Skating on Thin Ice: Professional Hockey, Rape Culture, and Violence against Women

"As a female survivor of sexual abuse in sport and an expert in the space, I read this book with goosebumps and validation. I continually found myself saying ‘oh, you so get it,’ and this is rare. I commend the authors for their diligence and thoroughness. Regardless of my own lived experience, today I am a proud hockey mom. This book will help me raise hockey boys to be the hockey men of the future!"

Allison Forsyth, Two-Time Olympian, Safe Sport Advocate, and Partner and COO of ITP Sport & Recreation

"This book is about opening the conversation to the culture that exists in all sports for change. We as women have sat on the bench for too long, and it is time to play. When reading this book, how will you measure the success of your child versus the damage to succeed?"

Brenda Andress, Founder and CEO of SheIS Sports Network and Former Founding Commissioner of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League

"Skating on Thin Ice provides a sociological and psychological road map that describes the sanctioned rape culture of professional hockey. It argues that the depraved actions of hockey players are not the result of some group mental illness, but the logical outcome of a culture that is highly privileged and deeply misogynistic, and that defines masculinity through a prism of physical and sexual violence. A must read, especially for sports fans."

Laura Robinson, Author of Crossing the Line: Violence and Sexual Assault in Canada’s National Sport

"Skating on Thin Ice blends seasoned social science analysis and deep familiarity with the world of professional hockey to provide a compelling exploration of the toxic culture of misogyny and violence against women that pervades so much of high-level professional sports. This is a powerful, insightful, and profoundly troubling book that should be read by anyone concerned with the integrity and moral character of sport today."

Elliott P. Currie, Professor of Criminology, Law, and Society, University of California, Irvine

"Every so often a book comes along that deepens the way we think about the depth of misogyny inherent in patriarchy. Skating on Thin Ice is one such book, offering a critical and nuanced analysis of hegemonic masculinity in general and ice hockey culture in particular. Especially refreshing and innovative is the way this book focuses on strategies for change and refuses to accept the status quo. Given the levels of male violence against women, we need more books like this."

Gail Dines, Professor Emerita of Sociology, Wheelock College, and Founder and President of Culture Reframed