The 1987 unofficial tournament had it, and all nations seemed to like it, but after 1990 it became clear that the bigger, faster, and stronger North American teams had a size advantage that was so intimidating that it likely would harm rather than encourage the development of the women’s game worldwide.

Since then, the focus has been entirely predicated on developing skills – skating, shooting, passing, and training. By so doing, the women’s game has distanced itself from the men’s version, which is reliant on physical play both for gaining possession of the puck and attracting fans to the arenas and television sets.

By creating this distance, the woman’s game is also reaching out to fans who aren’t fond of the physical play, which so often leads to rougher play and fisticuffs, trying to attract a new kind of hockey fan, a fan who admires the skill and speed of the game but has no interest in the physical component taking away from those aspects of the game.

In truth, it is the biggest difference in style of play between men’s and women’s hockey, and it is also the most significant rule difference as well (along with the fact that all women must wear helmets with full face protection).

Indeed, the banning of body-checking has forced players to strip an opponent of the puck in more skillful ways while avoiding injury to both the puck carrier and opponent. Hitting from behind is a rare penalty call in the women’s game, as are penalties for checking to the head or neck. Players must use positioning and speed to gain puck possession. The use of the boards for body-checking is almost non-existent.