Meet The Forgotten Women's Hockey Stars From The Early 1900s

The list of historic women's hockey players is long. Some from the first half of the 1900s. like Hilda Ranscombe, Albertine Lapansee, and Isobel Stanley, have found modest recognition. Although none have seen their names enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, Hilda Ranscombe was inducted to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and is one of the most notable omissions from the Hockey Hall of Fame from the men's or women's categories. She was the superstar of the Preston Rivulettes, a dynasty in the 1930s.

While these athletes have had their stories told, many have not. Here's a look at 15 women's hockey players, who were stars of the game during the first half of the 1900s.

Eva Ault: Ottawa Alerts

Eva Ault was nicknamed “Queen of the Ice" by newspapers at the time. Playing in the Eastern Ladies Hockey League, Ault was often described as "the star player" or "the best" player on the ice by The Ottawa Citizen. In terms of growing the game itself, Ault was also a builder serving as secretary for the Ottawa Alerts, and also in the mid-1920s as treasurer of the Ladies' Ontario Hockey Association. Looking back she's been described as "one of the game's first female stars" and her legacy wearing the black and yellow of the Ottawa Alerts at Dey's Arena lives on. She wasn't alone on the Ottawa Alerts either, as other noteworthy players including Shirley Moulds and Edith Anderson also starred for the team between 1915 when it was first formed, until the team disbanded in 1929.

Simone Cauchon: Northern Electric, Montreal Maroons and Les Canadiennes

Simone Cauchon was a Quebec legend in the 1920s and 1930s. Playing for the Northern Electric, Cauchon earned her reputation through the late 20s being called "greater than great" for her performances that followed her everywhere she went, including to Toronto where following a game against the Toronto Pats, The Toronto Star called Cauchon "a marvellous hockey players," describing at length her physicality and strength. Facing the Toronto Pats in front of 6,000 fans for the Montreal Carnival title at the Forum, the headline read "Simone Cauchon Best Player On Ice," as Cauchon shut down the heralded Pats in the 1930 game. In 1934, the Montreal Star wrote about Cauchon, calling her the "outstanding woman player in the Dominion," while The Montreal Gazette said she was "probably greatest woman hockey player in Canada." Known for her thundering shots from the blueline, Cauchon was a French Canadian star. By 1935, she was the staple of the Maroons in their quest to beat the Preston Rivulettes. Although the team fell short, Cauchon showed herself as not only capable in Quebec, but against the best in the world.

Irene Linkletter: Summerside Crystal Sisters

Irene Linkletter, captain of the Summerside Crystal Sisters, was referred to by The Montreal Star as the "Crystal Ace." In their 1934 series, Linkletter "was the cleverest player on the ice. She backchecked expertly and led forward onslaughts." Almost no game played by the dominant Crystal Sisters in Canada's Maritime escaped mention of Linkletter, who "would stand out in any ladies game." The Crystal sisters rarely conceded a goal, let alone lost a game, and their top line that featured Irene Linkletter and her sister Zilpha Linkletter were the leaders.

Daisy Blight: Calgary Hollies and Calgary Regents

At the 1924 Banff Winter Carnival, which served as the premier women's hockey event in Western Canada, Blight's "shooting was one of the outstanding features as she scored six out of seven goals" as The Calgary Albertan wrote on February 11, 1924, for the Calgary Hollies who went on to win the Alpine Cup. Blight was Calgary's offensive leader for the Calgary Hollies as they won the Alpine Cup in 1924, 1925, 1927, and 1928. Alongside linemate Lucy Lea, the duo were one of the most dominant pairs in Western Canada in the 1920s.

Kathleen Carson: Vancouver Amazons

Considered one of the best shooters in the 1920s, Carson would "rain shots" on the net of her opponents. Her goal scoring earned many descriptive tales including in a 1922 issue of The Province following her Vancouver Amazons winning the Banff Carnival. In this game Carson would "secure the puck, went straight down the ice, broke through the defence, and by a neatly placed shot scored the tying goal amidst great cheering from the spectators." At the time, many could not raise the puck off the ice, but Carson's powerful shot was noted to regularly rise off the ice, as papers documented her shooting "had considerable steam behind it and travelled in the air." As The Calgary Albertan stated, Carson was "the mainstay of the Vancouver team." She was one of Vancouver's speedsters alongside Doris Parkes. Kathleen Carson would marry into the famed Patrick family, marrying Guy Patrick, the brother of Lester and Frank Patrick. Guy Patrick was the manager of the Amazons in 1921-1922 and helped organize the three team league with the Vancouver Amazons, Seattle Vamps, and Victoria Kewpies. Kathleen Patrick passed away in 1944 at the age of 40.

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Dahlia Schagel: Fernie Swastikas

Schagel captained the famed Fernie Swastikas, one of Westen Canada's earliest power teams, including winning the 1923 Alpine Cup. Schagel was described as a "fast travelling brunette" and as the Vancouver Daily World wrote in 1923, the Fernie Swastikas "displayed their greatest superiority in skating and team work, featuring combination that would have done justice to any of the professional teams." Schagel stayed with the Swastikas until 1926, when the team disbanded following a loss to the Edmonton Monarchs in the Banff Winter Carnival final for the Alpine Cup. Edith Biggs was one of the founders of the Swatikas, and another star of the team.

Jacqueline Mautin: Droit-au-But and Team France

Captain of the Paris based Droit-au-But, Jacqueline Mautin, who was “a true female tenor of the ice hockey… a dribbling virtuoso and much faster than her opponents” was a star among European nations, representing France in the 1930s. Each year England and France competed for the Lady Greer Cup in front of large crowds. In a 1931 game in Paris, Mautin scored five goals in a 6-0 victory over the Sussex Ladies in front of an estimated 10,000 fans, one example of her many exploits on the ice. At the time in Europe she was rivalled only by the captain of England's Manchester Merlins, Connie Willan. Willan was the scoring ace and captain of the Merlins, who played in the All-England league. She was also a key member of England's national team who competed annually against France. Willan was described as “easily the fastest skater on the rink, and a magnificent hockey player as well" during her era.

Rosemary Tufford and Eleanor Tufford: Edmonton Rustlers

The sisters had "a good knowledge of the winter pastime and applied it to advantage" the Edmonton Journal wrote in 1931. There has perhaps been no more dominant sibling pair in the women's game, rivalled only by a pair of sisters who played for the Preston Rivulettes in the era. Eleanor Tufford was a defender, who could rush the puck and score at will. She was touted for much of the 1930s by the Edmonton Journal and other Canadian papers as the best blueliner in the nation. In terms of Hall of Fame worthy defenders from the era, Tufford may be the leader in any future discussion of historic omissions. In 1932 following a win over the rival Edmonton Monarchs, Tufford was described as "the outstanding player on the ice" who "gave a fine exhibition of stickhandling and checking." As the Journal wrote in 1933 during the Dominion Cup final against the Preston Rivulettes, "Eleanor Tufford, Rustler defence ace, was probably the individual sensation, although she did not break into the scoring. Her powerful, swinging rushes brought the fans up roaring time after time." The following year in the 1934 Western Canada finals against the Winnipeg Eatons, it was again the defender who shone. "While it was the team play and finish of the Rustlers that was largely responsible for their victory, it was the brilliant individual work of Eleanor Tufford, defence ace, that actually accounted for more of the scoring," the Edmonton Journal wrote of Edmonton's 4-1 win over Winnipeg. "Singlehanded she scored three goals on end to end rushes, executed with impressive coolness and skill. Each time she wound her way carefully through the defence lines until she got a clear shot and then drilled the rubber home with a shot like a boy's." By 1938, the powerful defender was still in Edmonton, but now playing for another iteration on Edmonton's women's hockey scene in the Edmonton Blizzards. The following year Tufford moved to Calgary, where in 1939 Harry Scott of The Calgary Albertan called her "the best all-around defence player in the game." As for Rosemary Tufford, she was a feared forward in the era. "Rosemary Tufford, first string centre for the Rustlers, took the lion's share of the spotlight along with Hazel Case" wrote the Edmonton Journal in 1933 while describing a 3-2 Rustlers win over the Preston Rivulettes in the Dominion Cup final. Tufford scored twice, while Case scored the other in Edmonton's win. Edmonton's top line, which included Case and Tufford, along with Marian Walker, were described as a "fast-skating, hard-checking" trio. Rosemary Tufford received accolades from all corners of Canada, including being called a "shining star" by The Montreal Star.

Helen Schmuck: Preston Rivulettes

While Hilda Ranscombe took the limelight on the Preston Rivulettes, no team wins alone, and the physical presence of Helen Schmuck was a difference maker for the team. At one point in the 1931 playoffs in a series against Port Dover where "[a]n impromptu and short-lived fisticuff display" occurred during a game, Schmuck was accused of being a man due to her physical dominance and toughness on the ice. Facing the Port Dover Sailorettes, the Galt Evening Reporter noted that “management of the Port Dover club wanted to have Conservator Helen Schmuck disrobe. They thought she was a boy." Schmuck, alongside the Ranscombe sisters were founders of the Rivulettes. As scholar Carly Adams wrote, "Ranscombe and Schmuck sisters set the team on its organizational path and devoted themselves to the women’s game throughout the decade." Schmuck was not only known for her toughness, she was also a skilled player. Following a 1934 Preston win over the Montreal Maroons, The Montreal Star wrote that "Helen Schmuck again proved her ability" as she scored a hat trick in a 4-1 win, which featured her making "as smart a play as seen in women's hockey" and another "brilliant solo effort." She centered Preston's top line between her sister Marm Schmuck and Hilda Ranscombe in what was one of women's hockey's best lines. Schmuck also served as a vice president for the Ladies' Ontario Hockey Association.

Elsie Muller: St. Nicholas Blues

Hockey was not as prevalent in this era in the United States, but there were women's ice hockey teams in New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, and even San Francisco. One of the top American players competed in New York as a member of the St. Nicholas Blues. Like her Canadian counterparts, Muller grew up skating outdoors, as indoor rinks were primarily reserved for men. She skated on the Hudson River and later at Lake Placid. Muller would go on to represent the United States in speed skating at the 1932 Olympics. Captaining St. Nicholas, Muller “proved herself to be among the very best women ice hockey players of her era.” The Blues were started by Kathleen Howard in 1916, herself “a hockey player of more than passing ability.”

Fannie "Bobbie" Rosenfeld: Toronto Pats

Few are as respected as Bobbie Rosenfeld in the world of sports. She is the namesake for Canada's Female Athlete of the Year Award and in 1928, Rosenfeld won Olympic gold with Canada's relay team, and a silver medal in the 100m. As The Ottawa Citizen wrote following a 1926 game between Rosenfeld's Toronto Pats and Ottawa, "Fanny Rosenfeld, brilliant center-ice player of the Queen City girls, who scored all her team's four goals in Toronto, was again the outstanding star last night...Miss Rosenfeld was by far and wide the best player on the ice, and her sweeping rushes down the ice were the big features of the game." Hockey was said to be Rosenfeld's first love before track and field drew her fame elsewhere, and she continued playing for the Pats after her 1928 Olympic stardom. The Pats were Ontario runners up in 1925 and 1927 before Rosenfeld finally propelled her team over the top to an Ontario title in 1929. Following her on-ice career, Rosenfeld served as the president of the Ladies' Ontario Hockey Association from 1934 to 1939. From 1937 to 1939, Rosenfeld took over as the president of the Dominion Women's Amateur Hockey Association.

Ginger Catherwood: University of Saskatchewan

Once called "the best female hockey player in Canada," Ginger Catherwood entered the University of Saskatchewan in 1919. Catherwood soon showed the Western provinces that few could play and score at her rate. In 1920-1921, Catherwood scored eight goals in a 9-1 win over Manitoba, followed by a six goal performance in a 7-1 win over Alberta. As The Sheaf described of Catherwood’s play during that February 1921 game against the University of Manitoba, “The visiting centre was the best skater and player on the ice, and was quite out of the ordinary class of girl hockey player…” A defender, Catherwood's career was short lived, ending following her university years, but she was dominant in her era.

Adelyne Stephenson: Red Deer Amazons

The star of the Red Deer Amazons from the late 1920s through the 1930s, Adelyne Stephenson, described as a "flashy left-winger" often dominated the scoresheet. Leading the Amazons to their first Alberta provincial title in 1932-1933, Stephenson was deemed "the star of the evening" in the deciding game netting a hat trick in the 4-0 win. She was the guiding force alongside Evie Nicholls and netminder Beth Thompson for the Amazons, leading them to back-to-back Alpine Cups at the Banff Winter Carnival the following seasons. In the title game in 1934, where Stephenson scored both for the Amazons in a 2-1 win over the Edmonton Monarchs, The Calgary Albertan wrote that "Adelyne Stephenson amazed the fans with her accurate bullet-like shots and nifty stickhandling." Stephenson again scored a hat trick for the Amazons in the title game for the 1333-1934 provincial title. She had blazing speed, a fact she displayed at the 1935 Banff Carnival when she won silver in a speed skating competition despite the fact she was the only competitor disadvantaged by wearing hockey skates. In what became an annual event, Stephenson again scored a hat trick for Red Deer in the 1935 provincial final to give Red Deer a three-peat as Alberta's top women's team.

Margaretta Sharpless: Quaker City Maids

The list of American stars prior to 1930 is short. Not because they did not exist, but because women's hockey only existed as a sport in pockets in the USA. One of those pockets in 1920 was Philadelphia, where the Philadelphia Roses and Philadelphia Thorns faced off, with Margaretta Sharpless the star. Sharpless captained the Thorns, and also guided a combined team, known as the Quaker City Maids in a series against New York's St. Nicholas Blues. The leading scorer and best player in Philadelphia at the time has been, Sharpless has been all but forgotten.

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