We are just over a week away from the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League season getting underway. With just six teams, each lineup is stacked with talent.
Today, we look at three teams from the United States, breaking down their star players and how they matchup with the rest of the PWHL.
Boston
Up front, Boston has both experience and youth that can put the puck in the back of the net.
Arguably the most popular face is Hilary Knight. The star U.S. National Team player signed with Boston to bring both a veteran presence, along with her all-world talents. The 34-year-old might not have had the greatest 2022-23 campaign with Team Sonnet in the PWHPA Dream Gap Tour (DGT), but Knight has shown flashes of her vintage self, currently leading the Rivalry Series with six points in four games.
Brampton, Ontario – Team USA forward Hilary Knight (#21) during a game at CAA Arena on April 5, 2023. (Photo by Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)
Hannah Brandt brings in a championship pedigree, having won the Premier Hockey Federation’s (formerly National Women’s Hockey League) Isobel Cup with the Minnesota Whitecaps in 2019, along with her years of experience in the red, white and blue. She’ll be leaned on heavily to be a quality producer.
Arguably the most significant rookie is Alina Müller. One of the biggest reasons for Switzerland’s recent rise in women’s hockey, Müller is coming off a stellar career at Northeastern that saw her nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Award (given to the best NCAA player) in each of her five seasons. The former Boston Pride (PHF) signee is the all-time Hockey East points leader, scoring 175 points as a Husky.
PWHL Boston forward Hannah Brandt (Credit: PWHL)
Megan Keller has been a big part of the American D-core over her career, and was third among defender scoring in the DGT last season, scoring 12 points in 20 games. Sydney Morin is in her second pro season in North America after an illustrious run overseas, as the former Minnesota-Duluth star was a two-time SDHL (Sweden) Defender of the Year.
Boston’s goaltending duo replicates the Boston Bruins’ tandem – in that it might be one of the best in the league (also featuring an American and Swedish native). Aerin Frankel backstopped the U.S. to its first world championship in four years, and was one of the best goaltenders in the DGT. And then there’s Emma Söderberg, who has been a big part of Sweden ever since bursting on the Under-18 scene in 2015. The two-time WCHA Goaltender of the Year is an early rookie of the year candidate.
With plenty of national team experience, and depth on the back end, Boston has the tools to get out ahead of the pack in Year 1. They’ll begin their journey by hosting Minnesota at Tsongas Center in Lowell on Jan. 3
Minnesota caught everyone’s attention at the Development Camp in Utica earlier this month by winning each of their three scrimmages. They have some high-powered offensive weapons some talented pieces to keep the puck out of the net.
Kendall Coyne (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)
The big fish here will be Kendall Coyne Schofield, but how good will she be? She gave birth to her first son, Drew, on July 1, and has been given time to prepare on her own post-partum. General manager Natalie Darwitz has stated that she’ll be ready for the beginning of the season, and was recently seen practicing with USA’s U-18 men’s hockey team.
That said, Taylor Heise is more than capable of leading the charge. The first overall pick in the PWHL Draft, the former Minnesota Golden Gopher is coming off an incredible college career, where she won the 2022 Patty Kazmaier and was a big part of the U.S. side that knocked off Canada at the women’s Worlds in Brampton.
Taylor Heise (PWHL)
Minnesota has some European flavor that is going to bolster the offense. Susanna Tapani is playing on this side of the pond for the first time in a decade. The 30-year-old developed into one of the go-to players for Finland, though she took last season off from hockey, captaining her country’s ringette team to World Championship gold, earning tournament MVP honors.
Denisa Křížová had a great 2022-23 campaign, helping Czechia to its second-straight bronze medal at the Women’s Worlds, while also being named a PHF All-Star with the Whitecaps. She was a dominant scorer in the SDHL, scoring 148 points in 129 games with Brynas before coming to North America.
Minnesota’s pair between the pipes is very familiar to one another. Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney were teammates on the 2022 Olympic and World Championship teams. Hensley has been a U.S. National Team mainstay for the last few seasons, though she has never had the No. 1 job. Rooney is a very capable goaltender, and one was one of three goaltenders that helped Team Adidas finish second in the DGT last season.
Minnesota did have some injury scares during the Development Camp, losing Sydney Brodt for an extended period of time. However, they can certainly make waves with an experienced top six and solid goaltending.
After opening up their season against Boston on Jan. 3, Minnesota will take to the ice at the Xcel Energy Center against Montreal on Jan. 6.
Last, but not least, is the team that is set to have homes in different states. New York was originally announced to be playing at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They’re also going to spend some time at UBS Arena, the home of the New York Islanders.
Jesse Eldridge, Emma Woods, Abby Roque (PWHL)
Nevertheless, the troubadour hockey team is going to rely on its offense. Abby Roque has burst onto the scene as one of hockey’s top scorers. The Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan native was the top American scorer in the DGT last season, scoring nine points in seven games at the women’s Worlds in Brampton.
She will be joined by fell U.S. national member Alex Carpenter, who is currently leading the Rivalry Series with three goals.
Elizabeth Giguère, the 2020 Patty Kazmaier winner, had a great rookie season with the Boston Pride, and is on the bubble to be a future Canadian national team member. Currently on Team Canada, Jesse Eldridge finished third in the DGT last year in scoring (22), winning the PWHPA Championship with Team Harvey’s.
There is plenty of national team experience on the blue line. Taylor Baker (Hungary), Johanna Fällman (Sweden), Ella Shelton and Jaime Bourbonnais (Canada) are going to be key pieces for New York.
PWHL New York defender Jaime Bourbonnais (Credit: PWHL)
Goaltending will be the biggest question mark for New York. Corrine Schroeder is coming off an incredible seasons with the Pride, losing just once during the regular season. She will be joined by rookie Abbey Levy, who was third string on the American team that won gold at the Women’s Worlds last spring and had a fruitful career at Boston College.
They will be joined by former Calgary Inferno (CWHL) netminder Lindsey Post, who is returning to North America after spending the last four seasons with SDE HF (SDHL), earning Goaltender of the Year honors in 2020.
This trio doesn’t have an extensive international pedigree nor feature other tandems’ championship experience.
New York has the honor of participating in the first game in PWHL history. They will visit Toronto at the Mattamy Athletic Center (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens) on New Year’s Day. Their home opener at Total Mortgage Arena will be on Jan. 5, against Toronto.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe remain undefeated in women’s doubles at the WTA Finals.
The 2023 U.S. Open champions, seeded second at the event, secured a 1-6, 7-6 (1), (11-9) super-tiebreak win over fourth-seeded Italians Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in round-robin play on Tuesday.
The season-ending tournament features the WTA Tour’s top eight women’s doubles teams.
Dabrowski and Routliffe lost the first set in 22 minutes but levelled the match by breaking Errani’s serve three times in the second, including at 6-5. They clinched victory with Routliffe saving a match point on her serve and Dabrowski ending Errani’s final serve-and-volley attempt.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will next face fifth-seeded Americans Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk on Thursday, where a win would secure a spot in the semifinals.
The final is scheduled for Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Nov. 5, 2024.
EDMONTON – Jake Allen made 31 saves for his second shutout of the season and 26th of his career as the New Jersey Devils closed out their Western Canadian road trip with a 3-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.
Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist and Stefan Noesen and Timo Meier also scored for the Devils (8-5-2) who have won three of their last four on the heels on a four-game losing skid.
The Oilers (6-6-1) had their modest two-game winning streak snapped.
Calvin Pickard made 13 stops between the pipes for Edmonton.
TAKEAWAYS
Devils: In addition to his goal, Bratt picked up his 12th assist of the young season to give him nine points in his last eight games and now 15 points overall. Nico Hischier remains in the team lead, picking up an assist of his own to give him 16 points for the campaign. He has a point in all but four games this season.
Oilers: Forward Leon Draisaitl was held pointless after recording six points in his previous two games and nine points in his previous four. Draisaitl usually has strong showings against the Devils, coming into the contest with an eight-game point streak against New Jersey and 11 goals in 17 games.
KEY MOMENT
New Jersey took a 2-0 lead on the power play with 3:26 remaining in the second period as Hischier made a nice feed into the slot to Bratt, who wired his third of the season past Pickard.
KEY RETURN?
Oilers star forward and captain Connor McDavid took part in the optional morning skate for the Oilers, leading to hopes that he may be back sooner rather than later. McDavid has been expected to be out for two to three weeks with an ankle injury suffered during the first shift of last Monday’s loss in Columbus.
OILERS DEAL FOR D-MAN
The Oilers have acquired defenceman Ronnie Attard from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenceman Ben Gleason.
The 6-foot-3 Attard has spent the past three season in the Flyers organization seeing action in 29 career games. The 25-year-old right-shot defender and Western Michigan University grad was originally selected by Philadelphia in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Attard will report to the Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.
UP NEXT
Devils: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
Oilers: Host the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns, and Kareem Hunt pounded into the end zone from two yards out in overtime to give the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs a 30-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.
DeAndre Hopkins had two touchdown receptions for the Chiefs (8-0), who drove through the rain for two fourth-quarter scores to take a 24-17 lead with 4:17 left. But then Kansas City watched as Baker Mayfield led the Bucs the other way in the final minute, hitting Ryan Miller in the end zone with 27 seconds to go in regulation time.
Tampa Bay (4-5) elected to kick the extra point and force overtime, rather than go for a two-point conversion and the win. And it cost the Buccaneers when Mayfield called tails and the coin flip was heads. Mahomes and the Chiefs took the ball, he was 5-for-5 passing on their drive in overtime, and Hunt finished his 106-yard rushing day with the deciding TD plunge.
Travis Kelce had 14 catches for 100 yards with girlfriend Taylor Swift watching from a suite, and Hopkins finished with eight catches for 86 yards as the Chiefs ran their winning streak to 14 dating to last season. They became the sixth Super Bowl champion to start 8-0 the following season.
Mayfield finished with 200 yards and two TDs passing for the Bucs, who have lost four of their last five.
It was a memorable first half for two players who had been waiting to play in Arrowhead Stadium.
The Bucs’ Rachaad White grew up about 10 minutes away in a tough part of Kansas City, but his family could never afford a ticket for him to see a game. He wound up on a circuitous path through Division II Nebraska-Kearney and a California junior college to Arizona State, where he eventually became of a third-round pick of Tampa Bay in the 2022 draft.
Two year later, White finally got into Arrowhead — and the end zone. He punctuated his seven-yard scoring run in the second quarter, which gave the Bucs a 7-3 lead, by nearly tossing the football into the second deck.
Then it was Hopkins’ turn in his first home game since arriving in Kansas City from a trade with the Titans.
The three-time All-Pro, who already had caught four passes, reeled in a third-down heave from Mahomes amid triple coverage for a 35-yard gain inside the Tampa Bay five-yard line. Three plays later, Mahomes found him in the back of the end zone, and Hopkins celebrated his first TD with the Chiefs with a dance from “Remember the Titans.”
Tampa Bay tried to seize control with consecutive scoring drives to start the second half. The first ended with a TD pass to Cade Otton, the latest tight end to shred the Chiefs, and Chase McLaughlin’s 47-yard field goal gave the Bucs a 17-10 lead.
The Chiefs answered in the fourth quarter. Mahomes marched them through the rain 70 yards for a tying touchdown pass, which he delivered to Samaje Perine while landing awkwardly and tweaking his left ankle, and then threw a laser to Hopkins on third-and-goal from the Buccaneers’ five-yard line to give Kansas City the lead.
Tampa Bay promptly went three-and-out, but its defence got the ball right back, and this time Mayfield calmly led his team down field. His capped the drive with a touchdown throw to Miller — his first career TD catch — with 27 seconds to go, and Tampa Bay elected to play for overtime.
UP NEXT
Buccaneers: Host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
