On the Edge: Women Making Hockey History

Janet Money, formerly the sports editor of the Woodstock Daily
Sentinel-Review, is a freelance writer and editor in London, Ontario.

At last, a book about women’s hockey that includes not only history
and player profiles, but analysis and evaluation. Before this
well-written and interesting overview of the subject was published,
there was an unspoken agreement among sports writers not to criticize
anything about women’s hockey. Etue and Williams break ranks by
questioning the tactics of appeasement adopted by the Ontario Women’s
Hockey Association and the Canadian Hockey Association, both of which
accepted minimal government funding of the sport. They are particularly
critical of the OWHA’s extended court fight to stop a girl from
playing on a boys’ team.

In addition to providing a critical analysis of the political aspects
of the game, the authors discuss the status of the game across the
country and around the world. Goaltender Manon Rhéaume, who is playing
minor-league men’s professional hockey, is profiled, along with the
Canadian national team.

This is an excellent examination of a women’s game that will make its
Winter Olympics début in 1998.