I think I might be getting old.  Back when I played midget and junior female hockey in the late 90’s, I can honestly say I maybe saw three or four punches thrown in an entire season.  Even when I was playing in the elite women’s leagues, I only saw three fights over the course of 6 years.

So I’m not really sure how to explain why over the past two weekends, in the 20+ bantam, midget and junior games I’ve watched, I have seen at least 7 “fights”.  And while no gloves or helmets came off, punches were definitely thrown.

My question is:  WHY?

Is girls’ hockey more aggressive than it was 10 years ago?  Not a chance.  Are the players faster and stronger than they were a decade ago?  Maybe slightly.  But the best players from the late 90’s would still be great players today.

I would actually argue that the rule changes in girls’ hockey that happened a few years ago, when we adopted the NHL rules of no interference have actually created a breeding ground for violence in the female game.

Let me explain what I mean.

Back when I was playing midget, junior and women’s college hockey, obstruction and interference were still allowed in the women’s game.
There was a lot more contact on a regular basis out on the ice and we, as players, came to expect the fact that things were going to
get physical in the corners, on the boards and in front of the net.

But now that the rules have changed, girls aren’t expecting as much contact out on the ice.  And when someone pushes them or gets in their way, they take exception to it.  And unfortunately, that sometimes boils over into punches being thrown.

Let me be very clear about this.

If my players ever throw a punch, I bench them.  Period.  Sometimes I even kick them out of the game myself.

I don’t care if they were punched first and I don’t care if they are defending a teammate.  There is NEVER a good reason to throw a punch out on the ice.  I want my players to defend their teammates.  But there is a big difference between pushing a player out of the way and clocking them in the side of the head.   There is a big difference between being aggressive and being stupid.

Just a little something I had to get off my chest.

Work Hard, Dream BIG and Be Smart.

~ Coach Kim

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS

Director, Total Female Hockey
Girls Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes