
Sweden is blazing a trail in women's hockey by allowing body checking — and finding health benefits along the way
ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK, Sweden — Lauren Bellefontaine came off the ice after a game in Sweden's top women's hockey league and detailed the toll her body had just taken.
'I got a stick to the collarbone tonight and also a hit to the head. Definitely some bumps and bruises,' she said with a smile. 'But I'm feeling fine.'
Growing up in Canada, Bellefontaine kept hearing people ask why there was no hitting in women's hockey. It has taken a move to northern Sweden for her to discover the more physical side of the sport.
In 2022, Sweden became the first country to introduce body checking to its premier women's league, bringing its rule book closer to men's hockey even though hockey's world governing body does not formally allow the practice because of safety concerns. It has opened up a new world for women's players, who say they feel more empowered playing the game the way it was intended.
Swedish hockey officials say the results have been overwhelmingly positive: The women's game has become faster and more entertaining while concussions, which have been a scourge for the sport, have decreased.
Other countries are now looking to follow suit, with the PWHL — the professional women's league in North America with some of the world's top players — putting checking in the rules for its inaugural season last year.
'It has given us the opportunity to prove we're physical, we're strong and we can play just like the men's players,' Bellefontaine said. 'It allows us to show we can — and we will.'
Bellefontaine joined MoDo for the start of the 2023-24 season. It's a title-contending team from Örnsköldsvik, a sleepy coastal town some 530 kilometers (330 miles) north of Stockholm — and not far from the Arctic Circle — whose population of 30,000 lives and breathes hockey and whose most famous alumni include NHL greats Peter Forsberg, Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and Markus Naslund.
Initially it was something of a culture shock to her.
'I had no prior experience of hitting at all,' the 25-year-old Bellefontaine said, 'and we went right into the season so it took me a while to get into it … it was tough but now it's just fun.'
Safer, too.
Benefits of body checking
Statistics supplied by the Swedish women's league show the number of concussions sustained by players has dropped since 2018, when its 'Project Zero Vision' was launched. There were 35 reported concussions in the 2018-19 regular season, 10 in 2022-23 and 15 in 2023-24. By Jan. 8 this year, which was approaching the end of the regular season, there had been six.
Preventing concussions was the main driver behind the introduction of checking, as counterintuitive as that may seem. It has forced players to skate with their heads up, increasing their ice awareness.
There have been other benefits of bringing back checking, which was part of the game in women's hockey in Europe and North America until the mid-1980s but isn't in the International Ice Hockey Federation's current rule book. Coaches, league officials and fans say the speed of the Swedish game has gotten quicker, as players make smarter and faster decisions.
For many, it restores the balance between skill and physicality that is important in making the sport an entertaining watch.
'It creates some tension in the game that you otherwise don't get,' said Luc de Keijzer, a 27-year-old student who is a regular at MoDo games.
One big hope is that increased physical play makes Sweden more competitive at the international level against traditional hockey powers like the United States, Canada and Finland. Sweden's women's team regularly goes deep in world championships and Olympic Games but hasn't won the gold medal at either tournament.
Closing the equality gap
For some female players, the biggest effect has been to make them feel more empowered. That's because they are essentially following the same rules as the men, except for one key difference: hits on open ice — when players are skating freely away from the boards — are forbidden in women's hockey.
'We're trying to close the gap between men's and women's hockey, so this is one way we are doing it — to have similar rules as they do,' said Alexie Guay, another Canadian playing for MoDo. 'It's not as intense and there are different rules still — I don't know if there will be fighting in women's hockey in the future — but we're definitely closing the gap and I think it's a cool thing.'
According to research by Lund University in Sweden, 88% of the 159 players from the league who responded to a questionnaire said they were in favor of checking.
Jared Cipparone, the coach of MoDo's women's team, said he hasn't encountered any resistance from his players about checking.
'Everyone was excited about it,' said Cipparone, who is also from Canada. 'The first year was trial and fire for many, but last year and this year you see the significance it's made in the game and I've only heard good things about it.'
At MoDo's home game against HV71 at Hagglunds Arena in early January, a MoDo player was almost knocked off her skates by a full-body hit. Many others were smashed into the boards but went on with the game. There were no roughing penalties and certainly no brawling.
The 5-foot-7 Bellefontaine, who describes herself as 'pretty small,' has had to adapt her game. She said she trains harder, watches what she eats to 'bulk up a little bit' and is making use of the sauna in her apartment for post-match recovery.
'I'm definitely squeezing my core a little more,' she said. 'Before, I wouldn't even expect to be hit so now it's head on a swivel, always looking, always watching, and just being ready to take a hit. You have to make sure you're not in a position to jeopardize yourself.
'It's definitely changed the way we play and made us better players.'
In Sweden, they start early
USA Hockey and Hockey Canada do not allow checking in girls and women's hockey. In Sweden, body checking is part of the rules for boys and girls starting at the age of 12. League officials say being educated so early prepares players for when they are older.
MoDo fan Marie Johansson said her 18-year-old daughter, Amanda, started with checking from age 12, initially while playing with boys.
'All parents are worried about their children getting injured,' Johansson said, 'but when they learn to do the checking, they train a lot, they learn how to hold their heads up high, and she learnt how to avoid injuries. I don't think because she's a girl I've been more worried than if she'd been a boy.'
Morgan Johansson, an official who helped to launch the Zero Vision project, said he has shared information with the IIHF and the PWHL about the effects the rule change has had on the Swedish league. Norwegian and Danish leagues have also contacted him.
Last year, the IIHF had PWHL officials in North America outline the league's rules on checking and officiating in a potential first step to modify its rulebook and provide a new standard at international competitions, league vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford said.
Contacted by the AP, the IIHF said its rulebook 'does not prohibit competitive body contact between players' but noted its staff was working with its membership 'to clarify the interpretation of this part in women's hockey.'
As for the Swedes, they are happy to have made the bold step that others are starting to follow.
'We are kind of a trailblazer when it comes to women's hockey in challenging the old structures that said, 'Women can't,'' said Angelica Lindeberg, operations manager for the Swedish league. 'Now we say, of course they can. We are very proud of that.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Oilers fans react to 6-1 Game 3 loss
Edmonton Oilers fans who watched Game 3 downtown say they're disappointed but still hopeful the team can turn things around.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ashton Bell, Julia Gosling among young stars selected in PWHL expansion draft
Former Toronto Sceptres forward Julia Gosling, left, will head to Seattle after being selected in the PWHL expansion draft. She'll be teammates with former Montreal Victoire defender Cayla Barnes, right, who signed with Seattle last week. (Arianne Bergeron/PWHL - image credit) The original six PWHL teams gathered in Minnesota almost exactly one year ago last June for the league's second entry draft. The players chosen in the first round last year included top-pair defenders, power forwards, playmakers and goal scorers — all poised to be future stars in the PWHL. Advertisement After the league's expansion process, all but one of those six players will be playing for the PWHL's newest teams in Vancouver and Seattle. Only superstar Sarah Fillier, who was protected by the New York Sirens, won't be on the move to the west coast. It's a snapshot of just how much young talent the league's two newest teams were able to accumulate during a roster-building process that included an expansion draft and exclusive signing window. The original six teams could only protect three players each to start. They were able to protect a fourth once the team gave up two players. PWHL Seattle selected former Boston Fleet forward Hannah Bilka with the 3rd pick of the expansion draft. (Heather Pollock/PWHL) The result is two brand new teams that could both seriously contend for the Walter Cup next season. The goal was to make sure Seattle and Vancouver would be competitive to maintain the league's parity, but both new teams surpassed the bar of keeping up with the existing teams. They already look to be among the deepest in the league. Advertisement Meanwhile, the original six teams have gaping holes to fill, having just watched a significant amount of talent walk out the door. From the net out Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey, who was a defender in her own playing career, has built her team's foundation from the net out, starting with long-time Team Canada backup goaltender, Emerance Maschmeyer. She also signed two of Walter Cup-champion Minnesota's best young defenders, Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson, and used the first pick in the expansion draft on Monday to select Ashton Bell, a smooth-skating defender who blocked more shots than anyone else in the Ottawa Charge's run to the PWHL finals. All three are in contention for the Canadian Olympic team next February. Advertisement Bell, a former forward, can contribute both offensively and defensively, but what she brings off the ice also appealed to Gardner Morey. "She's also one of those great teammates and great human beings who's just always showing gratitude and doing things the right way," the Vancouver GM said after Monday's expansion draft. "Her work ethic is outstanding." Former Ottawa Charge defender Ashton Bell, right, was the 1st player selected in Monday's PWHL expansion draft. She'll join PWHL Vancouver. (PWHL) Up front, Vancouver will be led by superstar Sarah Nurse, a do-it-all type of player who has shown, when healthy, that she can score in this league. She tied for second in the league in both goals and points in the 2024 season. Advertisement She's joined by a group of young, talented forwards, including Rookie of the Year candidate Jennifer Gardiner, Walter Cup champions Abby Boreen and Brooke McQuigge, and Izzy Daniel, who was the Patty Kazmaier Award winner as the best player in college hockey just one season ago. With the priority on building from the back first, Gardner Morey opted for 200-foot, depth players who exceeded expectations last season up front. "We just really went with a lot of grit, a lot of two-way forwards that can also score goals," Gardner Morey said. A stacked forward group Seattle, meanwhile, has a top-six forward group that could be the best in the league. Advertisement Former New York Sirens sniper Alex Carpenter could centre the top line alongside MVP-nominee Hilary Knight and former Boston Fleet forward Hannah Bilka, a rookie with a high hockey IQ. Between Bilka's playmaking abilities and Carpenter and Knight's knack for shooting the puck, it's a line that promises to be dangerous. But then Seattle can roll out a second line that includes Jessie Eldridge, Danielle Serdachny and Julia Gosling, three players who have offensive ability and size. Former New York Sirens forward Jessie Eldridge could form a 'powerhouse' second line on PWHL Seattle after being selected in the expansion draft on Monday. (PWHL) Seattle GM Meghan Turner, who wanted to build a team to withstand physicality, described that potential second line as a "powerhouse." Advertisement "They have a lot of power in terms of their skating and their explosiveness," Turner said about those three players. "Each team is so physical and so I think size really can only help. All of these players have proven they can use their size to their advantage." Turner used her first pick in the expansion draft to select Aneta Tejralová, the Czech Republic national team captain who loves blocking shots. Her ability on the penalty kill, including her willingness to put her body in front of pucks, was a factor for Seattle. "Knowing that's something that is a specialty of hers, and just the way that she plays defence but also can transport the puck and be a good puck supporter, she's rock solid," Turner said. Advertisement The Seattle roster is rounded out by Corinne Schroeder, one of the best goaltenders in the league over the past two seasons for the defensively-shaky New York Sirens. Original 6 teams left with holes As players pack their bags to head west and Seattle and Vancouver continue building, the original six teams will be looking to fill some of the holes left by expansion. The league spent months designing the rules with the goal of maintaining parity in a league where games are often decided by just one goal. "I think it was really critical that we got it right because decisions like this do shape the future of the league," PWHL executive vice president of hockey operations, Jayna Hefford, said last month. "For us, the priority is always about competitive balance." Advertisement WATCH | PWHL Mic'd Up with Cayla Barnes: But the original six teams have work to do to compete with the league's newest franchise, at least on paper. Both teams that faced off for the Walter Cup last month lost two of their top four defenders, as did first-place Montreal. Last-place New York surrendered two of the team's top scoring forwards from last season, along with the starting goaltender. The Boston Fleet have significant holes up front without Knight and Bilka, and will need to name a new captain. Their GMs will have a chance to start rebuilding on June 16, when a window opens to sign free agents. The entry draft is set for June 24 in Ottawa, though the draft order isn't yet clear, aside from New York selecting first.


Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Seattle fills out forward group, while Vancouver emphasizes defense following PWHL expansion draft
PWHL Seattle GM Meghan Turner can already envision having her top two lines in place with a group of forwards led by Hilary Knight. In Vancouver, general manager Cara Gardner Morey's emphasis was defense first. The league's two newest teams took distinct approaches in continuing to build their respective identities during the league's seven-round expansion draft on Monday night. The draft followed the PWHL's five-day exclusive signing period in which both teams signed their allowed maximum of five players. Though Vancouver used five of its seven selections on forwards, Gardner Morey opened the draft by choosing Ottawa defenseman Ashton Bell with the No. 1 pick. Bell and Boston's Sydney Bard, selected 13th on Monday, join a talented blueline that already includes the former Minnesota tandem of Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques, who signed with Vancouver last week. 'I was a defender and I really think it's such a valuable position, and finding the right D and having a great core, one through eight even, is what makes championship teams,' said Gardner Morey, who is also set in net with the signing of Ottawa goalie Emerance Maschmeyer. In Seattle, Turner used the No. 2 pick on selecting Ottawa defenseman Aneta Tejralová. She then chose forwards with Seattle's next three selections in picking Boston's Hannah Bilka, New York's Jessie Eldridge and Toronto's Julia Gosling. The trio join a forward group that already features Knight, Alex Carpenter and Danielle Serdachny, who were signed last week. Seattle's initial 12-player roster features a mix of leadership in veterans Knight and Carpenter and emerging youth with four of six players selected in the first round of last year's draft in Serdachny (selected second), Bilka (fourth), defenseman Cayla Barnes (fifth) and Gosling (sixth). 'I'm really excited for these younger players to be able to learn from truly some of the best in the game in terms of Alex Carpenter and Hilary Knight,' Turner said of the two long-time U.S. national team stars. 'I don't know if I was specifically forward-minded, but it's hard to pass up the three that I did sign.' Both expansion franchises are working under the same salary-cap restrictions as the league's other six teams, though the PWHL does not reveal player salaries. And both enjoy an advantageous head start with the league limiting existing teams to initially protecting only three players, before allowed to add a fourth player to the list after a team loses two from its roster. Each of the existing teams lost four players apiece, with the rules favoring the expansion teams by allowing them to be competitive from the start of the PWHL's third season, expected to open in November. Seattle's lineup features plenty of offense. Knight, a four-time Olympian, is an PWHL MVP finalist this year after finishing tied for the league lead with 29 points. Carpenter was an MVP finalist in 2024, when she finished tied for second with 23 points. And Eldridge, this season, finished tied for fifth in the league with 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists). Vancouver earned the first pick after winning a ball drawing. Both teams then alternated in having two picks each before Seattle closed the draft by selecting Boston defenseman Emily Brown 14th. Turner split her picks in selecting three forwards and four defensemen, rounded out by Montreal's Anna Wilgren and Toronto's Megan Carter. Vancouver chose two defenseman and five forwards, including Toronto's Izzy Daniel, who closed her senior season at Cornell in being selected the 2024 Patty Kazmaier award winner as women's hockey MVP. Daniel joins former Toronto teammate Sarah Nurse, who signed with Vancouver last week. Joining Thompson and Jaques in Vancouver are two more members of the two-time defending champion Minnesota Frost in forwards Brooke McQuigge and Denisa Krizova. Vancouver also drafted Montreal forward Abby Boreen and New York forward Gabby Rosenthal. Next up for the expansion teams is joining the rest of the league in the free-agent signing period that opens on Monday followed by the six-round PWHL draft on June 24 in Ottawa. ___ AP women's hockey: