Michigan based PWHL players Megan Keller, Shiann Darkangelo, and Taylor Girard discuss the need for pro and NCAA DI women's hockey in the state.

Michigan is a hockey state. At the men's professional level there is the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, and ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings. At the men's NCAA Division I level, there are seven programs in the state. 

For women, there are currently zero professional teams, and zero NCAA Division I programs in Michigan. If the PWHL and the league's Michigan born players have anything to say about the disparity in Michigan hockey, those numbers could soon change.

"It's something that we've always wanted and it's been talked about from Michigan State to the University of Michigan," said PWHL Boston forward Shiann Darkangelo of the need for NCAA women's hockey in Michigan.

Darkangelo was born in Brighton, Michigan, and grew up playing for Little Caesars. This week she'll play at Little Caesars Arena, home to the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, that could someday also be home to a PWHL Detroit team.

 "I think it would be huge to have a professional team there," said Darkangelo about a PWHL team coming to Detroit. "I think it might push people I feel like, to get the involvement from the University of Michigan to have a division one team...it would be super exciting to see that."

Michigan did have an NCAA DI team for a decade at Wayne State University, but that program ceased operations following the 2010-2011 season.

PWHL Boston will face PWHL Ottawa at Detroit's Little Caesars Arena on March 16.