Metro Detroit women enjoying challenge, fun, friendship of hockey

Women's hockey league began with 4 teams: Now 43 and counting

Deb Bilbrey-Honsowetz learned to skate when she was in her 30s, and soon after, she picked up a hockey stick.

"I learned how to skate when I was 35 years old, and I'm 53 and I've been playing since then," said Bilbrey-Honsowetz.

She plays for the Iron Maidens in the Michigan Senior Women's Hockey League.   The league began in the early 1990s with just four teams.

Sue McDowell plays and coaches for the Iron Maidens and  helped start the team and the league.

"There was a single women's senior team skating out of Yost in Ann Arbor back in the early 90's. They were called the Steele Magnolias, and there were too many women that wanted to play on that team," said McDowell.  "I had been starting a girls' team and a U of M club team and playing as a goaltender for men's and women's teams and I said we should just start a second women's team. So a group of us got together."

That was the fall of 1995.  The group is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Today, there are 43 teams with more than 700 women playing, making it one of the biggest leagues in the country, according to its website.

"Anybody who plays ice hockey tells you it's one of the most addicting sports in the world. And these gals just love it," McDowell said.

Debra Newsome started playing hockey when she was 5 years old.   The deputy chief for the Canton Police Department plays center for the Iron Maidens.

"I started out on my brother's team, because back then, there were no women's hockey teams at all in the state of Michigan," said Newsome.

"I think that hockey is the greatest sport really. I mean it takes everything; strength, agility, endurance. I love the camaraderie, the teamwork. I've learned so much through hockey, I think it's really helped me throughout my entire life and definitely my career being a team player."

Shelly Crundwell is a utility player for the Iron Maidens, playing wherever they need her.

"I've always loved the sport as a kid, and there just weren't the opportunities for girls. And when I got older, as an adult, my husband met someone that was looking for teammates and I started playing. And I love to play, it's great exercise, it's hand-eye coordination, it's camaraderie, our teammates are great," said Crundwell.

These women love the sport, and the challenges of playing.

"Skating. Skating and stick handling and doing all the things at once that you need to do to pay attention to your teammates, and pass the puck, and skate, and try to get it into the net," said Crundwell.

"Scoring, and trying to skate fast. You know you feel so fast when you're out there skating but I've been injured and I've had to sit in the stands and it's painfully slow when you're a spectator," Bilbrey-Honsowetz said.

And unlike men's hockey, there is no checking allowed.

"Technically, the fun thing is we can't check. So that makes it a more interesting skill and strategy game.  I think what makes it fun is to see all of my friends having as much joy playing this sport as anybody else does," said McDowell.

The Iron Maidens are on a recreation league.  The players have a passion to play and feel the endurance they build from the workout.

"As you get older everything gets a little bit harder.  Everything hurts a little bit more, and you definitely get a little bit sore after the games, but I think it's just competing and you know, bettering yourself every day," Newsome said.

These hockey players would like to see more opportunities for women in hockey.  they said right now there is on Division I teams in Michigan for women's hockey and they would like that to change.

For more information on the Michigan Senior Women's Hockey League, click here.