The PWHL is officially here — Team USA looks to go back-to-back — Must-click women’s hockey links
The IX: Hockey Friday with The Ice Garden, Sep. 1, 2023
Happy Friday! It’s Leighann Strollo from The Ice Garden with an exciting week of women’s hockey news. Buckle up, there is a lot to delve into as we close out August!
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Friend of the newsletter writer this week, Alyssa Turner may have put it best in ‘The PWHL Era Has Arrived‘ with a simple ‘Here we go’ to announce the official launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) set to begin play in January of 2024, but that is the biggest news to hit the women’s hockey world this week so we have to discuss it.
“Naming their six markets across Canada and the U.S., league officials announced that some of the world’s best women’s hockey players will hit the ice in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and the New York City Area,” Turner added.
The league just announced all six general managers earlier this morning, and each team will have until Sept. 10to sign three players and begin preparing for the draft set for Sept. 18. They’ll also need to hire a coaching staff and support and operations staffers, too.
Of course, this has led to a ton of conversations about who will play where, who will coach and manage where, and what the team’s names and origins will be.
Professional Women’s Hockey League: Predicting the top 18 players who could sign – Hailey Salvian (The Athletic)
Talking Points From the PWHL’s Introductory News Conference – Simon Hopkins (The Ice Garden)
While it’s an exciting time for the future of women’s hockey and the idea of ‘one league’ finally forming, some are mourning the loss of teams, players and markets that may not make it to the PWHL just yet.
Buffalo youth hockey players cope with loss of the Beauts – Andy Paden
Losing The Minnesota Whitecaps Is A Loss Of Women’s Hockey History – Ian Kennedy (The Hockey News)
In addition to the PWHL drop this week, the Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship is already underway in Wisconsin and the United States are looking to claim another title after winning the Championship in 2022.
US Looks To Defend Title At Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Challenge – Ian Kennedy (The Hockey News)
Para-ice hockey: Dani Czernuszka-Watts finds ‘normality’ through sport after being paralysed in rugby tackle – Katie Falkingham (BBC)
With hockey season quickly approaching, teams all over are securing their rosters and staff as well. A few notable names have been picked up across the NCAA and around the world.
Nina Rodgers Named Women’s Ice Hockey Assistant Coach – Maine Athletics
Breanna Wilson-Bennett Named Assistant Coach and Director of Operations at Colgate.
Sara Grahn Backstops Luleå In Men’s Pro Hockey – Ian Kennedy (The Hockey News)
By next Friday, I’m sure the landscape of women’s hockey will be even more different with the incoming news about the PWHL and NCAA season set to begin soon but there’s a lot to celebrate on the horizon!
| Mondays: Soccer |
| By: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer |
| Tuesdays: Tennis |
| By: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer |
| Wednesdays: Basketball |
| By: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal, The Next |
| Thursdays: Golf |
| By: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX |
| Fridays: Hockey |
| By: @TheIceGarden, The Ice Garden |
| Saturdays: Gymnastics |
| By: Lela Moore, @runlelarun, Freelance Writer |
