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Women’s North American Pro Hockey

https://www.theicegarden.com/2021/11/17/22786169/around-the-rink-in-the-phf-week-2

Nice column on the ice garden about the PHF week 2. Reminds me a bit of 32 Thoughts column, will definitely try to read this each week. Interesting comment in here about one of the teams not releasing info about rostered or missing players and then being “sassy” about it when the media asked about it. Women’s hockey definitely gives off weird vibes at times. Do they want fans and media coverage? It’s a mystery.

I watched a bit of the Six play vs Buffalo in week 1. Michelle Cava, a new name to me, was a lot of fun to watch. Coming from a European league, definitely stood out. The Six beat Buffalo 4-3 with the winning goal in the final minute. They have their first ever home opener this weekend in the 20th. Considering Toronto is a hockey Mecca, very curious to see how they are supported at home, especially in the wake of the death of the CW, longtime ignoring of the Toronto teams in that league, and outcry that happened since then for women’s hockey.
 
The Victory Press reports that during a game between the Beauts and the Riveters a player got a 10 minute major for

"use of profane or abusive language." Anyone see that game to fill in the details?
 
Steamboat said:
The Victory Press reports that during a game between the Beauts and the Riveters a player got a 10 minute major for

"use of profane or abusive language." Anyone see that game to fill in the details?
Click to expand...

Quoting from Victory Press...

"while Cassidy MacPherson received a ten-minute misconduct for "use of profane or abusive language.""

She probably used some colorful metaphors to describe the opposing team's uniforms.
 
Toronto Six and Minnesota Whitecaps face off tomorrow (Saturday the 18th) at 7:00 pm CT. Game will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
Steamboat said:
So the Whitecaps lose 2 more. Looks like the late start in assembling a team has not paid off.
Click to expand...

https://www.theicegarden.com/2021/1...to-plug-in-the-minnesota-whitecaps-power-play

You might appreciate the above article. I guess Leveille is playing great in net, but they lost their two best puck moving D, can’t score , and get out shot. Didn’t see it coming.

Been enjoying the PHF this year. they announced they will have playing cards next year with Upper Deck, yesterday. My first thought was 1) oh good they plan on being around next year. followed by 2) this is so cool. PHF continues to make strides.
 
Lindsay said:
https://www.theicegarden.com/2021/1...to-plug-in-the-minnesota-whitecaps-power-play

You might appreciate the above article. I guess Leveille is playing great in net, but they lost their two best puck moving D, can’t score , and get out shot. Didn’t see it coming.

Been enjoying the PHF this year. they announced they will have playing cards next year with Upper Deck, yesterday. My first thought was 1) oh good they plan on being around next year. followed by 2) this is so cool. PHF continues to make strides.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that was a good read. I still wonder why the Whitecap roster came together so late. Hopefully they learn a lesson from their start to this season.
 
Lindsay said:
https://www.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/phf-propelled-by-game-changing-25m-investment

health insurance, $750k salary cap, and 2 new teams next year. Fantastic and huge credit to the PHF investors.

All these pieces are very exciting. Imagine if the PW folks somehow brought their resources to the table too.

This is great news that women’s hockey badly needed.
Click to expand...

Great news! Where did you see about 2 new teams? I'm only seeing Montreal mentioned in the article you linked?
 
Lindsay said:
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports...-womens-hockey-leagues-plan-their-next-moves/

Per Marisa Ingemi Sources say PW is debuting a new league in the fall. 6 markets. Did they catch the big fish and get the NHL on board?

just for fun let’s imagine there are 14 pro women’s teams in the fall! 6 PHF plus their 2 expansion teams + 6 PW league teams.

that would be something else, although hard to imagine.
Click to expand...

In the article, you link it says they are trying to secure funding for one, not that they have. If the NHL is on board with the PWPHA, what changed the stance they've held for years on the matter? Do they finally have the courage to compete instead of hoping the players would kill the bird in the hand so they only have to produce half a bird in the bush? I applaud the PHF, their players and backers, for not backing down and handing Bettman a monopoly he has no inherent right to. The whole stance disgusts me and if the national team players are trying to hand him and the NHL their sport that really reflects poorly on them.
 
Scott_TG said:
In the article, you link it says they are trying to secure funding for one, not that they have. If the NHL is on board with the PWPHA, what changed the stance they've held for years on the matter? Do they finally have the courage to compete instead of hoping the players would kill the bird in the hand so they only have to produce half a bird in the bush? I applaud the PHF, their players and backers, for not backing down and handing Bettman a monopoly he has no inherent right to. The whole stance disgusts me and if the national team players are trying to hand him and the NHL their sport that really reflects poorly on them.
Click to expand...

Yes, I said that sources have told Ingemi the PW is planning to debut a new league.
mentioned the NHL because other than NHL backing or NHL team owner backing Im not sure why they would start a new league. No idea why a stance would change or if that occurred. They came out of Pyeongchang saying one league, and a week before Beijing we have an article saying maybe 2 leagues.

it doesn’t reflect poorly on the women for trying to get paid. If the NHL is where the money is, can’t blame them. If they debut CW 2.0 it’s harder to understand .

PHF is doing tons of great things and we will see what happens. Existence of PW drove a ton of positive change in the past few years. Complex situation to say the least.
 
Last edited:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...sodeGuid=497628a2-b05e-47e8-b42f-6f3d848a2bbd

At 46:15 Elliotte and Jeff discuss PHF’s Toronto Six being bought by new ownership, Angela James’ post about the PW, and whether PW and PHF should reconcile.

The fact that mainstream media regularly covers women’s hockey now is something that I will remember about the 22 Olympic Cycle. I am so so so glad that Marek regularly covers women’s hockey. I would suggest anyone looking for women’s hockey coverage follow his podcast the Jeff Marek show, or his 32 Thoughts pod, because women’s hockey is featured regularly and that’s great.

Having said that I will say yesterday seemed like a sad day in women’s pro hockey. Embarrassing is becoming the best word to describe what has now gone on for what? Almost a decade? 2 decades? It’s embarrassing . Reconcile or stay apart but quit fighting with each other.
 
https://onherturf.nbcsports.com/202...men-hockey-rematch-pwhpa-pittsburgh-penguins/

US Canada rivalry rematch in Pittsburgh this weekend. What’s odd is at the end of this article it gives a list of NCAA players who aren’t playing because they aren’t sure about their eligibility. But then it goes on to list Ashton Bell and Emma Maltais as on the roster. Does that mean those 2 aren’t coming back? I’m assuming the writer is missing the nuance of the 5th Covid year and Maltais and Bell will be back and not actually playing this weekend but who knows. Whatever happens I sure hope all t’s are crossed I’s dotted as far as the NCAA.

***

I wish I had the time and patience to properly articulate my feelings about the PW currently. I think they are getting a bit of a pass right now. If they say they are close to a league, the next question is what is the hold up?

I believe them if they say they are close to a league. But if this whole thing is largely about women’s empowerment then it needs to be said that their investors are being kind of shitty right now. The investors have seen enough to know if they are in or out and should sign on the dotted line or say they are not into it. And then the PW can say here’s what happened and here’s what we’re trying to next , or here’s what the hold up is, here’s when we think we might debut a league.

The investors reticence to sign off and get this thing done creates a situation where the biggest names in the sport are duking it out in the public space. Women deserve better than that. Crosby doesn’t even have to have social media; if they want to advance the sport women HHOF’s not only have to build it but have to engage in the messiness online. It’s tough to watch. Steve Dangle’s podcast network created a great podcast with Knoxy and Kax, it’s great, light hearted etc, what the game needs...this weekend Knoxy got into a situation where she got into the back and forth between these groups. Tough spot for the faces of the game to be in when fans are being told not to choose sides and just support and enjoy it all.

The other unsettling thing last week in my opinion was when Botta did a long thread detailing this supposed new league. The next day out of nowhere Wasrow of the associated press said tap the brakes on that and wrote and article refuting the assertion that there would be a PW league in 2022. He said Hefford didn’t comment on the story which means some other source came forward to suggest the league is further away than is being represented. Then on the Knoxy and Kaz podcast, at the end of the Emanuelle Blais episode they cryptically talked about what to believe on social media. I interpreted as them being critical of the Botta thread but like I say it was cryptic. The take away for me though was last week felt like whatever league the PW is putting together- people are walking on eggshells about what is allowed to be said. Is that women’s empowerment?

The tl;dr for me is that the investors should say whether they are in or out.

PW gets to do whatever they want but at a certain point, I also think they owe some substantive updates to interested parties. People got behind them when they said one league; now we’re adjusting to the shift in narratives to two leagues. The media has got behind them. The Olympics have passed. What is the update PW?
 
Buffalo has signed former PWHPA and IIHF World Championship gold medalist Dana Trivigno, a centre. Trivigno last played in the league for the Boston Pride from 17-19.
 
PHF Championship is at 9pm eastern tonight on espn 2 or tsn 2 if anyone is looking for hockey to watch.

Connecticut Whale vs Boston Pride. First Isobel Cup final ever for the Whale. Whale won the reg season but are up against a Boston Pride that seems to be peaking at the right time.

Remarkable that their league got their championship onto ESPN2. Last year was NBCSports.
 
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