Women have been playing hockey since the beginning—but their fights took place off the ice.

Hockey wasn't meant to include girls. Women attracted to the speed, finesse and physicality of the game had to overcome condescending attitudes, lack of resources, legal barriers and even sexual assault in their quest for legitimacy and ice time. For more than 150 years, their femininity was questioned, monitored, hidden, disparaged and trivialized. Even so, teams were formed and stars emerged. Early tournaments were catalysts, inspiring pioneers with visions of what could be. From "the miracle maid" of the early 20th century to members of today's Professional Women's Hockey League, these are the stories of women who truly had ice in their veins.