My women's hockey Christmas wish list

As a kid, one of the hallmark gifts of Christmas was some sort of hockey gear. Ice hockey gear, road hockey gear, books about hockey, you name it. I remember getting navy blue, leather Hespeler gloves one year. There was a bit of a lull in my minor hockey schedule around Christmas, but I really wanted to wear my new gloves. So, I wore them while playing shinny on an outdoor rink in Northern Canada, when I really should have worn like, snowboarding mitts (or not been out at all). My hands froze of course, and I cried while they thawed when I came back inside.

Great gloves though. It was surely worth it.

Alas, I am no longer a ten year old minor hockey player, and have no need for hockey gear for Christmas. Here is what I want instead:

1- Who's Who in Women's Hockey

This 162 page book is a self published (blurb.ca) player-by-player statistical timeline from modern women's elite hockey leagues, including the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) and National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). It also includes stats from defunct leagues the Western Women's Hockey League, (old) National Women's Hockey League and Central Ontario Women's Hockey League.

This book looks amazing. Huge kudos to the author Richard Scott. As much as I follow women's hockey, beyond college I don't have a great grasp on people's body of work. This should help tremendously, as it contains data on over 2,000 players.

2-  Behind The Bench stickers. Behind The Bench is a website that chronicles the history of coaching staffs by team. They've got  NWHL and CWHL covered, and I look forward to seeing NCAA women's hockey one day as well. The sell Behind the Bench logo stickers (tie and no tie versions) via paypal. I could go for one of each. They are $2 each and sold via paypal at this link: https://www.paypal.me/behindthebenches

And we got our Benches 2.0 stickers in to represent women in the hockey community! Get yours for $2 (https://t.co/vu15vCbn9P) and all proceeds will be donated to @RAINN pic.twitter.com/Gzyl8TcwMZ

— Behind The Benches (@BenchBosses) November 21, 2018

3- Just about anything from the CWHL Team Store that relates to the Furies, Inferno, Thunder or Canadiennes. Since I don't have a local team, I am just waiting for my heart to be pulled to a team. The thing is, all those teams have storylines and players or management I like. Even on the logos if I have to pick a best, it's tough. I think...the Furies have a slight lead in my heart, having listened to Sami Jo Small, and read some interviews with her, plus the fact that they stream all their home games now. A Furies toque, sweatshirt, coffee mug, or Clarkson Cup Championship might be nice.

4- Two Mercyhurst wins over Ohio State. What? The best things in life aren't things. Next weekend Mercyhurst travels to Ohio State for a pair of non conference games. According to collegehockeystats.net it's the only Division 1 games happening that weekend, as all other teams will be in holiday mode. Last year, the Lakers split with Ohio State when the Buckeyes traveled to Erie in late December. It was one of Mercyhurst's best wins of the year.

Ohio State versus Mercyhurst is one of my favorite non conference series. In terms of Athletic Department clout it's a bit of a David vs Goliath, yet the Lakers have represented themselves well over the years, going 4-2-0 lifetime.  The 12-6-0 Ohio State Buckeyes were off this weekend, while the 8-7-2 Lakers split with Bemidji State. Common opponents to date include Minnesota and Bemidji State. Hurst split with Bemidji and got swept by Minnesota.  Ohio State split with Minnesota and got swept by Bemidji State.

5- The Down Goes Brown History of the NHL Taking on creating, growing and running a league is an enormous endeavor, as fans of CWHL and NWHL have observed, and as those running those leagues surely know. Sometimes, you just need to laugh at the bizarre stuff that happens, and probably vaguely refer to "the process." Turns out, it's no different than the NHL. The subtitle of Down Goes Brown's History is "the world's most beautiful sport, the world's most ridiculous league" and it is promoted as a lighthearted, informative look at NHL Hockey history.

I wish there was a new tome about women's hockey for readers to devour, but it's not the case so McIndoe's irreverent NHL book will do instead. If you really want to read about women's hockey though, two books from the nineties I recently read include On the Edge: Women Making Hockey History and Crashing the Net. One is written from an American perspective and one Canadian. If you are a long time women's hockey fan, maybe you've already read them. Certainly dated in some ways, could have been written yesterday in other ways, if you are a die hard women's hockey fan, you will appreciate these books.

That's all the hockey stuff I want for Christmas. What about you?