Kayleigh Lynn Anderson

[55fan 5,133]

Now that April Fool's Day is over, I should preface this with a warning. The whole "article" is utter bunk.

I read this from the Boston Herald and found it to be quite interesting. Basically a high school girl is playing on the boys' team as a defenseman and is widely considered to be the best player on the team.

The full article can be found here, but I quoted the parts I found interesting, and it ended up being most of the article.

How times change. A couple of centuries ago, wearing a scarlet A was something a young lady tried her best to avoid, but now Kayleigh Lynn Anderson wears it with pride. The 17-year-old junior is a defenseman for the Fernview Academy Eagles hockey team, and lead the team in assists this season.

A native of Westbrook CT, Kayleigh grew up playing hockey with her sister Megan and brothers, Alex, Aiden, and Colton. Her father Roger was a goalie for Notre Dame, which made scoring challenging for the children.

(Skip cute anecdotes on how he never let the children score- they had to earn it honestly.)

"Her greatest strength is how well she sees, understands, and thinks the game," said coach Terry Bushka. "Her positioning is virtually flawless. She is always a step ahead. You never see an open guy have to get her attention. She already knows he's open."

It's not surprising that the word "intelligent" should be used to describe Kayleigh. Fernview prides itself on academic excellence. Acceptance to the school involves writing and defending numerous essays as well as passing tests that school officials claim are harder than the ACT or SAT tests taken by high school seniors intent on entering college.

(Skip stuff about her classes and schedule. She has a 4.0 GPA and wants to be a marine biologist.)

Kayleigh hasn't determined where she'll attend college yet, but offers of scholarships have come in from several schools, both for her academic as well as her hockey skills. Should she accept a hockey scholarship, it will bring about a new challenge- playing with other girls. Since childhood, Kayleigh has always played on boys' teams.

(Skip parts about how the guys accepted her once they saw her play. Extra note: she's 6 feet tall and 190 pounds.)

Now we get to the really interesting part!

While it is likely that Kayleigh will go the college route, it is possible that she might end up playing at a higher level. Several NHL scouts and others associated with NHL teams have been seen attending her games.

"We don't divulge who we are or are not scouting, or even if we're scouting." said a pro scout who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "That's the nature of our job. We have to get one up on the other guy."

Chad McNamara, who is in charge of reserved ticket sales for the Ottawa Senators doesn't have to make an excuse. The Boston native has attended games this year as the uncle of left wing Jaden Carter.

"Kayleigh is a fantastic hockey player and is very well liked by pretty much everyone I've talked to. Jaden and his friends have commented on her intelligence, work ethic, toughness, and love for the game. Is she being scouted? I don't know. Should she be?" McNamara smirks. "I'm not going to answer that. Either way, someone will be after my hide. Let's just say that if she were a boy, she'd have scouts and GM's and coaches all over her."

One team rumored to have a strong interest is the Tampa Bay Lightening. "I am not going to comment on that, but I will say that if we scout a player, we scout that player as a player rather than as a male player or female player. We do not take gender into account. If the talent is there, then it is there." said Tampa Bay

So, what do you think? Is this girl being scouted? Would a team actually scout a girl if she was that good? Could a girl really make it in the NHL?

I say if she's got the talent, go for it. If she can't make it, then she will be cut, just like every other player. She should get the same chance, but have to live up to the same standards.

Edited April 2, 2011 by 55fan

[egroen 384]

I think it would be awesome to see a female player in the NHL.... It just seems the odds will be very stacked against her. In high school, girls are completely mature and grown, while many boys continue to grow into their early 20s. Strength will be an issue, and speed - a lot to overcome, but it will be incredible when a woman does finally do it.

Edited April 1, 2011 by egroen

[Broken 16 381]

Ooooooohhhh... Lidstrom's heir apparent?

Edited April 1, 2011 by Broken 16

[hooon 1,089]

Very cool.

Isn't Tampa the same team who tried the female goalie in the early 90s?

[55fan 5,133]

Very cool.

Isn't Tampa the same team who tried the female goalie in the early 90s?

Manon Rhéaume

It was just an exhibition game.

[mmamolo 287]

Very cool.

Isn't Tampa the same team who tried the female goalie in the early 90s?

Sure are...Manon Rheaume was her name. If my memory serves me correctly she only ever played some exhibition/pre-season games with the Lightning - never any regular season games.

[MulesWillFly93 199]

Rad! I'd love to see that happen. I think it goes without saying that she should get the same chance as everybody else but shouldn't get any special treatment. I really hope she makes it. I always wonder what it would be like to play with somebody like Lidstrom or Datsyuk, but then I realize that until now, 100% of women have never had that chance. It'd be great to live vicariously through her.

[RedFX 48]

After a 10-3 loss, I'm willing to sign her right now.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Get 'er done Kenny! :deal:

(sorry had to, someone was going to say it.)

Edited April 1, 2011 by CaliWingsNut

[newfy 695]

I personally dont ever see a girl playing in the NHL.

And before I get my head torn off for being sexist, to me its the science behind it all.

The muscle structure, bone structure etc is all just different in girls which at that high of a level is really a huge difference maker. You can have all the talent in the world but if youre not hitting the gym and bulking up, youre not going far at all.

I dont see it happening

EDIT: whats this league shes playing in? Is it actually a good highschool league like Minnesota highschool or just some random highschool league?

Edited April 1, 2011 by newfy

[Guest stinky fish taco]

Could a girl really make it in the NHL?

is this a serious question?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I think it would be awesome to see a female player in the NHL.... It just seems the odds will be very stacked against her. In high school, girls are completely mature and grown, while many boys continue to grow into their early 20s. Strength will be an issue, and speed - a lot to overcome, but it will be incredible when a woman does finally do it.

This sums it up perfectly. Right now she's physically ahead of the curve. For the rest of her life she'll be behind it. That sucks but all she can do is prove people wrong and use her brains to her advantage.

[VM1138 1,921]

I've always felt that as long as a woman can survive the exact same tests as a man she should be allowed to do whatever she wants. I don't favor having a different set of standards for women, so if she can take hits and physically play the game at that high of a level, I think it'd be great to have a woman in the league.

[Guest Shoreline]

<- owned by Karen.

Edited April 2, 2011 by Shoreline

[ACallToArms 270]

Girls can't play hockey, its just a fact. Its a man's sport, lets keep it that way, the end. If they want to start up a WNHL, thats fine, but it'll be destined to be moved from Detroit to some cornfield in Oklahoma after winning 3 championships.

[55fan 5,133]

Girls can't play hockey, its just a fact. Its a man's sport, lets keep it that way, the end. If they want to start up a WNHL, thats fine, but it'll be destined to be moved from Detroit to some cornfield in Oklahoma after winning 3 championships.

I couldn't disagree more. A women's league would not be in Oklahoma. It would be in California. And they'd be wearing bikinis. (That reminds me- what happened to Miller?)

Anyway- Hankthetank and stinkytacofish, I don't know if you two are married in real life, but could you keep your spat to the PM's?

[ACallToArms 270]

I couldn't disagree more. A women's league would not be in Oklahoma. It would be in California. And they'd be wearing bikinis.

Now that's something I can get behind!

[55fan 5,133]

Now that's something! I can get behind!

Punctuated it for you.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

I couldn't disagree more. A women's league would not be in Oklahoma. It would be in California. And they'd be wearing bikinis. (That reminds me- what happened to Miller?)

Anyway- Hankthetank and stinkytacofish, I don't know if you two are married in real life, but could you keep your spat to the PM's?

We have a nice rink up here in Sonoma... It's Snoopy themed too! I say we make it happen.

[greenrebellion 415]

scamtastic thread

[55fan 5,133]

Full disclosure: There is no Kayleigh Lynn Anderson. Her family members are fictional, as are her coach, school, and the dude that sells tickets for the Sens and his nephew.

Happy April Fool's Day everyone.

Thanks to those who played along (Call to Arms specifically) and, to the rest of you, GOTCHA!

[MidMichSteve 1,115]

Ooooooh, you're good!

[Hockeytown_Ryan 119]

Full disclosure: There is no Kayleigh Lynn Anderson. Her family members are fictional, as are her coach, school, and the dude that sells tickets for the Sens and his nephew.

Happy April Fool's Day everyone.

Thanks to those who played along (Call to Arms specifically) and, to the rest of you, GOTCHA!

Your like the Ernest Hemingway of Bullcrap! very well done!

[Guest Shoreline]

Never again will I look at Karen's forum username with the same implied innocence.

[Guest Heaten]

Interesting topic: Having women play in the NHL.

A woman's body can handle the hard checks like a man. What happens if Joe Thornton hits her like he did Parros, but instead of a bad concussion, it's breaks her neck and she dies... Then what? Should Thornton face manslaughter charges? Should Thornton be looked down on for being a 'woman killer'? Many people will say he should have eased up because he 'knew' she was a woman...

Then boom, we have double standards in the NHL.

But hey, I'm a for a NHWL (National Hockey Womans League)!

No thank you to women being in the NHL!

Edited April 4, 2011 by Heaten