A lack of media coverage, neck guards, Caitrin Lonergan, continued signings, and training camps are all hot topics of discussion across the PWHL this week.
The next time we write a PWHL Rumblings, training camps will be only hours away. It seems like many items however are still light years away from ready, but the league and team personnel are pushing forward as feverishly as possible.
Lonergan Taking The Year Off
One of the PHF's top players, and an Ottawa draft pick, has decided to take a year away from the game. Caitrin Lonergan, who Ottawa selected 80th overall in the PWHL has decided to take a year away from the game. The decision was mutually agreed to with PWHL Ottawa, and the door remains open for Lonergan, who will continue to train this season, to return to training camp in Ottawa next year.
Lonergan was a two-time Patty Kazmaier finalist in the NCAA, and won two U-18 World Championship medals with Team USA. Last season with the Connecticut Whale Lonergan scored 18 points in 23 PHF games as a rookie.
With Audrey-Anne Veillette missing Ottawa's training camp due to injury, the door for Ottawa's strong crop of free agent invites opens wider.
Where's The PWHL Media Coverage?
If you step into NHL press rooms in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, and Minnesota, there's a good chance you'll hear a common question...what's up with the PWHL's media coverage?
It seems to be a piece of the puzzle that has yet to be snapped into place, but thus far during free agency, there's been no communication to press regarding signings, player availability for interviews, or to send releases to outlets. The lone exception was a release on Taylor Heise's signing days after it was announced.
This topic was hot on the minds of media members in NHL rinks this week.
If you stepped into the NHL's media mecca in Toronto on Halloween night when the Leafs played the Los Angeles Kings, the ghostly absence of press opportunities for the PWHL and the missed opportunity to grow media relations and promote the league prior to launch, was a point of conversation. As media stated, they want to provide coverage for the league, but without information from the league, it's currently being ignored.
As if answering this call, the league posted to hire media relations positions for each of the six PWHL franchises this week. At this point in the game however, those hirings will likely come closer to training camp, losing more time for the league to promote itself.
Will Neck Guards Be Mandatory?
Following the tragic on-ice death of former NHL player Adam Johnson due to his neck being cut by a skate blade, the PWHL and PWHLPA is discussing the merits of mandating neck guards.
The league confirmed it's a point of discussion, and PWHLPA executive director Brian Burke told the CBC that ""[Anywhere] where they play hockey, they're looking at this now. Every level."
This week, leagues including the Western Hockey League took the step to mandate neck guards.
Hockey Canada mandates that members of Team Canada's women's national team wear neck guards.
Boston, Minnesota Are The First To Six
With a flood of signings coming in as the original 18 grew to nearly 50 players this week, Boston and Minnesota both crossed the finish line in terms of finalizing their mandatory six, three-year guaranteed contracted players.
In Boston it was Megan Keller, Sophie Jaques, Alina Muller, Aerin Frankel, Hilary Knight, and Jamie Lee Rattray. In Minnesota, the franchise announced Taylor Heise, Lee Stecklein, Kelly Pannek, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Nicole Hensley, and Grace Zumwinkle.
Boston and Ottawa led the way in total signings with 12 each. There are some benefits to players entering camp signed versus unsigned, including getting certain financial benefits outlined in the CBA immediately, and also the protections of getting severance pay should they be cut in camp in favor of an invitee.
Camp Surprises
There will certainly be camp surprises for many teams and players when PWHL training camps open on November 14 and 15. For some players right now, that surprise includes not knowing when or where to arrive, or daily camp schedules as some teams are still finalizing these details to deliver to players.
One hotly discussed item across the league is the presence of the beep test as a fitness test. Also know as the multi-stage fitness test or 20m shuttle run. Much like the NHL's VO2 Max tests, the beep test estimates aerobic fitness levels, and will be one of the most dreaded portions of fitness testing, specifically since players will be directly competing in the test against other camp attendees.