Women in the Hall of Fame: Finally.

Angela James and Cammi Granato (L-R in picture) were the first women inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame today. This is awesome. It is. I'm thrilled. These women don't deserve to be in because they have done well as women, but because they have contributed to this wonderful sport as human beings.

Cammi Granato was part of the 1998 USA National Team that won the first women's hockey Olympic gold medal. Angela James played on several Canadian National Teams and is widely acknowledged north of the border for her contributions to women's hockey and women's recognition in hockey.

Granato had this to say, as quoted by ESPN:
"It just comes with the territory because we're used to doing that, we're used to defending ourselves," Granato said Monday. "I had to defend myself from the time when I was in a rink when I was a little kid and people wondered 'Why is she playing?'"

"We just have to keep repeating ourselves over and over. ... But this helps, I tell you, being here. Having this committee and this Hall accept us really helps."

These two women have already done their share to hasten the day when the patriarchy no longer forces females to defend their position within this sport. Finally, it seems some of that patriarchy is starting to listen to them.

(sources: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/45678/ http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/halloffame10/news/story?id=5781271 )