Boston and Toronto are both one win away from PWHL Finals
NEW YORK AND TORONTO (May 13, 2024) – Here’s a look at highlights from the last week of Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) action, plus a look ahead to this week’s playoff schedule.
CHASING THE CHAMPIONSHIP
The first four games of the PWHL Playoffs are in the books and Boston and Toronto are both one win away from the PWHL Finals and the opportunity to compete for the Walter Cup. Toronto leads Minnesota 2-0 in their best-of-five semifinal series following two games on home ice and can advance with a road win tonight. Boston won both games on the road and lead Montréal 2-0 with a chance to advance with a win at home on Tuesday. Shutouts have been the story of Toronto’s success so far, winning 4-0 on Wednesday and 2-0 on Friday. The results represent the first case of consecutive shutouts across the league this season, both for and against. For Boston, success has come from a pair of 2-1 overtime victories on Thursday and Saturday. Both games count as the longest in PWHL history at 74:25 and 111:44 respectively. See all playoff results here.
PLAYOFF ATTENDANCE OPENS WITH 36,361 FANS IN FIRST FOUR GAMES
The first four games of the PWHL Playoffs generated a total attendance of 36,361 for an average of 9,090 fans per game. The two games hosted by Toronto at Coca-Cola Coliseum were sold out with crowds of 8,473 and 8,581. Montréal’s first game at Place Bell had 9,135 fans, followed by a sold-out crowd of 10,172. The league’s total attendance in 72 regular-season games was 392,259 with an average of 5,448 per game. Including the first four playoff games, PWHL attendance stands at 428,620 – an average of 5,640 per game.
TOP PLAYOFF SCORERS
Toronto forward Hannah Miller (1G, 2A) and defender Renata Fast (3A) lead the playoff scoring race with three points each in two games. Toronto captain Blayre Turnbull and Montréal forward Kristin O’Neill lead the league with two playoff goals each and are among six players with two playoff points. Toronto’s Natalie Spooner (1G, 1A), who led the league in regular-season points (27) and goals scored (20), has two points, including the first playoff goal in league history. Toronto rookie Emma Maltais (1G, 1A), Montréal rookie Maureen Murphy (2A), and Boston forward Gigi Marvin (2A) also have two points each. Boston forward Susanna Tapani scored the team’s first playoff overtime winner, and forward Taylor Wenczkowski was the hero on Saturday with her first career PWHL goal. See all playoff top scorers here.
CAMPBELL AND FRANKEL LEAD GOALTENDERS
Toronto’s Kristen Campbell has been perfect through two playoff games with 47 total saves, a goals-against-average of 0.00 and save percentage of 1.000. She led the league with 16 wins and three shutouts during the regular season. Boston’s Aerin Frankel has stopped 109 of 111 shots faced across both overtime games. She set a PWHL single-game saves record on Thursday with 53, only to establish a new record of 56 on Saturday. Her playoff GAA stands at 0.65 and SV% at .982. Through two games, Montréal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens carries a 1.29 GAA and .949 SV%. Minnesota split its goaltending duties between Nicole Hensley, who stopped 16 of 20 shots in Game 1, and Maddie Rooney who stopped 28 of 29 shots in Game 2. See all playoff goalie stats here.
PWHL ANNOUNCES BAUER JERSEY PARTNERSHIP LIVE ON BREAKFAST TELEVISION
On Thursday, the PWHL announced an expanded partnership with Bauer Hockey that will see the iconic hockey equipment and apparel brand become the first Official Jersey Partner of the PWHL, beginning with the 2024-25 season. Jayna Hefford, PWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations, and Mary-Kay Messier, Bauer Hockey VP of Global Marketing, made the announcement live on Breakfast Television in an interview with hosts Sid Seixeiro and Meredith Shaw. The news was also covered in an exclusive piece written by Hailey Salvian for The Athletic. Click here to watch and click here to read.
HOCKEY MOM: A STORY ABOUT KENDALL COYNE SCHOFIELD
On Mother’s Day, CCM Hockey released a documentary titled ‘Hockey Mom’ that highlights the journey of PWHL Minnesota captain Kendall Coyne Schofield as she navigated pregnancy, training, her return to play amidst the launch of the PWHL, and motherhood. Coyne Schofield gave birth to her son, Drew, on July 1, 2023. She played her first PWHL game on January 3, 2024. Click here to watch.
CALLING THE SHOTS
“As the PWHL scores big, a bold new wave of female hockey commentators are calling the shots.” That’s the headline of a recent Globe and Mail story by Rachel Brady that highlights the journey and inaugural season impact of PWHL broadcasters Daniella Ponticelli, Kenzie Lalonde, Cheryl Pounder, Becky Kellar, and Claudine Douville. Click here to read.
ELLE CANADA HIGHLIGHTS PWHL FASHION
Sports and fashion are not a new combination, and as reporter Patricia Karounos writes, “with the new Professional Women’s Hockey League, athletes’ personal style takes centre ice.” The Elle Canada piece interviews Boston’s Lexie Adzija, Montréal’s Mariah Keopple, and Toronto’s Sarah Nurse about what goes into a game-day outfit. Click here to read.
NHL.COM FEATURES LEAH LUM AND AKANE SHIGA
As part of NHL.com’s celebration of Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Color of Hockey writer William Douglas profiles PWHL Montréal forward Leah Lum, who played for the Chinese women’s national team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and in International Ice Hockey Federation competition. Click here to read. Douglas also profiles PWHL Ottawa forward Akane Shiga, a top player on Japan’s women’s national team who became the PWHL’s first Japan-born player. Click here to read.
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
The PWHL Playoffs continue tonight with a must-win game for Minnesota on home ice against Toronto at Xcel Energy Center beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET. Boston will make its home playoff debut at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, where they’ll welcome Montréal at 7:00 p.m. ET. Game 4 of Minnesota-Toronto would be played Wednesday, if necessary, followed by a Game 5 on Friday back in Toronto. Game 4 of Boston-Montréal is set for Thursday, if necessary, with Game 5 scheduled for Sunday in Laval, QC.
Monday, May 13, 2024
8:00 p.m. ET – Toronto at Minnesota (Xcel Energy Center)
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
7:00 p.m. ET – Montréal at Boston (Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell)
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
8:00 p.m. ET – Toronto at Minnesota (Xcel Energy Center)*
Thursday, May 16, 2024
7:00 p.m. ET – Montréal at Boston (Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell)*
Friday, May 17, 2024
7:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota at Toronto (Coca-Cola Coliseum)*
Sunday, May 19, 2024
7:00 p.m. ET – Boston at Montréal (Place Bell)*
*if necessary
TSN and RDS are the exclusive home of the PWHL Playoffs with every game on TSN, TSN.ca, and the TSN app, with French-language coverage of all Montréal games and the PWHL Finals available on RDS. Regionally, Boston games will continue to be available on NESN, Minnesota games on Bally Sports North, and select games throughout the PWHL Playoffs on MSG Networks. All games will be streamed live on the Women’s Sports Network and the league’s YouTube channel.
Visit thepwhl.com to purchase tickets and merchandise, and subscribe to the PWHL e-newsletter to receive the latest league updates. Follow the league on all social media platforms @thepwhlofficial plus all six team accounts @pwhl_boston, @pwhl_minnesota, @pwhl_montreal, @pwhl_newyork, @pwhl_ottawa, and @pwhl_toronto.