Latest news with #PWHLTakeoverTour
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Laval University To Add Women's Hockey Joining U Sports In 2026
Laval University is set to join RSEQ as a member of U Sports women's hockey for the 2026-27 season, revitalizing a program that has not played since 1990. "The topic came up in the news a few times a year, and now it's done: university hockey is returning to the Rouge et Or family," said Julie Dionne, Director of the Sports Activities Department at Laval University in a translated school news release. "With the growing popularity of women's hockey and the absence of a French-language university team outside of Montreal, the arrival of the Rouge et Or comes at a perfect time. There is a tremendous desire to grow this sport and make it a destination of choice for dozens of young women who want to compete at a high level while pursuing university studies. Establishing a new team of this magnitude obviously requires a lot of resources—financial, human, and material—but we firmly believe the investment is worth it. The support of the Quebec City business community and hockey fans will be vital to the success of this new team. " It will mark a new era for women's hockey in Quebec City where the community recently made a bid for a PWHL team drawing more than 18,000 fans to a PWHL Takeover Tour game this winter. Laval University will join the University of Montreal, McGill University, Concordia University, and Bishop's University in the province of Quebec as U Sports women's hockey teams. Laval University will now begin the process of recruiting staff and players. "Building a team from scratch is a colossal undertaking," said Jean-Noël Corriveau, Assistant Director and Head of the Rouge et Or program in the school's release. "Our goal is to be competitive quickly, and we hope to hire a coach in the coming weeks. That's why it was important to open the application process as soon as the announcement was made. Recruitment will be very important, and the successful candidate will have to put in a lot of effort from the moment they take the job."
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Why a PWHL playoff game forced players to refuel with ... mustard?
Why a PWHL playoff game forced players to refuel with ... mustard? A recent PWHL playoff game was so long that players had to tap into emergency resources like... mustard? Yeah, mustarddddddddd. (Sorry. I'll show myself out.) On Sunday, the Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge played the longest game in PWHL history. It included four overtime periods and took roughly six hours to complete. If you're keeping up, that's the equivalent of playing two hockey games (and then some) back-to-back. Sounds exhausting, right? Well, it was. The game was so draining for players that trainers had to resort to refueling them with mustard and pickle juice. MORE PWHL: 10 PWHL Takeover Tour photos, including Kraken coach Jessica Campbell's awesome puck drop Why mustard and pickle juice? Ottawa's head athletic therapist Amanda Deluca shared with Jolene Latimer of theScore that they help slow down cramps by disrupting the body's communication system. "Anything with a strong taste, like wasabi, could do the same," she said. "It just delays the onset of exertional muscle cramps." Here's a photo from Sunday's matchup that proves this actually happened. Shoutout to mustard packets everywhere.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
10 Heartwarming Moments From The 2024-25 PWHL Season
As the PWHL season comes to a close, people will immediately begin looking forward to playoffs, the draft, and expansion. But the 2024-25 season left fans with many memorable moments from highlight reel goals like Abby Roque's "Michigan," to record setting attendance, and incredible individual performances. The league moved from 24 games to a 30 game schedule, giving more chances for fans to cheer on their favourite teams. But the 2024-25 season also had moments that connected with fans and players in a different way. Here's a look at some that warmed the hearts of fans and athletes. When Erica Howe announced she was in a fight with breast cancer, it was not only her Toronto Sceptres teammates that showed support, the entire PWHL banded around Howe in solidarity. Women's hockey has developed a strong internal community while striving for a singular pro league, and that was evident in the across the board love and support fans, players, and league staff showed to how. "[M]y position everyday in the National Hockey League is completely aligned with the movement of what you guys are doing. I feel like it's my goal every day to continue to grow opportunities for women in hockey..." Those were Campbell's words in addressing the Montreal Victoire prior to their PWHL Takeover Tour in Seattle. The league would eventually announce expansion to Seattle as well. Seeing Campbell's ascension into the top echelon of coaching alongside the growth of the league has allowed women and girls to dream of careers on the ice, and off the ice in the sport as well. Watching them come together in Seattle was a memorable moment. When the PWHL hosted their first ever PWHL Fantasy camp in Toronto, it brought dreams to life for women of all ages who participated in the immersive camp. The participants spent time on the ice playing games, took in a PWHL game, and met their heroes. It was an important moment and message for all involved that the PWHL is not just for future generations, but it's a recognition of all the women who had their dreams deferred or never saw a path for them to play the game they love professionally. When Hannah Miller walked into the Toronto Sceptres' locker room on her birthday, there were 20 other Hannah Millers waiting for her. Miller's teammates showed up to the rink all wearing matching blonde wigs, and dressed as photos of Miller. The forward has become one of the new faces of women's hockey developing her star power in the PWHL, and the respect, and fun shown by her team shows that players in this league are willing to embrace their personalities, and have a little fun. Will the real Hannah Miller please stand up? 🧐@PWHL_Toronto celebrated her birthday with a Miller-inspired arrival in Edmonton. — PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) February 16, 2025 In a happy on ice story, Natalie Spooner worked her way back from the abyss. Spooner was knocked out of Toronto's opening round series against Minnesota last year and required surgery to repair a torn ACL this offseason. Watching Spooner work through her recovery from crutches, to workouts, to skating, team practices, and finally appearing back in the lineup with Toronto, was another testament to one of the most beloved athletes and people in the PWHL. Whether fans cheer for Toronto or not, there was unity surrounding the well wish for Spooner, and the excitement for her return. When it comes to a single hockey player associated with a single market in the PWHL, few top Jillian Dempsey and Boston. Dempsey was drafted last season by Montreal playing outside of Boston for the first time in her career. It sparked fans to petition for her return, and even saw Massachusetts and Boston politicians reaching out to Boston general manager Danielle Marmer to encourage her to bring back Dempsey. While it didn't happen during the PWHL's first season, Dempsey returned to Boston as a reserve free agent this season, and made her debut with the Fleet. Whether it's on or off the ice, her importance to Boston is significant. Ahead of the Ottawa Charge's home game, which the team celebrated Pride, assistant captain Jincy Roese stepped to centre ice where the goal wasn't to win a face-off, but rather to hit the right notes singing O'Canada. The interesting part is that Roese is American, and she not only sang O'Canada, but she chose a bilingual version signing the anthem in a mix of French and English. At a time when American politicians have threatened the economy and sovereignty of Canada, the implications of an American athlete stepping to the microphone to sing the Canadian anthem was not overlooked. Anthems have been booed at sporting games as fans protest ongoing trade wars, but this anthem was met with rousing support. The MOST special National anthem performance 🥹🇨🇦Alternate captain Jincy Roese took centre ice today to perform O Canada as a thank you to the fans for their support all season…and she CRUSHED 👏 IT 👏 — Ottawa Charge (@PWHL_Ottawa) April 26, 2025 When 9-year-old Sidney Mildon stepped to the podium in Vancouver, there was a backdrop of mountains behind her, teammates holding signs to either side, and an expectant crowd of media, politicians, and league officials waiting. Mildon, a member of the Vancouver Angels girls hockey team spoke words that Vancouver and PWHL fans have been waiting to hear, "we got a team." Her announcement that the PWHL was officially expanding, with their first new franchise heading to Vancouver showed how important this league is to many. CJ Jackson is one of the most beloved players in the PWHL. It's a unique statement to say considering until the last week of the league's second season, Jackson had not played a game. But Jackson is one of the league's most recognizable individuals for their off ice involvement, fashion, and advocacy for inclusion and kindness in hockey. Fans have begged for Jackson to get a shot in the Toronto Sceptres crease, and when Jackson got their first start, it turned into one of the league's most memorable moments to date as Jackson played spectacular hockey backstopping Toronto to a 2-1 shootout win. Following the game, Erica Howe, who was a goaltender in Toronto last season, handed Jackson the game puck.
Global News
30-04-2025
- Business
- Global News
PWHL announces Seattle expansion to join new Vancouver club on West Coast
When Vancouver's professional women's hockey team plays its first game next fall, they will have some regional competition. The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) announced its second expansion team on Wednesday, which will play in Seattle. The new team, dubbed simply PWHL Seattle for the time being, will share the Climate Pledge Arena with the NHL's Seattle Kraken. 'The opportunity to start a new chapter of women's hockey in the Pacific Northwest, combined with calling the world-class Climate Pledge Arena home has so much meaning for our league,' said PWHL executive vice president of Business Operaitons Amy Scheer. 'The Kraken already have been unbelievably supportive, and it's a joy to have PWHL Seattle join the WNBA's Storm and the NWSL's Reign, who are skyscrapers in the city's towering sports landscape.' Story continues below advertisement As is fitting for a city nicknamed the Emerald City, the team's colours will be emerald green and cream. View image in full screen The new PWHL Seattle's colours. PWHL Seattle The new team will join the league's single-entity ownership structure under The Walter Group. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It comes a week after the PWHL announced Vancouver would be its first expansion team, playing out of the Pacific Coliseum at the PNE, and sets up the foundation for an entertaining Pacific rivalry. 'Women's teams from Seattle and Vancouver played against each other as early as 1921 and, given the proximity of our two newest cities – Vancouver is barely 140 miles away – I cannot wait for the first game in what I'm sure will be one of our fiercest rivalries,' said PWHL executive vice-presient of hockey operations Jayna Hefford. The league says details of the expansion draft to build the two new clubs' rosters, and how they will integrate into the 2025 PWHL Draft, will be released in the coming weeks. Story continues below advertisement Seattle's bid was led by the Oak View Group, which developed and operated the Climate Pledge Arena, and the Seattle Kraken. 2:35 PWHL vice-president on why Vancouver was picked as expansion team The PWHL cited the city's facilities, active women's sports fanbase and strong turnout to January's PWHL Takeover Tour game, which drew 12,608 fans, as central to the successful bid. The 2025/2026 season schedule, which will offer more details of how the league manages time zone and travel challenges created by having a pair of west coast teams alongside its original six eastern teams will be released in the late summer.
Reuters
30-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
PWHL announces Seattle expansion franchise for 2025-26 season
April 30 (Reuters) - The Professional Women's Hockey League on Wednesday announced Seattle as its second expansion franchise, with the club set to launch with Vancouver in time for the 2025-26 season. The addition of Seattle and Vancouver, the latter having been announced last week, brings the PWHL to eight teams as they will both join the inaugural six markets of Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto. Given Seattle's proximity to Vancouver, the two newest PWHL teams give the growing league a regional rivalry. "I cannot wait for the first game in what I'm sure will be one of our fiercest rivalries," PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Jayna Hefford said in a press release. "We also look forward to making an impact in Seattle off the ice –– from grassroots hockey to community initiatives, we're committed to building meaningful connections throughout our newest home city." The league said its newest team will be known as PWHL Seattle until a permanent name is announced, will feature Emerald Green as its primary colour and play out of Climate Pledge Arena, which is home to the city's NHL and WNBA teams. Seattle's bid was led by Oak View Group, the developers and operators of Climate Pledge Arena, alongside the NHL's Seattle Kraken. In January, Seattle hosted the first game of the PWHL Takeover Tour, a series of nine neutral-site regular-season games, and drew a crowd of 12,608. In its inaugural season, the PWHL set the highest attendance record globally for women's hockey when 21,105 people filled a sold-out Montreal arena in April 2024.
