San Jose PWHL - A Dream Come True
When I woke up on Tuesday morning, I didn't think I would end up at the announcement event for the San Jose PWHL (Professional Women's Hockey League) team. However, working at a library, you never quite know where your day will take you. To see a dream of mine come to life in front of me was incredible. As the speeches begin at the press conference, Jonathan Becher, who is the president of the San Jose Sharks, mentioned an Oakland women's hockey team. This got my brain turning and I knew that once I returned to the library, I would have to dig into the archives.
To the Archives!
After an incredible event that included speeches from Kristi Yamaguchi and Brandi Chastain, I knew that I needed to dig deeper into the history of women's sports in the Bay Area. I headed immediately to the California Room, which collects materials on California history with an emphasis in San Jose and Santa Clara Valley and showed the speech to our librarian. He was quickly able to find the exact story that Jonathan Becher referenced.
The San Francisco Chronicle ran an article on June 4, 1916 titled "Oakland Girls Win Two Matches Of Ice Hockey". Here is an overview:
- At the Techau Tavern, the Minerva Hockey Club defeated the San Francisco Ladies Hockey Club twice with both games ending in 4 -1.
- 2500 spectators came out to see the game.
- The SAP Center can hold over 17,000, it'll be great to see how packed it gets for the 26-27 PWHL season.
- The stars of the game were the Uksila sisters. Lena Uksila scored a hat trick (that's three goals in hockey).
On August 6, 1918, the San Francisco continues their hockey coverage with "Trio of Hockey Teams in Tie for Lead"
- The women's hockey leagues were doing so well that supporters wanted to "see a team of all professionals in action against the stars of the Bay Counties Amateur Hockey Association".
- Lena Uksila is mentioned as one of the stars they wanted to see in this new league.
Finally, on December 6, 1916, we say goodbye to our superstar with "Graceful Skater Says Farewell" in the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Lena Uksila leaves her skating position in San Francisco for the east.
Our first superstar of Women's hockey in the Bay Area might have left, but with resources like the California Room, she lives on.
San Jose Shows Up
Again and again, the Bay Area and San Jose have supported Women's sports. It's literally in our archives! Here's to the San Jose PWHL and the future is so bright.
Did you know that the San José Public Library has a San Jose Sharks Library Card?
Pro Tip: Even if you have a library card already, you can exchange it for Sharks card for free!
Here's to hoping that collaborations with the San Jose PWHL team are in our future!
Women in Hockey Books
Blackness Is A Gift I Can Give Her
Citations
OAKLAND GIRLS WIN TWO MATCHES OF ICE HOCKEY: TECHAU TAVERN ICE PALACE PACKED TO SEE OPENING GAMES BETWEEN RIVAL CLUBS OF WOMEN. (1916, Jun 04). San Francisco Chronicle (1869-1922) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/newspapers/oakland-girls-win-two-matches-ice-hockey/docview/366145790/se-2
TRIO OF HOCKEY TEAMS IN TIE FOR LEAD: POLOS, CANADIANS AND INDOORS ALL BUNCHED; CANADIANS PLAY TUESDAY. (1916, Aug 06). San Francisco Chronicle (1869-1922) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/newspapers/trio-hockey-teams-tie-lead/docview/574522775/se-2
GRACEFUL SKATER SAYS FAREWELL. (1916, Dec 06). San Francisco Chronicle (1869-1922) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/newspapers/graceful-skater-says-farewell/docview/574577461/se-2
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