The league returns to action following the IIHF National Team Break
TORONTO, ON (February 12, 2024) – Here’s a look at the latest highlights from across the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), plus a look ahead to this week’s action.
TRADE UPDATES
The first trade in PWHL history was announced on Sunday between Boston and Minnesota. Boston acquired defender Abby Cook and forward Susanna Tapani from Minnesota in exchange for defender Sophie Jaques. The final day to complete trades during the 2024 PWHL season is Sunday, March 17.
TIME ON ICE LEADERS AT FORWARD
Five forwards across the PWHL average more than 20 minutes of ice time per game at this stage of the season. The group includes Montréal captain Marie-Philip Poulin (21:38), followed by New York’s Alex Carpenter (21:36), Boston’s Alina Müller (21:35), New York’s Abby Roque (21:19), and Boston’s Hilary Knight (21:16). Ottawa’s Brianne Jenner (19:23), Toronto’s Sarah Nurse (19:19), and Minnesota’s Kelly Pannek (19:09) lead their respective team forward groups in average time on ice.
TIME ON ICE LEADERS ON DEFENSE
Toronto’s top defensive unit of Renata Fast and Jocelyne Larocque have emerged as the league’s time on ice leaders through the first 25 games, both averaging over 28:30 per game. Four more players have per game averages over 25 minutes including Minnesota’s Lee Stecklein (27:25), New York’s Jaime Bourbonnais (26:07) and Ella Shelton (25:14), and Montréal’s Erin Ambrose (25:13). Boston’s Megan Keller (23:45) and Ottawa’s Savannah Harmon (22:40) lead their respective teams in average ice time.
ADZIJA SURPRISES YOUNG FAN
Ottawa’s Lexie Adzija is impressing fans both on and off the ice. A clip of the star forward surprising a young fan celebrating her birthday at home with family and friends recently went viral on social media. The video was featured on CTV Breakfast Television’s ‘Bright Spot’ and Adzija also spoke about the unique appearance and how it came to be with Tessa Bonhomme on the Jocks in Jills podcast. The 23-year-old from St. Thomas, ON is playing in her first professional season and leads Ottawa with four goals and six points in seven games.
BRUINS SUPPORT PWHL BOSTON
Last Tuesday at TD Garden was a Women in Sports Night celebration and the NHL’s Boston Bruins arrived in style by wearing PWHL Boston apparel. Players like Brad Marchand wore the jersey of fellow Boston captain Hilary Knight, and David Pastrňák wore the jersey of fellow Boston scoring leader Alina Müller, as shown in a team posted video on social media. Several PWHL Boston players were in attendance to watch the game and sign autographs for fans at intermission.
MINNESOTA AND TORONTO TAKE IT OUTSIDE
On Thursday morning, PWHL Toronto players showcased their talents before fans at Nathan Phillips Square in a skills competition hosted in partnership with the Toronto Maple Leafs annual outdoor practice. Then on Friday, PWHL Minnesota held an open practice at SCHEELS Rink at the United Heroes League Tradition Veterans Complex in Hastings. United Heroes League assists military families with sports equipment, camps, association fees, and special experiences.
CANADA WINS RIVALRY SERIES
The Canadian National Women’s Team defeated the U.S. National Women’s Team 6-1 on Sunday at Minnesota’s Xcel Energy Center to claim the 2023-24 Rivalry Series title. Canada won four straight games, including a 4-2 victory on Feb. 7 in Saskatoon and a 3-0 shutout on Feb. 9 in Regina, to complete the reverse sweep for the second consecutive season. Toronto’s Natalie Spooner and Emma Maltais each scored two goals and one assist, and Sarah Nurse recorded three assists for Canada in Sunday’s finale. Spooner and Boston’s Hilary Knight (USA) tied for the series-lead in points with six. A total of 53 PWHL players competed in the 2023-24 Rivalry Series, including all 49 roster spots for February’s games.
FINLAND WINS WOMEN’S EURO HOCKEY TOUR
Susanna Tapani (Boston) helped the Finnish National Team land atop the standings with 10 points in the latest edition of the Women’s Euro Hockey Tour, played Feb. 7-11 in Liberec, Czechia. Finland won three of its four round-robin games in regulation against Czechia, Germany, and Switzerland, with its only loss in a 2-1 shootout against Sweden where Emma Söderberg (BOS) earned the win between-the-pipes. Host Czechia finished in second place with eight points, led offensively by Tereza Vanišová (MTL) who scored two goals and six assists, and Kateřina Mrázová (OTT) with four goals and two assists. Denisa Křížová (MIN) and Aneta Tejralová (OTT) also competed in the event for Czechia, and Sandra Abstreiter (OTT) played for Germany.
HUNGARY WINS FOUR NATIONS TOURNAMENT
Fanni Garát-Gasparics (OTT) scored three goals in three games to help the Hungarian National Team to a first-place finish during the latest Four Nations Tournament, played Feb. 8-10 in Bratislava, Slovakia. She scored both goals in Hungary’s 2-0 win over France, and the shootout winner in a 4-3 triumph over Slovakia. Hungary lost its only game to Norway by a 4-3 score in a shootout. Garát-Gasparics was the only PWHL player to compete in this event.
THE WEEK AHEAD
All teams return to action this week with six games across the league, including Friday’s Battle on Bay Street, featuring Toronto and Montréal at Scotiabank Arena. Before then, Toronto visits Boston for the first time at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, and Ottawa makes its first trip to Minnesota’s Xcel Energy Center, for a pair of Valentine’s Day matchups. Minnesota returns to Ottawa, and New York is back in Boston for the second time on Saturday afternoon. Minnesota will continue its road trip against Montréal at Place Bell on Sunday.
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
7:00 p.m. ET – Toronto at Boston (Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell)
Linear TV: NESN, TSN1/4
Streaming: YouTube
8:00 p.m. ET – Ottawa at Minnesota (Xcel Energy Center)
Linear TV: Bally Sports North Extra
Streaming: TSN+, YouTube
Friday, February 16, 2024
7:00 p.m. ET – Montréal at Toronto (Scotiabank Arena)
Linear TV: TSN5
Streaming: YouTube
French: RDS
Saturday, February 17, 2024
2:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota at Ottawa (The Arena at TD Place)
Linear TV: Sportsnet 360, Bally Sports North
Streaming: Sportsnet+, YouTube
4:00 p.m. ET – New York at Boston (Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell)
Linear TV: NESN, MSG/MSGHD
Streaming: CBC Gem, YouTube
Sunday, February 18, 2024
1:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota at Montréal (Place Bell)
Linear TV: Sportsnet ONE, Bally Sports North
Streaming: Sportsnet+, YouTube
French: RDS
Visit thepwhl.com to purchase tickets and merchandise, and subscribe to the PWHL e-newsletter to receive the latest league updates. Follow the league on all social media platforms @thepwhlofficial plus all six team accounts @pwhl_boston, @pwhl_minnesota, @pwhl_montreal, @pwhl_newyork, @pwhl_ottawa, and @pwhl_toronto.