Hilary Knight, the Boston Fleet captain, reminisces about the unforgettable experience of playing in Seattle, where she scored twice and added an assist in front of a record crowd of 14,551 during a U.S.-Canada Rivalry Series game at Climate Pledge Arena. Knight, a four-time Olympian, holds Seattle close to her heart and is thrilled to share that experience with her teammates.
The Pacific Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is embarking on a series of neutral-site games, known as 'The Takeover Tour,' to expand the league's reach and test potential markets for future expansion. The tour includes stops in cities like Raleigh, St. Louis, and Vancouver, among others.
Players like Nicole Hensley, a goalie for the Minnesota Frost, are eagerly anticipating their homecoming games, such as the one in Denver at the Avalanche's Ball Arena. The tour also holds significance for former players like Cammi Granato, who captained the U.S. to a gold medal in the 1998 Nagano Winter Games. Granato sees the tour as a breakthrough for women's hockey and a dream come true for the current generation of players.
The PWHL's expansion considerations include cities like Detroit, Buffalo, and Canadian cities like Edmonton and Quebec City. Detroit, with its strong fan turnout last year, is a front-runner for expansion. The league aims to continue growing and reaching new audiences across North America.
The Seattle Kraken, who actively campaigned to secure a PWHL franchise, are dedicated to fostering hockey growth for both boys and girls in the Pacific Northwest. With the hiring of a full-time women's assistant coach and a commitment to promoting female success in hockey, the Kraken are taking important steps forward for women's hockey.
The PWHL's neutral-site games are not only about competition but also about expanding opportunities for women in hockey and inspiring the next generation of players across North America.
