Hockey Hall of Fame considers female inductees

TORONTO (AP) -- The Ice Hockey Hall of Fame is changing its rules in a move that signals it is ready to admit its first female player.

Starting in 2010, the hall will consider male and female candidates separately. The new bylaw will allow a maximum of four men and two women to be inducted each year. Presently there was a maximum of four player inductees, and women are judged and considered against men.

"The new voting procedures address the basic principle and general view among the board of directors and selection committee that men and women ought not to compete directly against each other for limited places of honored membership," hall chairman Bill Hay said in a statement on Tuesday.