Women’s North American Pro Hockey

[top cheese]

Big news...

Jeff Marek

@JeffMarek
As I reported on Hockey Night in Canada tonight some details on the new PWHPA league. - 6 team league in both Canada and the U.S - January – April 2023 - 23 skaters/team - $35k minimum and $55k average salaries + benefits - 32 game schedule. Also, expect a new name for the league

[Lindsay]

Big news...

Jeff Marek

@JeffMarek
As I reported on Hockey Night in Canada tonight some details on the new PWHPA league. - 6 team league in both Canada and the U.S - January – April 2023 - 23 skaters/team - $35k minimum and $55k average salaries + benefits - 32 game schedule. Also, expect a new name for the league

great news. Very curious where the markets will be. Don’t think Calgary is part of it, as was reported in a a recent article as well. While 3 teams in Canada would be nice, they have to go to where the financial support and feasibility is.

can’t wait to learn more.

[Timothy A]

great news. Very curious where the markets will be. Don’t think Calgary is part of it, as was reported in a a recent article as well. While 3 teams in Canada would be nice, they have to go to where the financial support and feasibility is.

can’t wait to learn more.

A 4 month season doesn't seem very practical... How are you supposed to have a job where you work 8 months and off for 4? Unless it's just weekends. But if they have a regular job then they really don't need to benefits from this new league.

[Lindsay]

A 4 month season doesn't seem very practical... How are you supposed to have a job where you work 8 months and off for 4? Unless it's just weekends. But if they have a regular job then they really don't need to benefits from this new league.

Yes, tons of questions, but hopefully a step forward. I think Sept to Dec or Jan would be a better time frame if it is going to be a 4 month season. Let college shine Feb, March and also avoid March Madness.

I wondered if Jan to April is just a year 1 thing while they get set up?

since they fought To not have side hustles is it a bad look for them to have other jobs in the balance of the year? Or should they devote themselves to their craft to elevate the game and league?

[Lindsay]

https://onherturf.nbcsports.com/2022...ex-russia/amp/

article on John Boynton being both the chair of the PHF and also of Yandex, a Russian IT company that allegedly spreads propaganda.

[Timothy A]

https://onherturf.nbcsports.com/2022...ex-russia/amp/ article on John Boynton being both the chair of the PHF and also of Yandex, a Russian IT company that allegedly spreads propaganda.

So this guy owns 3 of the 6 teams and he, his wife and his buddy each run one of the 3 teams? LOL how freaking shady is that?!? And that shadiness is just from the hockey perspective. Being an American running "Russia’s Google, Uber, Spotify, and Amazon combined.” is a whole other level of shadiness.

This is messed up.

[Lindsay]

This is messed up.

It is extremely messed up. From what I can tell tech guys started good faith businesses, the free flow of info made the Kremlin nervous, and the Kremlin weaseled it’s way in over the years with regulation that limited the tech companies from not only becoming truly global but from sharing global truthful news in Russia.

Below is an excerpt from yesterday’s Washington Post article.

“The toll on Yandex is accelerating, current employees told The Post.

Yandex now must block access to more and more sites as they are banned by the government.

And its news aggregation site, the country’s most popular, carries fewer than a third of the outlets it offered before the law that required all of them to be licensed.

Lev Gershenzon, a former head of Yandex’s news section who now lives in Germany, posted publicly six days after the invasion that his old company was now a part of the problem.

“The fact that a significant part of the population of Russia may believe that there is no war is the basis and driving force of this war. Yandex today is a key element in hiding information about the war.

“Every day and hour of such ‘news’ is human lives. And you, my former colleagues, are also responsible for this,” he wrote. “It’s not too late to stop being partners in a terrible crime. If you can’t do anything, quit.”

Yandex itself is now trying to quit the news business. Last month, it publicly announced that it was looking for buyers. The company did not respond to a request for comment.”

...
The PHF has not condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 11 million Ukrainians have fled their homes, like 5 million have fled the country. Most men can’t leave because by law they have to stay and fight for Ukraine, so family separation is rampant as women and children flee alone.
News Russians should know.

Definitely messed up.

[shelfit]

It is extremely messed up. From what I can tell tech guys started good faith businesses, the free flow of info made the Kremlin nervous, and the Kremlin weaseled it’s way in over the years with regulation that limited the tech companies from not only becoming truly global but from sharing global truthful news in Russia.

Below is an excerpt from yesterday’s Washington Post article.

“The toll on Yandex is accelerating, current employees told The Post.

Yandex now must block access to more and more sites as they are banned by the government.

And its news aggregation site, the country’s most popular, carries fewer than a third of the outlets it offered before the law that required all of them to be licensed.

Lev Gershenzon, a former head of Yandex’s news section who now lives in Germany, posted publicly six days after the invasion that his old company was now a part of the problem.

“The fact that a significant part of the population of Russia may believe that there is no war is the basis and driving force of this war. Yandex today is a key element in hiding information about the war.

“Every day and hour of such ‘news’ is human lives. And you, my former colleagues, are also responsible for this,” he wrote. “It’s not too late to stop being partners in a terrible crime. If you can’t do anything, quit.”

Yandex itself is now trying to quit the news business. Last month, it publicly announced that it was looking for buyers. The company did not respond to a request for comment.”

...
The PHF has not condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 11 million Ukrainians have fled their homes, like 5 million have fled the country. Most men can’t leave because by law they have to stay and fight for Ukraine, so family separation is rampant as women and children flee alone.
News Russians should know.

Definitely messed up.

Does this spell the beginning of the end of the PHF?! Is this where the bulk of the PHF money comes from? This seems like a very big deal and potentially a huge yet very negative turning point for this league.

[Lindsay]

Does this spell the beginning of the end of the PHF?! Is this where the bulk of the PHF money comes from? This seems like a very big deal and potentially a huge yet very negative turning point for this league.

no idea. I wish someone way smarter than me would write about it. Boynton has numerous companies. I think Firehouse Capital owns BTM Partners which owns the hockey teams. Many
things are true and as always it’s a complicated situation. His family is probably one of if not the biggest financial supporters of women’s hockey. Like I say, I wish someone way smarter than me would write about it.

I also wish North American companies would invest in professional women’s sport in NA. Maybe one day, lol.

Edit: personally I can’t cheer for the league in its current state.

[slapshot willy]

Big discussion/news about the future of the PWHPA. Thoughts ??

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/new...190727400.html

[Lindsay]

Big discussion/news about the future of the PWHPA. Thoughts ??

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/new...190727400.html

It’s great news but I wonder why there is never an official announcement? Marek hasn’t been wrong yet but it will be nice to hear the league themselves announce it.

As far as markets, just for fun:
Toronto Furies
Montreal Canadiennes
Pittsburgh (put Kathy Pippy in charge, she seems good at this haha)
Chicago
Not sure #5
Not sure #6

When the inevitable merger happens try to get the Minnesota Whitecaps and Boston Pride into the PW league. Whitecaps are a brand I hope always endures, and the Pride seem to be building a significant brand of their own. Minnesota, Boston, Montreal, Toronto—- special markets to the history of women’s hockey that should not constantly have the brands destroyed and re made imo.

Would love to see The Athletic or anyone hire a national writer to cover women’s hockey when this gets going. Them hiring Meg Linehan around the 2019 World Cup of soccer was a game changer for NA coverage of women’s soccer. Same is true of their women’s basketball vertical. Personally I think this is essential to take women’s hockey to the next level, a national writer somewhere who actually loves the game, is solely devoted to it, isn’t using it as a stepping stone, to tie it all together.

Also curious how PW league will be streamed in the US. ESPN+ is the obvious thought but will they want both PHF and the new league?

PHF free agency starts in a week, usually a slow start, but with increased contract $ available perhaps some names will get snapped up quicker than usual. Is it in the interest of PW league to make some announcements in the coming week? I think so, if they can.

Interested to hear others thoughts.

[Scott_TG]

PHF free agency has been going on and there have been some interesting signings:

Buffalo made a splash signing reigning league MVP Mikyla Grant-Mentis away from Toronto. They have re-signed alternate captain and 2022 All-Star Dominique Kremer to a two-year deal. The Beauts signed a Canadian who had been playing in Sweden, former UMD forward Jess Healey. They have also signed 21-22 Merrimack captain Courtney Maud.

The Riveters have re-signed captain Madison Packer and Kendall Cornine. They have signed 2018 Olympic gold medalist Amanda Pelkey, who returns to the PHF from the PWPHA. The Rivs also signed two pro players from Europe: Sarah Bujold, a Canadian who had been playing in Sweden, and Swedish international Ebba Berglund.

Toronto has re-signed Shiann Darkangelo and Elaine Chuli.

[Steamboat]

It looks like the the Whitecaps have learned from last season. Four players already signed according to the Victory Press. VP also reports that Jack Brodt has taken other responsibilities. No further word on the rumored league expansion.

[Lindsay]

https://mobile.twitter.com/TheAthlet...26483152687105

The Athletic is announcing Hailey Salvian is now a national women’s hockey writer. Sounds like she’ll be a national writer for the NHL as well. Very exciting news for women’s hockey. Cannot wait to read more of her women’s hockey stuff. Let’s hope 50% of her full time job is women’s hockey.... that’s gotta be more than anything that’s occurred before?

2022 has been very hot and cold in terms of women’s hockey news; this is a breath of fresh air.

[Scott_TG]

Montreal has announced its first signings.

Ann-Sophie Bettez, 34-year-old forward and a former CWHL pro. Bettez was the 2012 USports Player of the Year. She was on Team Canada for their 2019 IIHF WWC win. 2017 Clarkson Cup champion with Les Canadiennes.

Kim Desch?nes, 30-year-old forward and another former CWHL pro. Member of the 2013 USports National Champion UMontreal team. 2017 Clarkson Cup champion with Les Canadiennes. First ever woman to have her jersey retired by a Quebec university program.

Jade Downie-Landry, the 2022 USports Player of the Year. Downie-Landry is a former USports Championship Tournament MVP and 3-time All-Canadian. She had a 1.80 points per game average this past season.

Alexandra Labelle, a 26-year-old forward. A member of Team Canada's 2014 IIHF U18 WWC gold-medal team. She won a national championship with UMontreal in 2016. Career 90 points in 97 games.

Brigitte Lagani?re, a 25-year-old defender. 2-time All-Canadian as a defender for Concordia.

Kristina Shanahan, the two-season captain for UVM who graduated in 2022 having captained the team during their most successful season of 22 wins and being nationally ranked. Earned a Hockey East Second Team honor. Most games in UVM history with 150 played.

Sarah Lefort, Boston U class of 2016, graduated their second all-time leading scorer. 2014 Kazmaier finalist. 2012 U18 gold medal winner for Team Canada. 2017 Clarkson Cup winner with Les Canadiennes. Has been playing the PWPHA circuit for the last three seasons.