Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy

Isobel Stanley (September 2, 1875 – December 30, 1963) was the daughter of former Governor General of Canada Lord Stanley of Preston. While living in Canada, Stanley helped to popularize ice hockey and is considered one of the first women to play the game.
Sir Stanley was the son of Frederick Stanley, and Lady Constance Villiers. He was one of seven children, five boys and two girls. Stanley later married General Hon. Sir John Francis Gathorne-Hardy, taking the name Isobel Gathorne-Hardy. Gathorne-Hardy had one child: daughter Elizabeth Constance Mary Gathorne-Hardy. Stanley became Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
==Ice hockey==
Stanley shared her father's 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, Stanley is mentioned in one of the first games of women's hockey played, played at Rideau Rink in 1899.
===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 given to an active player (at any level) whose values, leadership and personal traits are representative of all female athletes.Lord Stanley:The Man Behind the Cup, p.421, Kevin Shea and John Jason Wilson, Fenn Publishing, Bolton, ON, 2006, ISBN 978-1-55168-281-5
Year	Winner 	Hometown
2000	Linda Irving, Prince Edward Islandhttp://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/8435/la_id/1.htm 	
2002	Andria Hunter 	Peterborough, Ontario
2003	Tanya Leone 	
2004	Jane Legacéhttp://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/8678/la_id/1.htm 	
2005	Cathy Phillips 	
2006	Melanie McFarlane 	
2007	Karen Mamchuk 	
2009	Charla Currie 	
2011	Nancy MacMillanhttp://hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/16980/la_id/1/ss_id/68446/nr_id/167403.htm	
2012	 	
2013	Caroline Ouellette 	Montreal, Quebec
2014	Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux 	Montreal, Quebec
==References==
Category:Born in 1875
Category:Dead in 1963
Category:Female ice hockey players