Women on Ice: The Early Years of Women's Hockey in Western Canada

Women on Ice is the first book to focus upon the vibrant world of women's ice hockey in western Canada during the First World War and through the 1920s. The Vancouver Amazons were one of the most important teams during this perod. Their championship laurels and their association with hockey's famous Patrick brothers distinguish the Amazons from other women's hockey teams of the era. They were one of several teams that met during the annual Banff winter carnivals to compete for what was sometimes officially (and sometimes unofficially) regarded as the women's ice hockey championship of western Canada. With the support of more than three dozen photographs, many of which are published here for the first time, Women on Ice follows the fortunes of the Vancouver women as they encountered teams that deserve to be legendary, but are now largely forgotten. Also profiled are teams from what was the geographic heart of women's hockey in British Columbia until the First World War (the Kootenays) as well as some of the dominant teams of the post-war years from Alberta. As is the case with so much in Canadian history, the western hockey story differs radically from the experience of Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The curious decline of women’s hockey in the 1930s consigned to obscurity the history of these and of all women's teams in western Canada. Amazons on Ice attempts to rescue some of that fascinating history and will appeal to anyone interested in the past, present or future of women's ice hockey.