The PWHL's Takeover Weekend at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit was a smashing success, setting a USA attendance record, and enticing the league to say they'll return.
Detroit's PWHL Takeover stop exceeded the league's expectations. The game, a shootout victory for Boston over Ottawa brought in a USA attendance record for a professional women's hockey game, prompting PWHL senior vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford to hint at a future in the city.
"Detroit's a market we've looked very closely at," Hefford told WXYZ 7 Action News' Jeanna Trottman following the game. "Tonight, certainly as I said, has exceeded our expectations. I can't imagine this will be the last time we'll be here."
The game drew an American record attendance for a professional women's hockey game bringing in 13,736 to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The mark broke the previous record held by Minnesota of 13,316 which was set at their home opener this season.
The PWHL itself is filled with Michigan products including PWHL Boston's Megan Keller, Shiann Darkangelo, and Taylor Girard, along with New York's Madison Packer and Abby Roque. Among NCAA players, Kirsten Simms, who is a likely candidate to represent USA at the 2024 World Championships, is a final three candidate for the Patty Kazmaier Award after leading the NCAA in scoring. Similarly ECAC All-Rookie netminder Annelies Bergmann and Elysse Biederman both helped Colgate to a Frozen Four appearance. Elle Hartje, last year's Ivy League Player of the Year for Yale, will enter the PWHL Draft this year and should be a contributor in the league next season.