Another week of PWHL rumblings, including more rumors of a desired coaching change, scouting, attendance, French language logos, Pizza Rats, and more.
Another week of PWHL rumblings, including more rumors of a desired coaching change, scouting, attendance, French language logos, Pizza Rats, and more.
Another week and more PWHL Rumblings. If you read last week's, you'll have seen updated information on merchandise (although the league didn't get the merchandise out on the timeline they stated), a championship trophy, neutral site games and more.
In the world of professional sports, there's always rumor and speculation. We try to take what's being said, look into it, and if it has validity, share that news. We also love to share fun happenings in the league, like a rat with pizza.
Here's what we're seeing and hearing across the PWHL this week.
Could There Be Another Coaching Change This Season?
Only days before the puck dropped on the inaugural PWHL season, PWHL Minnesota coach Charlie Burggraf stepped down, and the team replaced him with NHL alumni and former US national team head coach Ken Klee. Some teams have embraced their coaches and found an excellent rhythm early, while others have not, and there's rumblings that star and depth players alike are wanting more out of their staff with one team in particular, and it's sparking conversations about what happens next if things don't improve.
Scouting Trip For Marmer?
With a shortened season, everything is compacted. That includes the period of time for general managers to assess their rosters, their needs, and then to examine the available players for next season. The process will inevitably involve another draft, and this will primarily be an amateur draft from North American colleges, and semi-pro players from Europe. To prepare, teams have already started scouting NCAA and SDHL video and games. While it could have been a simple return to her alma mater to watch her former team in 6th ranked Quinnipiac, Boston general manager was in attendance to watch Quinnipiac take on #4 Colgate. Both teams are loaded with PWHL prospects, particularly Colgate who have Danielle Serdachny, Allyson Simpson, and Kristýna Kaltounková, who are all among The Hockey News' Top 20 prospects for the 2024 draft, and Sydney Bard who was #52 on THN-W's midseason rankings.
Viewers and Attendance Remain Strong
According to Pat Laprade, PWHL Montreal drew strong viewership numbers this week on the French language RDS 2. On Tuesday, PWHL Montreal's game against New York went head-to-head with the Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche on RDS and RDS 2, with the PWHL game on RDS 2. The NHL game drew 86,000 fans, while the PWHL game drew 73,000. In person, that game saw 6334 fans in attendance at Place Bell in Laval. It's continued strong viewership and attendance for the league.
For Now They're The "Pizza Rats"
Team names are in the works, in fact this week we polled fans about previously leaked names to see which they liked best. According to the league, names and logos are in development with backstories and meaning to accompany those names. In the meantime, fans have been referring to their teams with nicknames at times, particularly in the YouTube chats during live games. Those chats are filled with fan involvement. Perhaps the most interesting name that has surfaced is fans referring to New York as the "Pizza Rats." No one is suggesting this become a name, but the New York Pizza Rats have become a thing. The name stems from a viral video first posted in 2015 of a rat in New York city carrying a slice of pizza. It quickly sparked articles in several publications, became a popular Halloween costume, and was even briefly used by a minor league baseball team in Staten Island
League Trademarks French Language Branding
If there weren't enough confusingly similar acronyms in women's hockey between the PHF, PWHL, PWHPA, and PWHLPA, another has been added to represent the PWHL in French language markets. That trademark is for the PWHL logo with the French version of the league's name, LPHF, included. The league also trademarked the LPHF name itself.
