Talent And Grit In New York; Cuts To Be Quick

PWHL New York has put together a talented group, with an edge of grit. Although the future looks bright, there are tough days ahead as cuts are set to come quick.

STAMFORD, CT -- PWHL New York general manager Pascal Daoust stood alone on the ice about 20 minutes before the start of training camp at Chelsea Piers Connecticut on Friday afternoon.

The South Rink surface had just been freshly cleaned, and the sound of the Zamboni was replaced by a silence that left Daoust alone with his thoughts.

Within minutes, a few reporters from Canadian media outlets began setting up their equipment along a second-floor hallway that provided an outstanding open-air view of the entire rink.

"It's an amazing feeling knowing what is to come," Daoust said after stepping back into the walkway on the first floor. "It's so exciting to finally get to this moment."

The moment would arrive at 1 p.m. as the first group of PWHL New York players made their way onto the ice with great anticipation and a very noticeable sense of purpose on their collective faces. The same held true for the second group just over an hour later.

The mood was businesslike right from the outset of both sessions involving approximately 15 players in each group. Head Coach Howie Draper met them near the penalty box area and diagramed the first few passing and shooting drills.

Each sequence of rapid-fire repetitions lasted for only a few minutes before another whistle sounded to change the scheme and create a different challenge. To a person, the athletes responded as expected with precision and focus.

"It was nice to get out there and get moving and see everybody on the ice," said forward Abby Roque, one of the three PWHL New York free-agent signings along with forward Alex Carpenter and defender Micah Zandee-Hart. "I think everybody's happy that it has come to this...it's a very exciting time."

For Draper, those first impressions gained during the two-plus hours of total practice time were extremely positive.

"It felt so good to get on the ice and interact with the players, and you could tell they had the energy out there," said Draper, just over a month removed from his longtime role coaching the University of Alberta Pandas women's hockey program.

Draper repeatedly shouted out instructions, and any misstep was met with a quick whistle and stoppage of play.

"Basics and fundamentals, and hopefully we will build this into something that leads to great team play ultimately," he continued. "We wanted them to have a sense of our expectations...and where they will need to be to reach the goals."

That warrior mentality, which has been the cornerstone of Daoust's vision for PWHL New York, was evident from the passing accuracy drill that kicked off the 1 p.m. session.

Roque, who was the first player to publicly commit to PWHL New York with a video post overlooking Times Square on X (formerly Twitter) on Sept. 16, was impressed by what she saw at Friday's practice.

"We have a ton of talent on our team, but you don't win games without having that grit and that work ethic, and I think that's something that is really being instilled in us and you can (already) see it on the ice," she said.

There was no set line play during the initial day of camp as Draper kept things "at the lowest of levels to start with."

There was a solid Metropolitan Riveters injection into Friday's training camp.

Former members of that Premier Hockey Federation team who were on the ice Friday included Madison Packer (wearing No. 19), Kelly Babstock (No. 3) and Kendall Cornine (unnumbered jersey). They were all battling to leave a good impression with Draper and the coaching staff.

Packer raised more than a few eyebrows at one point when she scored three straight goals against former Boston College standout Abbey Levy during the shooting portion of the opening session.

Babstock flashed her stickwork skills in winning several one-on-one puck possession battles, while Cornine effortlessly handled the simulated zone rushes.

Right at the start of the second-group action, still-unsigned goalie Corinne Schroeder showed why she set the Quinnipiac University single-season record with a .951 save percentage.

Positioning herself between the pipes, she made one great save after another against shots from both the high slot, the top of the circles and the point.

During her finale 2021-22 collegiate season, Schroeder posted a 1.44 goals against average (37 goals allowed) with the Bobcats..

She was joined on the ice for PHWL New York by fellow Quinnipiac graduate Emma Woods, who is among 10 forwards already under contract.

Daoust noted that he and the coaching staff are not going to wait very long to make initial cuts as the team will ultimately reduce the roster to 23 players. The talent already evident, he continued, is going to make for some very difficult choices.

"I already anticipate tough nights and tough days (ahead)," he said. "We're going to have to tell good news and bad news ... there's a lot of great people and great athletes competing with passion and that's exactly what we (already) see. It will be a struggle (to decide the cuts)."

Within the multipurpose sports wonderland known as Chelsea Piers Connecticut -- located right off I-95 just nine miles from the New York border -- the PWHL New York headquarters is taking shape on the second floor and features several offices and a conference area for the administrative and coaching staff.

Although still without a desk, chair and other basic necessities in his office, Daoust is just making the best of it for now. There are other great accommodations within this 400,000-square-foot facility where he can get his work done.

"You see this incredible place; all I have to do is go outside our area here and into the lobby and sit in one of those comfortable chairs out there," he said with a smile.