STU women’s hockey players react to PWHL entering its second season

Last year was a monumental year for female sports. 

We saw women’s sports leagues and athletes create change and build positive momentum. 

The creation of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), which debuted on Jan. 1, 2024, was a driving force behind the change. Through the league, female hockey players had a platform to compete as professionals. 

As the season went on, the PWHL continually broke records, bringing out fans of all ages to fill arenas each night. Fast-forward to the league’s second season: The PWHL is giving fans the same excitement and enjoyment as last year, adding a litany of new concepts to its game plan. 

One of those changes is team names that are not just the city name.

Those names are the Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montréal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge and the Toronto Sceptres.

Elizabeth McIntosh is a second-year forward for the St. Thomas University women’s hockey team. She said she is a fan of the Montreal Victorie, which “follows” her liking of the Montreal Canadiens.  

“I think it [was] a good move. I was happy to hear when the league started because there was not much place for women to look up, to even move on” said McIntosh. “There’s just the National Team and the rivalry series between Canada and the U.S., leaving a bunch of other players, obviously in a bit of a tough spot.”

“Going from the Dream Gap tour to the PWHL, I think, gives much more of a kind of a platform for women and even girls looking out to play.” 

McIntosh said the PWHL’s first season went better than many expected. However, she acknowledged that it faced many challenges throughout the year.

“I think kind of being a bit overshadowed by the NHL, definitely was a bit tough, kind of a shortened season there being six teams,” she said. “I know everything starts small, but I know they’re looking to expand.” 

One of the ways the league is expanding this season is through an innovative event known as the PWHL Takeover Tour. During the Takeover Tour, teams will play nine games in what the league calls “neutral sites.” Most of the neutral sites are home to National Hockey League teams.  

The first game of the tour took place in Seattle on Jan. 5 between the Boston Fleet and the Montreal Victoire. During the game, Boston downed Montreal 3-2 in a shootout. The Fleet were down 2-0 midway through the first period, eventually battling back to claim the victory.  

“I think people will be drawn in from more rural areas to come to the bigger cities to watch. Where the league is new, people are still kind of developing their favourite teams, rivalries.” said McIntosh. ”Just being able to have a team to connect to, going watching them and watching a team win, watching a team lose, will bring many people closer to the league”. 

Over 12,000 people filled the seats of Climate Pledge Arena to watch the game. Those numbers were a record for the season, holding up until the Takeover Tour game in Quebec City. Over 18,000 eager fans sold out the Videotron Centre.  

On a larger scale, over 63,000 fans have come out to support the first five Takeover Tour games.  

“The first season went surprisingly well. I know that there were a lot of doubts about it … doubts about funding and everything. But I think the league did extremely well with combating that. And with all the sellouts that happened and everything,” said Alexie Palchinski, a rookie on the STU women’s hockey team.  

“I think the takeover tour is a genius idea. Honestly, it gets more viewership out there, which is something that a new league needs. And I think it brings more attention.” 

Both Palchinski and McIntosh have watched one Takeover Tour matchup. Palchinski watched the game in Quebec City between Montreal and Ottawa, while McIntosh observed the opening game that took place in Seattle.  

“If this is just the first stepping stone, I think with all the continued growth that it’s having, it’s just [going to] bring more equality to women’s hockey, but also just women’s sports in general,” said Palchinski.