Body checks a hit with players as women's tournament welcomes chippy play

Pushes, shoves and hits have been abundant in the group stages of the Milano-Cortina women's hockey tournament, where players say they are pleasantly surprised by the physical play referees have allowed on the ice.

Body checking has previously not been allowed ​in women's international tournaments such as the World Championships and Olympic Games, differing from the men's game.

The rules are also a stark departure from the men's top-flight professional National Hockey League, where violent play is the norm.

"Overall, tournaments before this, they had been taking a lot of penalties for body checks and stuff like that. ​And I know that we'd get frustrated because it's hockey. It's a physical sport," said Swedish defender Mira Jungaker.

"I'm happy that they're letting us hit and be physical."

Critics ⁠of body checking in the women's game say that restricting the move can reduce ‍injuries. But many fans and ⁠players have long argued that limiting or outright ​banning body checks creates a less safe and less entertaining game.

In Thursday's opening match between Sweden and Germany at Milano Rho arena, referees had set the tone for a chippier, faster-paced women's tournament, said German goalie Sandra Abstreiter.

"It seemed like the referees let a lot of ⁠things go. Now we know and now we can move forward from that," Abstreiter told reporters after losing the Group B contest 4-1.

"Both them and us, we probably weren't expecting it to be as loose but it ‍ended up being that way and I think we all - both teams — adjusted to it."

The International Ice Hockey Federation did not respond to a request for comment.

The Professional Women's Hockey League, which has provided a welcome career pathway for players and a surge of new