Courtesy of the PWHL
As the Professional Women’s Hockey League season progresses, the excitement both on and off the ice continues to grow. From standout performances to the potential upcoming expansion, there is no shortage of stories to capture fans’ attention. This week’s roundup dives into the latest developments, including player highlights, a blockbuster trade, league initiatives and team standings. Here’s a look at what’s making headlines in the PWHL.
Poulin Earns First-Star Honors
Marie-Philip Poulin demonstrated yet again why she is one of the league’s top talents with her standout performance this past week. The Montréal Victoire forward put up 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 2 games, earning her the first star of the week after scoring the game-winning goal against the Toronto Sceptres in Vancouver during the second game of the league’s “Takeover Tour.” Poulin leads her team with 6 points in 9 games played.
New York Sirens goaltender Corinne Schroeder was named the second star of the week after back-to-back performances that showcased her skills between the pipes. Schroeder secured her second consecutive shutout in an overtime win against the Sceptres, leading her team to a hard-fought 1-0 victory. She continues to be a key asset for the Sirens as they continue their push for the postseason.
Sidney Morin of the Boston Fleet secured third-star honors after her two-goal performance against the Ottawa Charge. The defender had a goal in regulation followed by the overtime winner to earn the Fleet a 2-1 triumph in Ottawa.
Courtesy of the PWHL
Takeover Tour Continues to Break Records
The PWHL’s “Takeover Tour” has proven to be a resounding success, setting attendance records and drawing in sell-out crowds. Vancouver showcased its support for the league, hosting a sold-out crowd of 19,038 fans at Rogers Arena where the Sceptres took on the Victoire. In Denver, the tour drew a historic crowd of 14,018 fans, marking the largest audience ever for a professional women’s hockey game in the United States.
The “Takeover Tour” continues to underscore the league’s expanding influence and fan base across North America, emphasizing the increasing demand and appreciation for women’s hockey.
Courtesy of The PWHL
With the league’s growing popularity, discussions about expansion have intensified. Seattle, Vancouver, and Denver have all emerged as top candidates, strengthened by the overwhelming support and enthusiasm while hosting the PWHL. The turnout at games in these cities, combined with their established sports cultures and passionate fan bases, has made them prime candidates for future expansion.
No Offside Call Sparks Attention
The New York Sirens secured a controversial 1-0 overtime victory over the Toronto Sceptres, leaving fans, players and announcers questioning a missed call. The game-winning goal, scored by New York’s Jessie Eldridge, came on a play widely regarded as blatantly offside. While it might be understandable for officials to miss an offside call by a few inches, in this instance, Eldridge was clearly well over the blue line when she received the pass from teammate Sarah Fillier.
Due to the PWHL’s current rules, which don’t allow video review for offside in overtime, the Sceptres had no way of challenging the goal. The incident has reignited discussions about the need for expanded video review protocols to ensure fair outcomes in critical moments such as this.
Courtesy of the PWHL
Sceptres’ Struggles and Season Expectations
After an impressive inaugural season, the Toronto Sceptres have found themselves struggling to meet expectations this year. With the absence of star player Natalie Spooner, the team has faced significant adversity in its offensive game, particularly in the goal-scoring department. Their struggles have been evident, and they’ve failed to produce the same level of offense that helped define their early success, landing them at the bottom of the standings with a 3-2-5 record on the season thus far.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Frost continue to excel where they currently sit in first place in the league with a 7-2-2 record. The Frost have set a high standard after winning the inaugural Walter Cup championship and continuing to produce this season.
The Montréal Victoire have been impressive, as expected, while being led by players like Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey. The New York Sirens have been quite comparable in terms of position in the standings. Closer to the bottom of the standings, the Ottawa Charge and Boston Fleet have both been competing at just under a .500 win percentage.
As the playoffs near, teams have begun to put the pressure on as they fight for one of four positions in the postseason.
Courtesy of the PWHL
Making Moves
On Dec. 30, 2024, the Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres completed the first trade of the season. The Charge acquired forward Victoria Bach and defender Jocelyne Laroque from the Sceptres in exchange for defender Savannah Harmon and forward Hayley Scamurra.
Both teams expressed their gratitude for the departing players and praise for the incoming players. For the Sceptres, Harmon should continue to provide stability in the defensive zone, while Scamurra has the ability to use her competitive nature to support the team. The Charge have already seen the offensive upside of Bach, who tallied a goal and two assists in her four games with the charge, and Laroque has put up an assist from the defensive end.
Courtesy of the PWHL
Other Notable Performances of the Week
This week marked several milestones, with Maggie Flaherty and Mellissa Channell-Watkins of Minnesota, Maggie Connors of Toronto and Sidney Morin of Boston each scoring their first goals of the season. Victoria Bach also netted her first goal in a Charge uniform in a game against the Boston Fleet.
Sceptres captain Blayre Turnbull scored a beautiful goal through the five-hole for the game-winner against the Ottawa Charge, propelling the Toronto Sceptres in the right direction with the win.
Edited by Jenna Mandarano
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