MIXING it with the big boys in ice hockey holds no fears for Australian defender Silvia Luis. Without a statewide women's league to play in, Luis is one of three females playing for the Pirates - Victoria Ice Hockey Association junior elite under-18 side - at Oakleigh ice rink.
Luis said the association allowed women to play in a full-contact boys' league for the first time this year.
"Some of us were a little reluctant and a bit concerned at first, but it's worked out well."
She said there was not enough girls playing to form a statewide league and the sport had been the victim of a lack of funding.
Luis has represented Australia in the women's side in 2005 and in Finland last March.
"Unfortunately, we're stuck in this cycle of winning division 3 and losing in division 2 as soon as we move up," she said.
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