Roger
01-08-2003, 6:48pm
Hey Marika! Did you see that Canada's best female hockey player just signed to play in a men's league in Finland? Here is the article:
Canadian Woman Set to Make History in Men's League
By Ott Ummelas
January 08, 2003
KIRKKONUMMI, Finland (Reuters) - Canadian Hayley Wickenheiser is set to become the first woman hockey player to take to the open ice in a professional men's league.
On Saturday she will turn out for Finnish second division team Kirkkonummi Lightning, based 30-kms from Helsinki, after impressing head coach Matti Hagman in try-outs last week.
Wickenheiser follows three other women professionals who have played against men, all of whom were goaltenders.
"Everything has gone surprisingly well... Hayley's shooting and skating are above the team's average and as far as her reading of the game (is concerned) she is far above the average of the team," Hagman told a news conference on Wednesday.
"Also the hitting and physical side -- there is no problem with that. The biggest defense player was hitting her at least 10 times against the boards and there was no problem."
The 24-year-old is 1.75 meters (5 ft 9in) tall and weighs 77 kilograms (170 lbs). She will play three games for the Finnish side and then the coaches will decide whether to keep her on for the rest of the season.
Her plans to play in Italy fell through last year when the country's governing body said women ccould not play in the men's league.
Wickenheiser, an Olympic gold medallist at last year's Salt Lake City Winter Games, is confident about facing the men.
"The next thing I have to show is that I can play against men in the real game, and I'm confident that I can do that," she said. "This is just...taking myself higher as a hockey player."
Finland is one of the world's top ice hockey nations and many Finns play in North America's National Hockey League.
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Congratulations to Finland for being so open-minded! Hayley, you go girl!
Roger
Canadian Woman Set to Make History in Men's League
By Ott Ummelas
January 08, 2003
KIRKKONUMMI, Finland (Reuters) - Canadian Hayley Wickenheiser is set to become the first woman hockey player to take to the open ice in a professional men's league.
On Saturday she will turn out for Finnish second division team Kirkkonummi Lightning, based 30-kms from Helsinki, after impressing head coach Matti Hagman in try-outs last week.
Wickenheiser follows three other women professionals who have played against men, all of whom were goaltenders.
"Everything has gone surprisingly well... Hayley's shooting and skating are above the team's average and as far as her reading of the game (is concerned) she is far above the average of the team," Hagman told a news conference on Wednesday.
"Also the hitting and physical side -- there is no problem with that. The biggest defense player was hitting her at least 10 times against the boards and there was no problem."
The 24-year-old is 1.75 meters (5 ft 9in) tall and weighs 77 kilograms (170 lbs). She will play three games for the Finnish side and then the coaches will decide whether to keep her on for the rest of the season.
Her plans to play in Italy fell through last year when the country's governing body said women ccould not play in the men's league.
Wickenheiser, an Olympic gold medallist at last year's Salt Lake City Winter Games, is confident about facing the men.
"The next thing I have to show is that I can play against men in the real game, and I'm confident that I can do that," she said. "This is just...taking myself higher as a hockey player."
Finland is one of the world's top ice hockey nations and many Finns play in North America's National Hockey League.
-----------------------------------------------
Congratulations to Finland for being so open-minded! Hayley, you go girl!
Roger