Women's Olympic hockey: why don't they do body checks?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

While watching women’s Olympic hockey, Mr. brown and I conversed thusly:

Me: Hey, why don’t they do any body checks? Is it against the rules?
Him: Nah, they just don’t have any of these (points between his legs).
Me: Even if women aren’t as aggressive, they should do what it takes to defend their goal.
Him: Nah, you have to like beating the crap out of the other players to do body-checking. Women just don’t have what it takes - they’re just pretending to be guys.

So which is it? Isn’t body-checking allowed in women’s Olympic hockey? Or are we just wimps?

2

Bodychecks are illegal in women’s hockey. In fact, I saw one beautiful bodycheck result in a penalty during the recent Olympic tournament. And I said to myself, “That just ain’t right, having to go to the box for a gorgeous hit like that.” But there it is.

3

Mr. Brown is ignorant of the rules. Bodychecking is illegal. The SDMB has once again fulfilled its purpose.

But if he’s still unconvinced of those player’s courage and drive, ask him to play a contact game with them. When Hayley Wickenheiser bodychecks him, after he’s done twenty to twenty-five minutes of mewling like a little girl in the fetal position, he may have a different opinion :slight_smile: Them is tough, taugh ladies.

4

This doesn’t seem fair. Why is it illegal? If I were tough enough to play hockey, I’d want to WIN, and that means checking and whatever it takes to keep the other side away from my goal. Put some good padding on those players, and let 'em have at it, say I.

5

body checking was allowed in the first women’s hockey world championship. the canadians (and to a lesser extent, the u.sians) were so overwhelmingly dominant - bigger, faster, stronger, that the other countries petitioned the iihf to remove bodychecking from the game, to level the playing field. it had only a marginal effect.

some women’s leagues are full contact, though most are non-checking. all international women’s hockey is non-checking, and will continue to be until there is much greater parity in the sport. could be quite some time.