Goals were scored, firsts achieved, and intense competition underway, but PWHL’s Boston’s home opener was about far “more than the score.”
Goals were scored, firsts achieved, and intense competition underway, but PWHL’s Boston’s home opener was about far “more than the score.”
LOWELL, MA— With under five minutes to play in the third period of PWHL Boston’s season opener against Minnesota, the teams huddled in their respective benches during a time-out.
Down 3-1 as time was running out, Boston head coach Courtney Kessel was game-planning a strategy for her team to ignite a late-game push in the team’s inaugural game.
But, for one moment, that didn’t matter.
The Tsongas Center jumbotron captured the attention of the 4,012 in attendance on Wednesday night, including players and coaches from both benches. A young girl appeared on the video board, holding a sign that read “Future PWHL Star.”
It was one of the many moments of the historic night that put everything into perspective for Kessel and her players.
“If you can watch it, you can dream it, and you can be it,” Kessel said.
Inside the Tsongas Center was the next generation of professional women’s hockey players, lining the boards with signs of their own during warmups. It’s what these players have been advocating for their whole careers.
“It’s just incredible to see these young girls that want to grow up and be a PWHL star one day,” Kessel said. “We’ve longed for this for our entire lives.”
When Boston captain Hilary Knight’s name was called in team introductions, she was met with a roar from Boston fans, many of whom were young, aspiring girls who want to take her place one day.
“It makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck,” said Knight. “It gives you chills, it’s really a surreal moment. To actually have hometown fans, to get us out of our countries. To be a part of the Boston legacy and to build something here is just an incredible opportunity.”
Sporting a Red Sox cap in her post-game interview, Knight is fully acclimated to the Boston sports scene. When advisory board member Stan Kasten was brainstorming locations for the original six franchises, Boston was a no-brainer.
“There aren't better sports markets than Boston,” said Kasten. “The Tsongas Center is phenomenal, it’s great. We’ll see over the course of the year if it’s the best fit or not, but I will tell you it stands up against anything we’re going to be at. We’re really happy to be here.”
It didn’t take long for Boston’s Theresa Schafzahl to take in the Boston atmosphere, scoring the team’s first goal in franchise history at the 12:01 mark of the second frame.
“It’s unreal,” said Schafzahl. “First of all, to play with players like Hilary (Knight), and then also to see all the little girls and everyone in the rink. That’s definitely something I’ve never been a part of. I’ve played in college and for the national team, but this is a whole new level. It’s so amazing to see. It’s something I’ve dreamt of since I was little.”
Minnesota ultimately prevailed in the contest, skating to a 3-2 victory to kick off their season. Even while on the road, head coach Ken Klee couldn’t help but appreciate the sights and sounds.
“I thought it was great,” said Klee. “More than the score or who scored or plays, it’s an awesome day for women’s professional hockey. To have a real league, original six, it’s amazing, and I’m certainly blessed to be a part of it.”
Minnesota’s Nicole Hensley was a brick wall on Wednesday, stopping 35 saves between the pipes in the win. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t feed off the energy in the building.
“It was a great crowd,” said Hensley. “It was a lot of fun, I felt the energy right from the jump and especially in the third as they were mounting a comeback. It’s really fun for us to play in buildings like this whether we’re home or away. It’s just exciting to see so many girls in the stands and feel the crowd's energy.”
Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Jayna Hefford has one message for all the girls in the stands at the Tsongas Center who sparked a new dream.
“There’s something here for you now,” said Hefford. “There’s a future for you in hockey. It might be as a player, it might be as a coach, it might be as an executive. It might be as an athletic trainer or in media, but there’s opportunities. “For a long time, women and girls didn’t know if there was an opportunity for them in the game. And now they do.”