The PWHL Has Arrived!

Last night I was thrilled to take in the inaugural game of the Boston PWHL team as they took on Minnesota at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. The buzz was palpable from the parking garage to the concourse to the seats and everywhere in between. Everyone was excited, everyone had a smile on their face and the general feeling and consensus was that this was finally IT. The pro women’s game has arrived and it’s not going anywhere.

The product on the ice? Well, both teams featured multiple Olympic and National Team members along with the best of the best in women’s hockey. The pace of play started out a little ragged, (I mean I had butterflies in the stands, I can’t imagine what it was like for the players) but once they got warmed up? It was fast, uptempo hockey with displays of absolute filthy handles and dynamic skating (the edge work? C’mon, it’s not even fair). In short; it was an absolute pleasure to watch. If you’ve watched any NCAA women’s hockey in the last 4 or 5 years you can imagine that pace of play, now combine that with a touch of nasty and a whole lot of physicality and you get the PWHL.

MIN got on the board first when the #1 overall pick in the inaugural PWHL draft, Taylor Heise beat BOS netminder Aerin Frankel far side over the blocker to put MIN on the board. Heise made BOS pay for a turnover leaving their own zone and if you’ve watched her play, Heise is not the cat you want to hand the puck to like that. Her tally was not only the first goal in PWHL MIN history, but it was also the first PWHL goal scored on US soil as the first 2 league games were played in Toronto and Ottawa respectively.

Sophia Kunin doubled up the score for MIN later in the first and try as I can, I cannot find stand alone video of the goal (besides the game highlight reel at the bottom of this post). It was almost an identical goal as the first one with a sloppy BOS turnover (this one in their own zone) and Kunin made them pay. Same song: far side – over blocker – top shelf – keep the change. Even though BOS controlled the majority of the play in the opener, MIN took the 2-0 lead into the locker room for the first intermission.

In the middle frame BOS got one back as Theresa Schafzahl gloved down a high rebound and put a wrister over the blocker of Nicole Hensley in the MIN net. The building was electric after the goal as the fans in attendance made their voices heard in the support of the hometown team.

A goal by local favorite Alina Müeller (Northeastern University alum) was wiped off the board for some reason? Still not clear to me or anyone that I was with, as the refs never addressed it over the PA and the board showed no goaltender interference on replay. What would have blown the roof off the Tsongas center (especially with the entire Huskies roster/staff on hand) instead went down as a footnote as the first goal waived off in team history. The support for Müeller was huge as she, Frankel, Hilary Knight and Kendall Coyne Schofield got the biggest ovations during player intros and every time they were featured on the center ice screen.

NU Huskies in the house!

As bad as getting a goal wiped off the board was, it was made all the more maddening as Grace Zumwinkle went bar down from the top of the slot to make it 3-1 within a minute of the review. MIN def got some jump with the no-goal call and you could almost feel this one coming. She uncorked an absolute cannon from 15 feet out.

Megan Keller got one back for BOS late in the period on a power play (again no video available), and this one was coming down to the wire. In the closing minutes, with Frankel pulled BOS launched an all out attack on the MIN net but Hensley was unbelievable in net and had (by my count) at least 5 flat out ridonkulous saves in the final 2 minutes. The clip below will give you an idea, but doesn’t do justice to the night Hensley had in net. She def earned her first star and you could make an argument that she deserved the 2nd star also.

I’d also like to point out that Frankel had a night of her own in net. She was out on top of the blue paint challenging shooters all night and her lateral movement looks even quicker than when she was manning the pipes as Historic Matthews Arena.

All in all it was a great experience and a fantastic game. The nasty ramped up as the game progressed and everyone there was enjoying it. The crowd was loud and engaged and the facility was top notch (walk through beer stands where you grab your own, pay and keep moving? Yes please). There is not a bad seat in the house and everyone was happy to be there supporting these fantastic players.

• Parking is going to be a problem. The rink has an (almost) attached garage and it was a cluster to get in/out. The city needs to open the other surrounding lots to stop the clog.
• More replays on the center ice video board please
• And while were talking replays, please share more clips on social media. Give these athletes their due and let’s go viral.
• There was some grumbling from where I was watching regarding the music choice during stoppages. I was told by women sitting near me that the music was too “soft” and should be more music like an NHL game. Please don’t shoot the messenger.
• Now for the good stuff
• Great to see Patrice Bergeron out there for the ceremonial puck drop with his kids. Looks like he could still play… maybe see you back next year? Don Sweeney and Brian Burke were also on hand to take in the action.
• The NU Huskies were on hand to cheer on their alums. Great to see everyone and Friend of the Pod Katy Knoll fresh off her debut on the Sportscenter Top Ten (not a big deal).

• As my buddy pointed out numerous times (and louder each time) the concessions at the Tsongas Center are top notch. “They even have a BBQ stand Brownie” I was told again and again and again.
• Every single person that I met/interacted with from the facility to UMass Lowell people to anyone on staff for the PWHL was friendly and helpful. It’s amazing to see what can be accomplished when everyone is tugging on the rope in the same direction.
• Got to see Kelly Dyer Hayes and meet Mary Azzarto Ciampa from WomenX which you can check out here. Also, if you haven’t checked it out yet, Kelly was on the podcast with me during the holiday break and after listening I suggest you use the discount QR code below and buy your tickets for the Women’s Beanpot at the TD Garden. Let’s fill the rink for those games! #BostonUnites

• It was wonderful to see so many young female hockey players in attendance. Representation matters and you could see the joy on their faces watching these superstars play live in front of them. If you get a chance, go see a game and support this league. It’s not just a great night out and excellent hockey, it’s also important for the next generation.

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