As the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) prepares to launch their second season, Ice in Their Veins: Women’s Relentless Pursuit of the Puck documents the history of gender inequity across Canada, the United States, Europe, and beyond.
The book, written by Wallaceburg’s Ian Kennedy, includes a foreword from Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Geraldine Heaney and an afterword from Olympic gold medalist Sami Jo Small, weaving stories of unheralded pioneers together with those of stars from early World Championships and Olympic competitions.
“Hockey history has been written almost exclusively about men,” says Kennedy.
“But the truth is, women have been playing and building this sport for 130 years. To exclude this history and ignore the barriers built primarily by men to exclude women from hockey allows those hurdles to remain. The stars we know and love today in the PWHL and national teams are where they are because of the efforts of many unheralded and nearly forgotten women. Ice In Their Veins aims to preserve the legacy of women who have been erased from hockey history.”
Among the moments in women’s hockey history highlighted in Ice In Their Veins, the story of Wallaceburg’s original Lipstick tournament in 1967 plays a prominent role as a catalyst for the growth of the game, and a place where hockey’s trailblazers organized and planned for the future.
The book also documents the legacy of Hillerich & Bradsby, and Louisville as the original producer of hockey equipment specifically designed for women as told by American national team netminder Kelly Dyer, who spearheaded Louisville’s women’s products in the 1990s.
Perhaps the most notable local figure highlighted in the book is Wallaceburg’s Marian Coveny, who was the first ever captain of Team Canada.
“When I learned about Coveny’s history, I couldn’t believe that she was also from Wallaceburg,” Kennedy said.
“If she were a man, our arena would be named after Coveny, and we’d have a sign at the edge of town recognizing her. She’s such an important figure in the sport who has been nearly erased from history.”
Kennedy is also a builder in Wallaceburg’s sporting community, founding the Wallaceburg Tartans’ cross country meet, serving as media coordinator for Wallaceburg’s Kraft Celebration Tour stop in 2011, and as an athlete, Kennedy captained the Wallaceburg Lakers.
Kennedy will celebrate the launch of the book locally at a November 30 book signing at Turns and Tales in Chatham from 2 to 4 p.m.
Published by British Columbia’s Tidewater Press, the book is already being used by hockey organizations, including NHL teams, to educate and inspire a new generation, and to change stereotypes that have been prevalent for generations, something modern trailblazers point out is long overdue.
“[Kennedy] has gone into great detail as a historian of the game to set the record straight: Women have always been a leading force in the growth of hockey globally,” observes Hall of Fame inductee Angela Ruggiero.
“Ice in Their Veins is an important collection of stories from hockey’s forgotten history, honoring many heroes who deserve praise for their generations of work growing our game so it could one day flourish.”
Vancouver Canucks Assistant General Manager Cammi Granato agrees, describing the book as “an enlightening deep dive into the rich history of women’s hockey. From those who won gold medals, to the women who never had the chance, Ice in Their Veins brings to life the collaborative journey to play the game we love and build a brighter future.”
Ice In Their Veins is Kennedy’s second book.
It follows On Account of Darkness: Shining Light on Race and Sport (Tidewater Press, 2022).
