The professional women’s hockey league is here! The puck will drop for the new women’s hockey league on Jan. 1 when Team New York visits Team Toronto for the first game of the PWHL regular season.
The PWHL was announced last summer after the previous Premier Hockey Federation was dissolved after eight seasons. The PWHL marks the third time a women’s hockey league has launched in North America since 2007; this one stands apart from billionaire Mark Walter and other pioneering sports minds behind this new effort.
The PWHL bills itself as the “first women’s hockey league of its kind,” according to its website, and says its goal is to bring together the best female players in the world. Want to know more? PEOPLE has your guide to what you need to know, who to watch out for and how to watch PWHL games.
Taylor Heise.
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Why is there a new women’s hockey league?
In 2019, some of the world’s best female hockey players began boycotting existing leagues that refused to pay compensation to their players. About 200 players said they would not play in any North American hockey league until they received “the resources that professional hockey demands and deserves,” according to The Athletic.
“We may have represented different teams, leagues and countries – but this sport is one family. And now it’s time for this family to unite,” says the statement of the players who united in 2019 in the Association of Professional Hockey Women. “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for – our moment to come together and say we deserve more. It is time for a long-term sustainable professional league that will showcase the greatest product of women’s professional hockey in the world.”
The AthleticJournalist Hailey Salvian reported in June that the players’ association had reached a partnership deal with Walter, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had begun formulating plans for a new league in 2022. The new league was announced this summer at the same time the former Premier League collapsed. federation.
American hockey players reached an agreement with the women’s national team, avoiding a boycott
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Kennedy Marchment.
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Who is involved in the PWHL?
The PWHL is governed by a board of directors that includes pioneering tennis stars including Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, as well as former major league athletic directors Stan Kasten and Royce Cohen.
Which teams compete in the PWHL?
The PWHL consists of six original teams from Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa and Toronto. The teams, which do not yet have official names, are composed of 23 players each. Each team’s roster is determined by a 15-round draft held in September.
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Kendall Coyne Schofield.
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When does the regular season start?
The regular season is scheduled to run from January to early May, followed by a playoff tournament to determine the league’s first champion in June, according to the PWHL website.
The first game of the season will be played in Toronto on January 1, between Team Toronto and Team New York. The playoff format will be announced soon, the league said.
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Erin Ambrose.
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Who are some of the best players in the PWHL?
Team Minnesota carries a hometown roster made up of a number of players who have played for Team USA in recent years. Minnesota, which has won all three of its preseason games this month, is also led by first-round draft pick Taylor Heise – the 2022 college hockey MVP and last year’s World Cup MVP for Team USA.
“She’s one of the best players in the world right now,” Minnesota general manager Natalie Darwitz told the CBC. “Every time she’s on the ice, she commands attention and is dynamic.”
Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion Kendall Coyne Schofield adds even more firepower to Team Minnesota’s roster.
Elsewhere in the league, Team Toronto forward Sarah Nurse is often considered one of the best players in hockey today. The Ontario native, the 28-year-old goaltender won both gold and silver medals at the Olympics and was one of the faces of EA Sports’ NHL ’23 video game.
Boston’s roster is led by veteran American forward Hilary Knight, who brings her own experience as an Olympic gold medalist and nine-time World Cup champion for Team USA. Kennedy Marchment and major league defenseman Erin Ambrose are also key figures for Team Montreal, which will compete for the PWHL title in June.
The USA women’s ice hockey team won the silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics by defeating Canada 3-2
Where can I watch PWHL games?
The PWHL has yet to officially announce its streaming partners, although Kasten, one of the league’s advisory board members, said the league’s goal is to have every game televised, according to Hockey news.
The CBC has released a schedule with plans to broadcast most regular season games for its Canadian viewers. The PHL, the women’s hockey league that preceded the PWHL, broadcast its games in the US on the ESPN+ app.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education