in a round robin game and eventually the finals. Canada led the U.S. 4-1 into the third period, but the American women exploded for six goals in 13 minutes to win 7-4.
The Canadian women's collapse was an omen that the U.S. could no longer be counted on to roll over in big games. As expected, the two teams met in the final. The U.S. carried a 2-0 lead with four minutes left when Danielle Goyette pulled Canada to within one. That was as close as Canada got, as the U.S. added an empty-netter to win the historic first women's hockey gold 3-1.
Canada responds
Canada's, left to right, Gillian Apps and Cherie Piper celebrate Tessa Bonhomme's goal during the USA versus Canada match at the women's 2009 Four Nations Cup in ice hockey in Helsinki, Finland. (Jussi Nukari/AFP/Getty Images)Four years later, some speculated that the Canadian women's team was headed for a similar disappointment at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. However, the women shook off any criticism and put forth a gritty Olympic performance. In a thrilling finale, the Canadian women's team outplayed the Americans to capture the gold medal by a score of 3-2.
The Canadian women returned strong, prepared and determined to defend their Olympic championship in Turin, Italy. The team, led by coach Melody Davidson and captain Cassie Campbell, cruised through the qualifying matches, defeating Italy and Russia 16-0 and 12-0, respectively.
Until the final match, Canada's margin of victory was at least seven goals before cruising to a second consecutive gold medal following a 4-1 win over Sweden in the final.
The Swedes pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history during the semifinal, taking down the mighty U.S. with a 3-2 shootout stunner.
