Writer: Sofi Dawalibi
Editor: Mare Lara
The Professional Women’s Hockey League has been building momentum since announcing its team’s names at the beginning of September – or even before that. – Though women’s hockey accolades have been long overdue, their own version of the NHL (National Hockey League) has definitely been the right move. So far they’ve gathered over 40 million viewers throughout the 2023-2024 season. While the clock counts down the minutes until November 19th, the start of the 2024-2025 preseason, allows us to get updated on the game’s “terms and conditions.”
Game Structure
Both the PWHL and NHL have the same structure when it comes to periods, there are 3 periods of 20 minutes each. At the start of the game, there is a faceoff which is when the puck drops, in this case in the center ice. This is an important part of the game since it’s crucial to the flow of it!
In case the game goes to overtime – which is when the game is tied at the end of regulation time – the teams will play an additional overtime period of not more than 5 minutes with the team scoring first being declared the winner.
On the ice, there will be 3 skaters and 1 goalie. In case it’s still tied after overtime, the teams will do a shootout which is when each team is given 5 shots on goal. If still tied, the game takes on the rare “sudden death” format where teams alternate until one scores and the other does not.
Teams will be awarded 3 points in the standings for a regulation win, 2 points for an overtime or shootout win, 1 point for an overtime or shootout loss, and 0 points for a regulation time loss.
Players
If you’re familiar with the NHL then this will be an easy ride for you, as the players are the same. If not, this is still easy to hang onto! Here are the types of players in Hockey:
Forwards: they are responsible for scoring goals and creating offensive opportunities. They’re divided into Centers and Wingers. Centers usually play in both offense and defense and take face-offs while setting up other players for scoring. The Wingers are separated in left and right, to focus on scoring and assisting, being positioned near the goal areas and the boards – watch out for them as they’re usually the fastest on the ice.
Defensemen: they are tasked with the protection of their goal and the prevention of scoring from the opposing team, as they’re still contributing to offensive plays. Though less known, there are two main types of defense being played in hockey. The stay-at-home defensemen are focused on blocking shots to the goal and clearing the puck from their zone, and the offensive defensemen joins the attack and contributes to scoring.
Goaltenders: though besides the point, they’re usually the most wholesome of the bunch. They’re the last line of defense and protect the goal with their lives. There are the starting goalies, who are usually playing the majority of the game, and the backup goalies, who step in when needed.
These are the main players for the team, although occasionally there are players that have even more specific roles that change depending on the situation their team is in. There are power-play specialists, who can play when the other team is short-handed, penalty killers, who are more effective at preventing goals during penalty situations, and two-way players, who are extremely versatile especially when the team is short-handed.
Each player should be unique to reflect the league’s versatility, so the dynamics of the game are fun to watch!
Rules
We have established the beginning of the game with the faceoff, but they’re still used throughout the game in case the following situations happen – to confirm the possession of the beloved puck.
Offside Rule: this happens when a player enters the attacking zone (the opponent’s blue line) before the puck does. Declaring an offside, the play is stopped and the faceoff occurs in the neutral zone.
Icing: it’s when a player shoots the puck from their side of the center red line to the opposing goal line without it being touched by another player. The game stops and the faceoff takes place in the offending team’s zone.
Fighting: this is where it gets interesting, as in the NHL it is a part of the game and serves as a form of physical expression. Though the players can receive a 5-minute major penalty – which we’ll discuss later – that doesn’t stop them from engaging in it. While in the PWHL fighting is very strictly prohibited, causing the players to an automatic ejection from the game and further disciplinary measures.
That is a way of enforcing the sportsmanship of hockey rather than physical aggression. Even though the girls came close a few times – Minnesota and Montreal, Montreal and Ottawa, and especially Toronto and Boston with an almost brawl between the teams – it is not allowed.
Penalties
While the NHL has a broader range of penalties – including minor, major, and misconduct – the PWHL’s rules when it comes to penalties are not yet completely clear. They have announced members of their Player Safety Committee, who are responsible for providing “independent review and recommendations on supplementary discipline,” as the leagues share their foundational understanding of penalties while the nuances can vary based on each play. Let’s assess the types of penalties that might be applicable for the upcoming season!
Minor Penalties: a player serving a minor penalty will sit in the penalty box for 2 minutes as their team plays short-handed. Those penalties can be labeled as Tripping, where a player has used their stick or their body to trip a player from the opposing team, Hooking, where the player has used their stick to hook an opponent from moving forward, Slashing, when a player uses their stick at the opponent even if contact was just attempted, Interference, where movement of an opponent who does not have the puck yet is blocked, and Holding, when a player grabs the other player or their stick to restrict movement.
Major Penalties: a player serving a major penalty will be sitting for 5 minutes in the penalty box. Those penalties can be caused by Fighting, – only in the case of the NHL, as the rules are more strict for the PWHL – Checking from Behind, when a player hits their opponent from behind into the boards, Spearing, when a player uses their stick to hit the opponent, and Match Penalty which is a serious infraction of the game – a player whose intent is to injury the other, which might cause their ejection from the game.
Misconduct Penalties: these penalties are assessed separately as it’s more about unsportsmanlike conduct or actions that really injured a player. It’s more singular than referring to the whole team, as the player who has caused the penalty will be off the game, but their team does not play short-handed.
Sometimes a penalty shot is awarded when a player is denied a scoring opportunity due to foul play – whether they be tripped, checked from behind, or hooked – which is when they get a one-on-one opportunity to score against the opposing goalie.
The PWHL has more enforcement of penalties, as certain infractions such as fighting lead to an automatic suspension from the game. Both leagues use video review for the referee’s judgment. “The entire PWHL has embraced the opportunity to be innovative with how our game is played. [...] I think fans are really going to enjoy the PWHL for its speed and skill in addition to its physicality and competitiveness” Jayna Hefford, the Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations has stated to PWHL about their rules of not fighting.
Though some are upset about the no fighting rule, – of course, we’re entertained by chaos, that’s a part of what sports are about – I believe it’s nice to have those differences between leagues, as they help shape unique identities of games. One does not have to replace the other, as they can co-exist while still being under similar management. These variations of rules and approaches to hockey are exciting more than anything, having a broader range of the types of games we’ll have at the palm of our hands to consume.
As the NHL’s 2024-2025 season approaches, we can start getting ready to receive the women on the ice for their exciting second season! With the now re-introduced inaugural six teams (Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montréal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge, and Toronto Sceptres), pre-season camp will be starting November 19th and running until November 22nd, with the season dates yet to be announced. You can watch the games from broadcast partners, as the league has partnered with ESPN and TNT for live broadcasts, and streaming services like ESPN+, the NHL Network, or YouTube!
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