Does the thought of playing co-ed hockey scare you? Don't be intimidated by the prospect–I grew up playing hockey with boys and it drastically affected the way I play the game. Being a girl playing with the boys can give you the chance to play at a high level of competition and skill, but there are also some concerns when it comes to playing with the boys as you get older. 

Pro: Ice Time

The sad reality is women's teams get treated less than mens and that is true in most rinks. Men's hockey typically has greater access to ice time and more team funding. This can be important when you are trying to improve especially at a young age when ice-time is what you need to hone in your abilities. 

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Pro: Developing a Thick Skin

Men's hockey teams are known to be a little bit more rough around the edges in terms of their team culture, meaning they will say it like it is. This may not always seem like a positive but it helps your ability to take criticism and run with it. 

Pro: Coaching

It's commonly known that most men's programs have more experienced coaching. Being coached by someone with a high game knowledge can certainly lead you in the right direction in terms of improvement. 

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Con: Recruiting

If you are trying to play college ice hockey you are going to have far less exposure to women's coaches if you are in a men's league. You won't have the right coaches watching you.

Con: Risk

Men are naturally bigger and stronger than most women, and once you enter Bantam level you are allowed to hit. This could be putting you at risk of getting injured compared to women's hockey where no hitting is allowed. This is when a lot of girls that do play men's hockey decide to make the transition to women's teams. 

Con: Adversity

You may not always be taken seriously as a woman playing with men, sometimes may even be underestimated. So, you have to work twice as hard to prove yourself as a force to be recon with. 

Overall, playing men's hockey as a woman can give you a competitive edge but you do have to weigh out all the possibilities. Chances are if you are trying to get recruited, or are prone to injury, you should stick to women's hockey. 

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* Originally published on October 27, 2022, by Casey Chizmazia