Omaha Hosted Nebraska's First Women's Hockey Series In The Winter Of 1941

If you look back at Nebraska's ice hockey history, you'll find several iterations of the Omaha Knights, who first stepped on the ice at the Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum in 1939. What you won't find, is the brief but successful stint of women's hockey in Omaha in 1941.

“Girls’ hockey proved to be quite an attraction Wednesday night at the Coliseum. A turnout of 2,400 enjoyed the game and voted, viva voce for a return engagement,” the Omaha World-Herald wrote of the January 15, 1941 game, the first official women’s hockey game on record in the state.

The first game of women's hockey in Nebraska history took place that day between two teams of women known as Union Pacific and Brandeis Store, the first in a three game series. While the 2,400 fans who turned out that first night were impressive, the crowds to watch women's hockey in Omaha would only grow that winter.

In the first game, Union Pacific took a 2-1 win. “There were lots of black and blue marks on shins afterward, but the contestants had fun, they said," wrote the World-Herald. The paper reported that only one player on the ice wore shin guards.

In another adaptation, goaltenders didn’t stand in the game.

“The goalies played on hands and knees and were pretty successful in stopping attempted scores,” the World-Herald wrote. Ella Mae Oberlander and Rose Kanger scored for Union Pacific, while Marjorie Crowe had the lone Brandeis goal.

The second game of the series drew 2,500 fans to the Coliseum on February 5, 1941 to see Brandeis win 1-0.

“The winning shot was made by Eleanor Trout on a pass from Marjorie Crowe. It was a corner shot and there was considerable dispute about it.”

With the series tied 1-1, a third and deciding game took place on March 8, 1941 in front of 4,000 fans to decide a city champion.

“As an innovation this season, ladies ice hockey received its first trial, and proved unexpectedly successful," the World-Herald wrote of the previous two games. "The groups of the fair sex, representing Union Pacific and the Brandeis Store, played two games and won one each. U.P. took the first game by a 2 to 1 score, and Brandeis won the second 1 to 0. Immediately following the mans game, the Powder Puff championship will get under way. The winner of this game will be awarded the Associated Retailers trophy.”

As it turned out, after losing the opening game of the series, Brandeis fought back to win the series 2-1.

“The gals decided their championship too,” wrote the Omaha World-Herald. “It was 1-0 for Brandeis over Union Pacific. Marjorie Crowe slapped in a nifty after Gladys Claussen passed her a rebound. Brandeis then played good defensive hockey. Pacifics threatened in the last 30 seconds.”

The game saw many soldiers in attendance and bugle music as the soldiers prepared to fight in World War II.

The following winter, the Omaha Knights returned to the city, although 1942 would be their final year in the American Hockey Association before a three season hiatus before the team would relaunch in 1945 in the United States Hockey League.

Women's hockey however, would not return for decades to Omaha or the state of Nebraska, but in 1941, thousands of fascinated fans saw women play the sport for the first time ever.

The women of the teams included, for Brandeis: Rita Martin, Dorothy Moore, Marjorie Caveye, Jean Planteen, Lelia Sweet Pomo, Mildred Gieler, Gladys Claussen, Marjorie Crowe, Florence Pascal, Jane Kingsbury, Lorraine Aitkenhead, Yvonne Leigh, Jane Lawrence, Hermine Graske, and Eleanor Trout. Union Pacific's lineup included: Rose Kanger, Ella Mae Oberlander, Mary Ruth Rance, Libbie Kohl, LaVern Manley, Virginia Rance, Lillian Vondrasek, Geraldine Rance, Mildred Van Haven, Clara Leutenegger, Judy Gibson, and Dorothy Olsen.

View the original article to see embedded media.