The 'Prince' explores the role of checking in women's hockey

Ask somebody to think of ice hockey, and most people will conjure up images of huge bloody Russian men knocking out each other's teeth into the path of an oncoming Zamboni. But meet the members of Princeton's women's hockey team, and you'll learn about an entirely different but still exciting game.

The rules of men's and women's NCAA ice hockey are exactly the same, with only one exception. While fighting, which still goes on in the NHL, is forbidden in all college hockey, the men's game still allows body checking.

As defined by the NCAA, "body checking occurs when a player's intent is to gain possession of the puck by separating the puck carrier from the puck with a distinct and definable moment of impact."

While checking away from the puck is forbidden even in men's hockey, the existence of body checking does place a premium on size and force and helps to create the widespread image of hockey players. Women's hockey, on the other hand, forbids all checking. The rules are written in black and white. However, shades of gray enter the picture because, according to the rulebook, some "incidental contact" or "body contact" is allowed. Technically, this can only take place while the player is in the process of attempting to steal the puck. The question of what exactly qualifies as attempting to steal the puck is left up to the referee and, much like a strike zone, can vary from person to person.

Players can subtly use contact to their advantage if they can appear to be going for the puck. Quickly getting a read on the game's officials becomes an important skill, as the degree of enforcement can vary tremendously. "It really depends on the refs," freshman forward, and ECAC Rookie of the Week, Kim Pearce said. "They especially look for contact with the head, which is also a rule for the guys, but is more strictly enforced for us."

Being tagged with illegal checking lands a player in the penalty box for two minutes.

The increased restrictions on violent play in the women's game are meant to create a faster, more skillful game separate from the men's size-oriented sport. It can sometimes be difficult for players to follow these rules, however, as many of them have in the past played in male leagues which have allowed checking. The Tigers' recent victory over then-No. 2 Harvard was highlighted by physical play by both teams. Tweny-one total penalties were whistled during the game, which some attribute to Harvard's growing frustration later in the contest as defeat became imminent.

Critics of the current system point to games like this to demonstrate the growing physicality of women's hockey and to demand that officials become less tolerant of body contact and begin calling more penalties. The number of injuries in women's hockey has increased in recent years as players have become more athletic and physical, but opinions are mixed over what the effect of this will be.

Some believe that a faster, more exciting game will attract more fans by giving women's hockey a niche of its own, while others disagree with the current rules, and point to the much larger crowds that come to many men's games, partially to see big hits. Almost all agree that the most pressing concern is making sure that the line between checking and body contact — wherever that may be — becomes clearer. Whether this comes from better officiating or changes in the rule book remains to be seen. Something must be done as there is currently an excessively large and variable gray area.

Regardless of the specifics concerning the wording of the rules and the lack of clarity over the role that checking plays, women's hockey is still a fast-paced, action-packed game, and Pearce has just one message to students: "Come watch us play!"