From City to City: A PWHL Takeover Tour Recap

The PWHL hit the road this season, and let’s just say they took over in every sense of the word. From record-breaking crowds to exciting plays that left fans on the edge of their seats, the PWHL Takeover Tour was a rollercoaster for professional women’s hockey. With nine stops across North America, here’s how the league made history and headlines, one city at a time!

Seattle

Courtesy of the PWHL

The tour kicked off in rainy Seattle on Jan. 5, but the energy from fans inside Climate Pledge Arena was anything but gloomy. The Boston Fleet and Montréal Victoire played a thrilling game for the first of the tour, taking it all the way to a shootout. Boston sealed the deal for a dramatic 3-2 win in front of 12,608 fans. For an opener, the league couldn’t have asked for more.

Vancouver

Courtesy of the PWHL

The next stop of the tour was Rogers Arena on Jan. 8, home of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, where a sold-out crowd of 19,038 showed up in support. The Montréal Victoire battled the Toronto Sceptres to a 4-2 victory, but in this case, the score was the least impressive part of the game. The league managed to sell out a major NHL arena on a Monday night, which is something the NHL itself can’t do on some nights. Montréal brought the goals, and Vancouver brought the noise, answering any questions about the West Coast’s love for women’s hockey.

Denver

Courtesy of the PWHL

High altitude and high energy were the headlines in Denver on Jan. 12. The Minnesota Frost beat the Montréal Victoire by a score of 4-2 at Ball Arena, in front of 14,018 fans. Denver knows how to host, and the Frost proved they’re built for big games. It was a physical, high-energy game that showed just how passionate players and fans are for the PWHL.

Québec City

Courtesy of the PWHL

On Jan. 19, Québec City said “bonjour” to the drama. In front of a sold-out crowd of 18,259 at Vidéotron Centre, Montréal took the 2-1 win over the Ottawa Charge in a tight game. The team’s home province pride was there in full force, and the fans were louder than ever. There’s something special about wins on home ice, even if it’s technically a neutral-site game.

Edmonton

Courtesy of the PWHL

Women’s hockey night in Edmonton saw the Toronto Sceptres and Ottawa Charge go head-to-head in a thrilling game on Feb. 16. The Sceptres came out on top by a score of 3-2, with Daryl Watts scoring twice, including the overtime winner. Oh yeah, it was also yet another sellout at 17,518 people in attendance at Rogers Place. Canada always shows up for hockey, but this game was an instant classic for women’s hockey in the North.

Buffalo

Courtesy of the PWHL

Another game that went down to the wire! The Boston Fleet fought the New York Sirens in a 3-2 shootout on Feb. 23, where Susanna Tapani played the hero. A large crowd of 8,512 fans made their way to KeyBank Center, and they got every penny’s worth of hockey drama. This game proved that every stop on the tour brought something special, and Buffalo definitely delivered the tension.

Raleigh

Courtesy of the PWHL

The Minnesota Frost brought the heat in North Carolina on March 7, blanking Ottawa 5-0, at Lenovo Center. The clean shutout was a dominant performance for the Frost as they were cheered on by 10,782 fans. The southern showdown saw Minnesota in full control, with their offense clicking, but goaltender Maddie Rooney was the true star of the show. She recorded her second shutout of the season and showcased her confident play.

Detroit

Courtesy of the PWHL

The Detroit stop on the Takeover Tour will go down in league history. An immense crowd of 14,288 set a new record for the most fans to attend a professional women’s hockey game in the U.S., and one lucky person became the league’s one-millionth fan. The New York Sirens beat the Minnesota Frost, 4-1, at Little Caesars Arena, stealing the show. This night was about more than just the scoreboard, though; it was a celebration of just how far the PWHL has come.

St. Louis

Courtesy of the PWHL

The grand finale at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis on March 29 did not disappoint. The Ottawa Charge stunned the Boston Fleet with two late goals in just 32 seconds, courtesy of Tereza Vanišová. The final score was 2-1, Ottawa, in front of a crowd of 8,578. The last stop turned out to be the best plot twist and a reminder that no lead is safe in the PWHL with its elite talents.

The PWHL Takeover Tour turned out to not just be a series of games, but a statement to the world. The league showed up and showed off, proving that professional women’s hockey is thriving all across North America. With fans rallying in every city and players performing at their best, this tour was nothing short of legendary.

Edited by Jenna Mandarano