> I agree whole heartedly that hockey has got alot of obstacles to overcome
> in the west
> I also saw the "Battle of the Sexes" report on CNN and have to say if
> UCLA cannot keep their mens gymnastics program floating, forget about
> hockey.
>
> Interesting idea to introduce womens hockey at the same time as mens.  It
> may sound ridiculous but I think in the east it is gaining popularity,
> albiet slow.
 
I can add that in Minnesota, where you can certainly say men's hockey is firmly
entrenched, gender equity has led to an upsurge in interest in women's hockey.
About 3 years ago some (7 or so, I think) high schools offered ice ringette as a
"comparable" sport for girls, but a few started offering girls' hockey last year
and it now has sanction of the State High School league, quite probably becuase
of its addition to the Olympics and the fact that it is played in the East.
South St. Paul recently announced plans to offer girls' hockey next year in
addition to ringette, but the majority of the returning players from the
ringette team have said they'll go out for hockey.  The State High School League
will sponsor a tournament if 20 (or maybe it's 24) schools inform the League by
tomorrow that they'll participate in girls' hockey next year.  A spokesman for
the league was quoted a couple weeks ago as saying that only 8 teams had
formally notified the League, but that he informally knew of about 20.
 
Anyway, the point of all this is that gender equity on the high school level in
Minnesota is leading to the development of more girls' hockey programs.  And
there is constant speculation that the University of Minnesota may be planning
to upgrade its women's hockey club team to varsity status in the next few years,
but at present they would have no competition anywhere in the region.
 
Of course, the situation in Minnesota is a lot different than in areas where
there is less interest in hockey and less revenue produced...  Here gender
equity is working as intended: to increase opportunities for girls and women.  I
realize, of course, that this is not the case elsewhere, particularly in view of
the financial situation of the California state schools, which might have forced
some cutbacks even in the absence of gender equity pressures.
 
 
Pam Sweeney                            Go Gophers!!!
[log in to unmask]      1993 & 1994 WCHA Playoff Champions!!!
                                  1994 NC$$ PHinal PHour!!!
                                        Ski-U-Mah!!!