The PWHL season has hit the midway point. Here's Ian Kennedy's weekly roundup of news and rumors from across the league.
The PWHL season has hit the midway point. Here's Ian Kennedy's weekly roundup of news and rumors from across the league.
The inaugural PWHL season is at the midway point, and there is a lot going on both on the ice and behind the scenes. Here's a look at what we're hearing and seeing from across the PWHL this week.
National Teams Taking Shape
USA Hockey sent out their invites for USA's final selection camp in March as the nation prepares for the World Championships in Utica, New York in April. One of the most notable early cuts to come out was, according to sources, the absence of PWHL New York's Abby Roque. Roque, 26, has represented USA at the past three World Championships, but there's rumblings things have not been all sunshine and roses related to Roque in New York this season. This may be the first evidence the impact of the PWHL on national teams is real. Another name reportedly left off the final invite list is PWHL Montreal's Maureen Murphy.
Playoffs Coming To Scotiabank Arena?
We won't get ahead of ourselves saying PWHL Toronto is a playoff lock, but they're looking more and more like a playoff team by the day. Following the success of the Battle on Bay Street selling out Scotiabank Arena with a final attendance of 19,285, it sounds as though some or all of PWHL Toronto's playoff games may take place at Scotiabank Arena. Mattamy Athletic Center can only house just under 2500 fans, which has proven to not be enough for the team or league. While this plan is not yet confirmed, it's certainly something to keep an eye on.
PWHL Montreal Showing Skills With Habs
PWHL Montreal will take part in the Montreal Canadiens' skills competition Sunday beginning at 10am at the Bell Centre. They're the second PWHL team this season to participate in an NHL team's skills competition as PWHL Ottawa members Brianne Jenner, Emily Clark, Daryl Watts, and Savannah Harmon all competed in the Sens Skills competition in late January.
Trade Talk Remains Quiet
After the PWHL's first, and currently only trade, talk on this front has slowed down. This week I spoke with two thirds of the GMs in the league, and none were actively pursuing a trade. As PWHL Toronto's Gina Kingsbury stated, "it's always on the table," but her team is the norm in the PWHL that are not actively pursuing roster changes at the moment. The problem, as teams have found, is that trades from here on out need to almost exclusively involve a player for player model that benefits both teams. Any odd numbered player deal immediately results in one player being cut, and another from the team to be signed. Each deal creates a ripple effect, and until the league allows draft picks to be traded, or develops a system where drafted player could continue to develop for a few seasons before joining, trades will remain the most impractical method to improve a roster.
The Injury Bug Continues
Taylor Heise continued to miss time with what is believed to be a shoulder injury. She's not the only player finding themselves injured right now. PWHL Montreal's Dominika Laskova remains on crutches, while Boston's Taylor Wenczkowski was spotted wearing a sling this week.
Inconsistent Officiating Impacting Results
Speaking of injuries, there was a dangerous play late in the third period of PWHL Toronto's Friday night win over New York. After Sarah Nurse stripped the puck inside New York's blueline and drove to the net. After making a move New York's Emma Woods drove Nurse into the left goalpost in what looked to be a vulnerable position. Moments later, New York's Ella Shelton got tied up with Natalie Spooner along the end boards, and went down to the ice. But Shelton clearly grabbed and held onto Spooner's stick. Neither play however, was called a penalty. In overtime, the nearly decapitated Nurse was then called for a questionable hooking penalty in overtime. It was just another display of inconsistent calls being made throughout a game leaving fans guessing what is and isn't, or won't be a penalty. The same could be said for the phantom goaltender interference call that cost Montreal a goal this week, a bizarre allowed goal for Minnesota against Ottawa, and a waved off Daryl Watts goal earlier in the season. Consistency of officials has been an issue of the past, and it's already an issue in the PWHL that is now impacting the outcome of games and the standings.