What Kevin Shattenkirk Had To Say About The PWHL, Women’s Beanpot
The Boston Bruins defenseman said the buzz around the Professional Women's Hockey League is "special."
What Kevin Shattenkirk Had To Say About The PWHL, Women’s BeanpotThere’s a new team in town.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League opened its inaugural season on Jan.1 with its original six teams: Boston, New York, Minnesota, Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa.
Fans have immediately embraced the PWHL – Jan. 6’s game between Minnesota and Montreal at Xcel Energy Center boasted 13,316 people in attendance, setting a record for the most-watched professional women’s ice hockey game.
PWHL Boston has been playing its home games at Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell and has a 2-1-0 record through its first three games.
“The buzz around it – the support and all the fans coming out – it’s special,” Boston Bruins defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said Thursday.
“It’s been a culmination of a lot of hard work over the last 10, 15 years of building up the game, attracting more young girls into the sport, and looking at how popular it’s become at the international stage.”
The PWHL’s emergence has been important for a myriad of reasons. Having one consolidated league benefits partnerships with the NHL, directing viewership and having a specific stage for athletes to work towards. But more than anything, it’s an inspiration for young girls and women alike to see that there’s a space for them in the hockey world.
Shattenkirk – who has a three year old daughter – echoed this sentiment.
“That’s the most important thing is having inspiration and having role models to look up to,” Shattenkirk said. “I think for my daughter, if and when that time comes to get into hockey, I know that she will have obviously some great women to follow.”
This year also marks the first time that the Women’s Beanpot Championship and consolation games will be played at TD Garden. Shattenkirk’s alma mater Boston University will appear in the title game for the first time since 2019-20 on Jan. 23 against Northeastern University.
The BU women’s hockey team beat Boston College in a shootout Tuesday to advance to the championship.
Shattenkirk skated as a Terrier from 2007-10 and brought the Beanpot back to Comm Ave in 2009 before BU won the national championship that April.
“I obviously know what it’s like to play in a Beanpot. The best part about it is playing at the Garden,” Shattenkrik said. “So for them to have the opportunity to win there and obviously carry on the tradition of at BU of winning Beanpots, I’m excited for them.”