Friday Faceoff: What were the most memorable moments from women's hockey this year?

The Hockey News' Erin Brown and Ian Kennedy debate and discuss the top women's hockey moments from this season...and look forward.

The Hockey News' Erin Brown and Ian Kennedy debate and discuss the top women's hockey moments from this season...and look forward.

Erin Brown: The women’s season ended a few weeks ago, but man, Ian, I’m still exhausted. This is my first season in 25 years of work covering the women’s game, and in a calendar year I’ve traveled more than 15,000 miles and seen every level of elite women’s hockey — from U18s (twice) and NCAA to the pros and the Women’s World Championship. My quick assessment: The women’s game has a lot to be proud of. Yes, there is still work to be done, but hopefully everyone takes a moment to reflect on the progress over the past 5-10 years, maybe even just the post-COVID recovery. The pandemic could have severely damaged women’s hockey, but it just seems to have emerged stronger. That said, I’ve been trying to process everything and wondering, what were some of your favorite moments from this past season?

Ian Kennedy: I have too many to count, but I think my favorite moments were some of the less heralded items that are out there. First, attending the PHF All-Star weekend, I felt hopeful and happy seeing the Isobel Cup sitting beside the Stanley Cup in the Hockey Hall of Fame. When you looked around the room, there were legends of the game mingling with current players, and it was just an amazing atmosphere. I was also a fascinated fan, as much as a media member at the IIHF Women’s World Championships, and aside from the Canada versus USA battles, I loved watching Czechia, and getting the chance to hear Carla MacLeod’s post game comments. On the ice, my favorite moment of year came at the U-18 Women’s World Championship. While there’s one lacrosse style goal that stands out, it was an extended moment, namely every time Nela Lopusanova stepped on the ice.

Erin Brown: Nela was unbelievable. She’d achieve an amazing feat — an individual performance or an elite move — and you couldn’t help but wonder, “what’s next?” By the time she scored the between-the-legs goal against Czechia there were no words left. Just incredibly surreal.

Seeing the U.S. win gold at the World Championships was pretty special for this American. But I have to admit, the round-robin meeting where Canada won 4-3 in a nine-round shootout may have been the best game I saw this year, any level, NHL included. And it was solely for bragging rights.

In terms of pure fun, I loved the “unicorn” celebration during the PHF All-Star Game, even how the Canadian team stole it. It was just so organic, authentic.

Personally, I think the best moment — which will go to the grave with me — was witnessing the friendship between the Czechia and Slovak U-18 teams.

Go translate the lyrics to the song they’re singing (“Pribeh Nekonci”) in this context and try not to tear up. What a moment. I still get chills.

Ian Kennedy: “We were friends for a while, I was always happy to stand by your side….I'm not done yet, I'm going on and I'm fighting for my rights.” The translated lyrics really do read like a theme song not just for these two nations who were once one, but for the future of women’s hockey.

Erin Brown: Exactly. There are opposing sides all through women’s game, but deep down it’s a sisterhood. Each success — whether it be a new national team contract, investment in a program — writes the road map for another group. Sure, divisions and conflict are easy to write about, but the connections are so much richer and rewarding once you see them.

Ian Kennedy: Looking forward, I think there’s equally a lot to be excited for this offseason. Personally, I’m waiting on the edge of my seat to see what next step the PWHPA takes. The commitment is incredible, but at this point, that next step needs to happen, because it’s actually holding back talented players from earning. I think we’ll all let out a sigh of relief as fans when we know it’s a tour, or a league next season.

Similarly, I’m excited to follow the ins and outs of the PHF’s salary cap and seeing what big name comes to the league next. I can’t wait to see Alina Muller and company play their first games in the league.

What moment are you excited for this coming year?

Erin Brown: I’m playing several chess moves ahead on this one, but the Division I-A World Championship in August. If Slovakia can earn a promotion, we’ll likely see Lopušanová make her senior-level international debut at the 2024 Women’s World Championship in Utica, New York. But the Slovaks have to get there without their star player, who is too young to even receive a waiver to play this year. If the pieces fall into place, there is a great potential for women’s hockey to gain exposure it hasn’t seen outside of the Olympics.

The ingredients are there: All the major U.S. sports media headquarters within a few hours of Utica, the U.S. will defend gold on home soil and, possibly, a player (Lopušanová) who has already delivered viral highlights. Not to put pressure on any one side — and a lot still has to happen for this to come together — but it just feels like this could be explosive and I am absolutely rooting for it.