Marmer Excited For Conferences, And The Benefits They Bring

Boston Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer is a fan of the PWHL's new stage of growth. It's one that will see the league drop the puck with 12 teams this season, four more than last season, and six more than two years ago. The league will also, for the first time, split into two conferences.

According to Marmer, the rapid growth of the PWHL is a testament to the growth of the league.

"Very excited to get our schedule released and to see two conferences," said Marmer. "I think that's a testament to the growth of this league and to show that... there's such an appetite for women's hockey across North America and to to to be able to field 12 teams and have two conferences and really have that playoff feel when we get to the end of the season. It's going to be exciting."

The Boston Fleet will play in the Eastern Conference alongside New York, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Hamilton. It's a conference laden with original six teams with expansion Hamilton as the lone exception.

"It's going to be exciting, we're quite familiar with our Eastern Conference," said Marmer. "I think it's just a swap of Hamilton and Minnesota. Otherwise, it feels a little bit like season one and two. So, I'm excited."

Boston and other teams will spend more time in their conference, which reduces what could have otherwise been far more cross-continent travel had the league not split into conferences. 

"It makes it a lot easier," said Marmer. "Last year, I think we had four or five trips out west and to be able to minimize those and just go out for a West Coast road trip, it's better for the athletes, better for the recovery, and I think better for the ultimate product on the ice."