Words by Ryan Cleland (He/Him)
On the 20th April this year 21,105 people gathered at Montreal’s Bell Centre, setting a world record for the largest attendance at a professional women's ice hockey game. This event, titled Duel at the Top, was a regular season matchup between the Toronto and Montreal teams in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PHWL).
The PHWL, launched in January, marks a historic milestone as the first top-level professional hockey league for women. It is also the first professional sports league to use a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Players Association, ensuring fair salaries and guaranteeing contracts in its early days. Commercially the league has thrived, attracting over 390,000 spectators and reaching more than three million online viewers during its debut season. With Team Minnesota recently claiming the coveted Walter Cup in the postseason, and the PWHL draft just concluded, now is the perfect time to dive into this new sport, and perhaps start supporting a team in what is becoming one of the most significant women’s’ sporting leagues in recent years.
PWHL Minnesota
Starting with the league champions, Minnesota got off to a fast start at the beginning of the year dominating the other teams They hit a slump, however, after an international break, remaining winless until the playoffs. There they staged a remarkable comeback, achieving a reverse sweep against Toronto and clinching the Walter Cup in a decisive fifth game against Boston. Leading the forward line was Taylor Heise, the #1 draft pick of the inaugural PWHL draft. The 23-year-old rookie shone in the playoffs, earning the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP with eight points. Another standout was forward Grace Zumwinkle, who led the team in goals (11) and points (19), earning the PWHL Rookie of the Year. In goal, Maddie Rooney and Nicole Hensley provided formidable support, truly shining in the playoffs. The success of Minnesota began and ended with their goaltenders, and it will be exciting to see their progression next year. For newcomers to hockey, Minnesota promises an exciting team to watch as they continue to evolve.
PWHL Montréal
Montréal had an outstanding inaugural season, earning 13 wins and three overtime wins, finishing 2nd in the league before falling to Boston in a major first-round playoff upset. The team is led by Marie-Philip Poulin, affectionately known as ‘Captain Clutch’. She tied for 2nd in the league with 23 points and led in faceoff draws and wins. A huge figure in both the sport and in the province, she was a finalist for the PWHL’s Forward of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards, and was even named to the first PWHL All-Star team. Montréal boasts a strong defensive line, including stars like Kati Tabin, an ex-PHL Isobel Cup-winner, and Erin Ambrose, the PWHL Defender of the Year, who led in assists with 14, and had 18 points overall. Montréal looks to be a strong contender for the Walter Cup next year, making it a perfect time to hop on the bandwagon of one of the best and most experienced teams out there.
PWHL Toronto
Toronto had a dominating season, finishing with a 17-7-0 record, the only team without a regular season overtime loss. However, they fell short in the playoffs, losing to Minnesota in games three, four, and five. Toronto’s MVP, without a doubt, is Natalie Spooner, who led the league in goals and won the Billie Jean King MVP Award. Spooner is the face of women's ice hockey worldwide, with her counterpart, 28-year-old forward Sarah Nurse, also a prominent figure, famously appearing on the cover of EA’s NHL23 with NHL Star Trevor Zegras. With a strong foundation and some of the most famous names in women’s ice hockey, Toronto is set to be a formidable force next season.
PWHL New York
New York, the underdogs of the PWHL, have played a rocky game this season but should not be underestimated. Initially things looked promising, with star players like Ella Shelton, Corinne Schroeder, and Alex Carpenter. However, that unfortunately didn't translate to winning games and getting butts in seats. Consequently, New York ended up in last place with the lowest attendance in the league. However, with the #1 draft pick, they selected generational talent Sarah Fillier, offering hope for a brighter future for the Big Apple. As long as they secure a permanent home, and a place to seat fans, PWHL New York will be an exciting team to watch in the upcoming season, and will hopefully join the large roster of historic New York teams that make the city so infamous for its sports.
PWHL Ottawa
Ottawa stood out as a market, averaging the highest attendance in the league with enthusiastic fans. Despite this, once the dust had settled, they finished second to last, narrowly missing the playoffs. In the latter half of the season is where Ottawa found their footing, with help from players like Captain Brianne Jenner and Kateřina Mrázová, scoring the second most goals of any PWHL team. However, these goals often came at inopportune moments, Ottawa would win 5-0 shutouts and then falter in two-to-one battles. With a strong fanbase, Ottawa is looking to right their wrongs in the coming preseason.
PWHL Boston
Boston delivered the biggest surprise in the PWHL. Despite a slow season start and slim playoff chances, they found their stride post-international break, sweeping Montréal in the first round, pushing Minnesota to five games in the finals, and narrowly missing the Walter Cup. With stellar goaltending from US Gold medalist Aerin Frankel and Rookie All-Star Emma Soderberg, Boston boasts the league's best defence. However, they suffered from a lacklustre offence. By picking up star forwards Hannah Bilka and Ilona Markova in the PWHL draft, they hope to fix the team's glaring offence issue whilst remaining a defensive powerhouse. Boston is highly favoured to return to the finals next year, aiming to secure the cup they narrowly missed.
With the next season of the PWHL set to begin in about two months, featuring an expanded 32-game season and official team names and logos, it’s an exciting time to get involved. The second season promises to be just as successful as the first, so get ready to support the teams and enjoy some thrilling ice hockey action.