Isobel Gathorne-Hardy

Lady Isobel Constance Mary Gathorne-Hardy (; 2 September 1875 – 30 December 1963) was a British courtier, best known for helping to popularize ice hockey in the early days of the sport in Canada. The daughter of Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, Governor General of Canada, and Lady Constance Villiers, she was one of the earliest European women known to have played the sport. She is celebrated as an early pioneer of women's ice hockey and the championship trophy of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) was named the Isobel Cup in her honour.

Personal life Lady Isobel Stanley was the second-youngest of ten children born to Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby and Constance Villiers. Two of her siblings died before Isobel was born: Geoffrey, Arthur's twin, died on 16 March 1871 and her elder sister, Katherine Mary, died young in October of the same year. Isobel Stanley grew up in an active environment with her seven brothers.

In 1897, she married General Sir (John) Francis Gathorne-Hardy, a younger son of John Gathorne-Hardy, 2nd Earl of Cranbrook and Cicely Ridgway. She retained her title upon marriage as the daughter of an earl and took on the family name of her husband, being styled Lady Gathorne-Hardy. They had one child, a daughter named Elizabeth Constance Mary Gathorne-Hardy (1904–1953).

Lady Gathorne-Hardy served in the Royal Household as a Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Mary during 1914 to 1920. In 1945, King George VI appointed her Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for her service to the royal family.

Ice hockey Isobel Stanley wearing an ankle-length white dress at Rideau Hall on the Rideau Hall rink, Ottawa, circa 1890. Earliest known photograph of women playing ice hockey rather than bandy. Stanley shared her father's and brothers' love of the game of ice hockey and was instrumental in convincing her father to create the Stanley Cup. Stanley played hockey while she was in Canada, playing on the outdoor rink at Rideau Hall. After the opening of the Rideau Skating Rink, she organized one of the first games of women's hockey on record in 1890.

Isobel Gathorne-Hardy Award Lady Isobel Stanley Gathorne-Hardy's role as a pioneer of women's ice hockey in Canada is acknowledged with the Isobel Gathorne-Hardy Award. The award is presented by Hockey Canada to an active player (at any level) whose values, leadership and personal traits are representative of all female athletes.

Year WinnerProvince 2000 Linda Irving Prince Edward Island 2001 Julie Foster Saskatchewan 2002 Andria Hunter Ontario 2003 Tanya Leone British Columbia 2004 Jane Legacé Alberta 2005 Cathy Phillips Ontario 2006 Melanie McFarlane Ontario 2007 Karen Mamchuk Manitoba 2008 No award 2009 Charla Currie Prince Edward Island 2011 Nancy MacMillan Prince Edward Island 2010 No award 2012 Jordan Krause British Columbia 2013 Caroline Ouellette Québec 2014 Lisa-Marie Breton Québec 2015 Mallory Deluce Ontario 2016 Toni Ross Saskatchewan 2017 Natasha Esquivel Manitoba 2018 MacKenna Parker Saskatchewan 2019 Maggie Connors Newfoundland and Labrador 2020 Ève Gascon Québec 2021 Marie-Philip Poulin Québec 2022 Mélodie Daoust Québec 2023 Emmy Fecteau Québec Updated January 7, 2024

Isobel Cup

The championship trophy of the Premier Hockey Federation was named the Isobel Cup in her honor.

Year Winner MVP 2016 Boston Pride Brianna Decker 2017 Buffalo Beauts Brianne McLaughlin 2018 Metropolitan Riveters Alexa Gruschow 2019 Minnesota Whitecaps Lee Stecklein 2021 Boston Pride Jillian Dempsey 2022 Boston Pride Taylor Wenczkowski 2023 Toronto Six Michela Cava