With 2023 coming to a close, we count down the top 10 women's hockey stories from 2023.
With 2023 coming to a close, we count down the top 10 women's hockey stories from 2023.
It was a significant year for women's hockey. New stars stepped forward, championships were won, and a new league was formed in the PWHL.
The headlines came fast and furious in the second half of 2023 whether it was from the IIHF, PWHPA, PHF, or the new PWHPA.
Here are The Hockey News' top 10 women's hockey stories from 2023.
10. PWHPA Gets Their Dream
Hopefully, the PWHPA will never return. Following the cessation of the CWHL in 2019, the PWHPA was formed and the group embarked on a four year journey which they called the "Dream Gap Tour." The name became synonymous with the fight for a single professional league, running in parallel to the same efforts by members of the PHF. 2023 proved to be the final instalment of the Dream Gap Tour as PWHPA membership continued to decline, but it also brought about new partnerships, most notably with the Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises, who eventually negotiated a secret deal with the PHF to acquire the league, and set into motion a single league. To close out the PWHPA, Team Harvey's led by Marie-Philip Poulin, won the 2023 Secret Cup. The PWHPA also managed to finalize their collective bargaining agreement days after the PHF was acquired.
9. Women's Hockey Loses A Legend
In terms of recognition for women's hockey builders, none has come from the Hockey Hall of Fame, but that doesn't mean the women's hockey world doesn't acknowledge their own legends. In January, one of the most ardent supporters of women's hockey, 'Hurricane' Hazel McCallion passed away at the age of 101. McCallion as a player in her own time, earning $5 a game to play in the 1940s, but her biggest impact was on youth in Ontario through the Ontario Women's Hockey Association, and on the international game. Without McCallion's presence and influence as the Mayor of Mississauga, women's hockey may never have launched onto the international stage, at least not until much later in history. In 1987, McCallion alongside Fran Rider, was a crucial piece in launching the first ever unofficial world championship for women.
8. Famous Firsts In Women's Hockey
2023 brought about several famous firsts in women's hockey. In terms of representation, Sophie Jaques became the first Black woman in history to win the coveted Patty Kazmaier Award as the NCAA's top player. She finished her stellar NCAA career with Ohio State before being drafted and signed by PWHL Boston. Similarly, Laila Edwards, who plays for Wisconsin, became the first Black woman in Team USA history to play for the American senior national team when she faced off against Canada in a November Rivalry Series game. They weren't alone in milestones for the sport, as Hilary Knight became the first woman in World Championship history to reach the 100 point marker, an accomplishment she hit in the 2023 gold medal game. Other notable firsts in 2023 included netminder Annelies Bergmann becoming will the first woman to play in a Tier I or Tier II junior hockey game in USA Hockey history when she suited up for the NAHL's Janesville Jets and Morgan Stickney earning the honor of becoming the first ever American woman selected to the WHL Draft when the Portland Winterhawks chose her 215th overall. In women's Para Ice Hockey, Raphaëlle Tousignant became the first woman to ever play for Canada's World Para Hockey Championship team.
7. Wisconsin Wins National Title
In a battle of powerhouse schools, Wisconsin won the 2023 NCAA national championship shutting out WCHA rival Ohio State 1-0. Kirsten Simms had the lone Wisconsin goal, while Cami Kronish made 31 saves for the Badgers. It was Wisconsin reclaiming the national title from Ohio State, who had won the title in 2022. As the clock ticked over to 2024, Ohio State and Wisconsin had spent much of the opening months sitting one-two in national polls joined by fellow WCHA program Minnesota.
6. Draft Day For PWHL Players
Prior to the PWHL draft, 18 players were signed by PWHL teams. All came from the PWHPA. When draft day hit however, it was the first moment that PWHPA, PHF, NCAA, USports, and European players all came under one roof and claimed their space in the new league. Taylor Heise went first overall to Minnesota, followed in the first round by Jocelyne Larocque, Alina Muller, Ella Shelton, Savannah Harmon, and Erin Ambrose. At the 19th pick overall, the first former PHF player, defender Dominika Laskova, was selected by Montreal. By the end of the day, 90 players were chosen, and a large chunk of the PWHL's six rosters were populated. The day was filled with celebration, tears, and a large media presence covering the inaugural draft in downtown Toronto.
5. Lopusanova Fever Hits North America
Seldom has one women's hockey player, let alone a 14-year-old, grabbed the attention of the entire hockey world like Nela Lopusanova managed in January 2023. She opened the year off with a mind boggling performance at the U-18 World Championships for Slovakia. Her highlight reel goals, including a successful "Michigan" launched women's hockey into the spotlight and helped spark interest in Slovakia's women's system unheard of in years. It was clear evidence that given exposure, women's hockey has bright stars that could steal headlines. By the summer, Lopusanova had committed to come to North America where she's currently playing for the Bishop Kearney Selects. Lopusanova was named the U-18 World Championships MVP, and was a nominee for the IIHF's inaugural women's hockey player of the year award.
4. Toronto Six Win Last Isobel Cup
At the time, no one knew the Toronto Six's first Isobel Cup, the first PHF title ever won by a Canadian team, would also be the last. The Six needed overtime to beat the Minnesota Whitecaps 4-3, with the game winning goal coming off the stick of Czechia's Tereza Vanisova, who beat Minnesota netminder Amanda Leveille short side after stripping a puck in the corner. Toronto's Michaela Cava was named Playoff MVP, and a memorable celebration ensued both in Arizona, where the game was held, and back home in Toronto.
3. USA Wins Gold At Worlds
It looked like another Canadian gold as it had been at the 2022 World Championships and 2022 Olympics. But a third period surge from Team USA in front of a packed house of Canadian fans in Brampton, Ontario thought otherwise. Hilary Knight scored a hat trick, including her 100th career point at the World Championships, Aerin Frankel shut the door, and USA came back to win 6-3. USA had trailed by a goal heading into the third period, but made no mistake of who the top team at the tournament was when it was all said and done. Caroline Harvey had a breakout performance on the blueline for the American's leading the tournament in scoring.
2. PHF Acquired
When news broke in the final days of June that the Mark Walter Group had acquired the PHF for the purposes of forming a singular professional women's hockey league, it sent shockwaves through the women's hockey world. With eight years of history in tow, the PHF ceased to be overnight with players learning their contracts would soon be terminated, many who had recently signed six figure deals, and staff losing their jobs. It marked a period of uncertainty, mixed with excited anticipation of what was to come. The Boston Pride, Minnesota Whitecaps, Metropolitan Riveters, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Toronto Six, and expansion Montreal Force were the final teams in PHF history. The final season saw Loren Gabel lead the league in scoring and claim MVP honors, Corinne Schroeder named Best Goaltenders, and Kali Flanagan the league's Best Defender.
1. Welcome to the PWHL
When news finally surfaced that the singular league would be named the Professional Women's Hockey League, the world was already anticipating six markets, which were soon identified as Boston, Montreal, Minnesota, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto. It marked a return of pro women's hockey to five PHF markets, and the emergence of a new market in Ottawa. The league had a CBA, it had a player pool, it had markets, and it had excitement. The many stories that followed the PWHL, from the draft, to free agency, jerseys and team names, to coaches and general managers, dominated women's hockey headlines for months. With the first ever game scheduled for the first day of 2024, the PWHL is sending out 2023 with a bang, and ringing in a new era in 2024.