Ice hockey#Women.27s ice hockey
Even though Ice Hockey is so far dominated by the men's teams also wins the women's hockey since the 1980s important. In Germany and Switzerland, this is the official name, while in Austria officially the term "Ladies Hockey " is used. The base of the ice hockey is also among women in North America, so in Canada and the U.S., whose hockey teams to date, the international tournaments of women dominate.
History of women's hockey
In Europe, first an independent leagues operating for women developed in the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark.
In the 1980s, followed by the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Czechoslovakia and later the People's Republic of China and Japan. In Switzerland, there are also since the 1980s a regulated championship level, since 1994 this is divided into three leagues.
International Tournaments Women
At the World Championships and Olympic tournaments until today dominate the North Americans in Canada and the United States. The players from Canada have so far 10 world championships and Olympic tournaments of Salt Lake City 2002, Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010 win. The team from the USA, at the first World Championships eight finished second, managed, however, to defeat in the first Olympic women's tournament in Nagano in 1998 the Canadians in the final 3-1 and bring in 2005 and 2008-2011 World Championship gold.
Of the European team managed Finland to occupy the third place in ten of 14 world championships. As in some other team sports make it also in ice hockey women from the People's Republic of China in hockey to play a greater role than the men. Thus, the Chinese women are currently (2012 ) ranked 13 of the IIHF World Ranking, while the men just ranked number 38.
An important woman ice hockey tournament for national teams in Germany is the MLP Nations Cup, formerly Air Canada Cup.
For European club teams existed since the 2004 /05 season the IIHF European Women Champions Cup, the European Cup champion, whose record winner with four successes is currently AIK Stockholm.
A regular operation for junior teams in women's hockey, there are only a few countries. Again, the North American countries occupy a special role. So there are in Canada and the United States regular junior leagues, while about in Sweden held tournaments of regional teams in the first place. 2007 organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation an invitational tournament especially for European Under-18 women's teams, which applied for the introduction of the U18 World Cup 2008 qualifying tournament. Here, as expected, dominated the North Americans: first world champions were the U.S., followed by Canada, while the third place was taken by surprise the Czech Republic.
In Germany may be inserted deeper in the same age group or age group players according to the rules implementing the 2006/07 season in the boys game mode.
Stars of women's hockey
The first professional hockey player Manon Rheaume was the first woman to stand in an NHL team in 1992. In this case, however, the goalkeeper came in only one preseason game of the Tampa Bay Lightning used.
The first woman in the German professional ice hockey was Maren Valenti, as the striker was active in 1998 as the first woman in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) at the Berlin polar bear on the ice. Then followed a contract with the Wolves Freiburg in the Bundesliga 2, also men. Maren Valenti was also the youngest player ever to be nominated than 13 years at the first Women A World Cup 1990 ( Ottawa / CAN).
In addition, Hayley Wickenheiser has experienced worldwide fame. Viona Harrer is the first German goalkeeper who in fact penetrated the Tolz lions in a male professional club.
Regulate
In general, the rules for women ice hockey are the same as for the men's ice hockey. However, a face shield is among women, as well as in the male youth teams, prescribed. Furthermore, internationally banned body checks.