General History of Women's
Ice Hockey
1889-
According to official
encyclopaedia of the
NHL the first game was played in Ottawa, where the Government House team defeated the Rideau ladies team.
1892-
According to the Canadian Hockey Association the first documented game was held in Barrie, Ontario, two years before the first
Stanley Cup championship.
1894-
At Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, a female club team - the Love-Me-Littles - is formed in defiance of the school
Archbishop.
1896-
Women's teams are formed at
McGill University and in the Ottawa Valley.
1913-
Competitions are held in the
maritimes involving the Red and Blues from Halifax and the Kananites, another Nova Scotia team.
1916-
An international women's tournament is held in
Cleveland, Ohio, featuring
Canadian and
American teams.
1930s-
The
Preston Rivulettes, one of the greatest dynasties in Canadian sport, reign over female hockey. Between 1930 and 1939, the Rivulettes claim 10 Ontario, 10 Eastern Canadian and 6 Dominion titles.
1970s-
Teams blossom across Canada. In Montreal, the Couguars and the Titans are formed and in Edmonton, the Chimos are established. Teams are also forming in
Sweden,
Finland,
Japan,
China,
Korea,
Norway,
Germany and
Switzerland. U.S. colleges
varsity and club teams sprout in the Midwest and the Northeast.
1983-
A
Finnish national Women´s league is started.
1987-
The first World Invitational Tournament is held in Mississauga, Ontario.
1990-
The first
IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation)-sanctioned Women's World Championship is held in Ottawa. Eight countries took part.
1991-
Women's hockey is included for the first time at the Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island. Alberta wins gold, British Columbia wins silver and Québec wins bronze.
1992-
Discussions are held on including Women's Hockey at the
Olympics, possibly as early as 1994 in Lillehammer, Norway. In July, the
IOC votes to add women's ice hockey to the calendar of the Winter Olympic Games events as a full medal sport starting in 2002. In November, the IIHF officially adds women's hockey to the Winter Olympic program for the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan!
1998-
Women's makes its first appearance in the Winter Olympic Games, in Nagano, Japan!
2002-
Canada beat the US 3-2 in the 2002
Olympics.
Used by permission of OUWIHC