Expanding Horizons: PWHL Features Neutral Site Contests in Detroit and Pittsburgh
As neutral site games roll out in Pittsburgh and Detroit, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is contemplating future expansion options. Boston’s Megan Keller expresses her optimism regar… The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is considering expansion options, with potential dates set for 2025-26 season. The PWHL currently plans more neutral-site games next season, following encounters between Toronto and Montreal in Pittsburgh, and Boston and Ottawa in Detroit. These games have sparked significant public interest and significant impact on the league standings. The league's integration of professional women's hockey under one banner by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, the main investor, has provided consistency and unity in the sport.
Published : 2 months ago by Ella Bennet in World
As neutral site games roll out in Pittsburgh and Detroit, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is contemplating future expansion options. Boston’s Megan Keller expresses her optimism regarding growth prospects for the new six-team league.
“I think it’s inevitable,” stated Keller in a recent PWHL video conference. Her confidence mirrors the league’s strategy, exploring different markets before considering expansion, which might take place no earlier than the 2025-26 season. The “Takeover Weekend” is part of this exploration.
The PWHL currently plans more neutral-site games next season, following encounters between Toronto and Montreal in Pittsburgh, and Boston and Ottawa in Detroit. It’s an especially meaningful moment for Michigan natives Megan Keller, Taylor Girard, and Shiann Darkangelo.
Girard reminisced about past Red Wings games she attended with her father, while Darkangelo is excited to mentor the Little Caesars’ youth hockey program where she honed her own skills. All three athletes have expressed hopes that such events can influence the creation of varsity women’s hockey programs at Michigan and Michigan State universities.
Even though the league has faced restraint, with no immediate plans for varsity hockey programs at these universities, neutral site games have sparked significant public interest. The Michigan game tickets are selling well, and the Pittsburgh game is expected to reach a full house. These games carry significant weight for the league standings, which is entering the concluding part of its schedule.
Moreover, these neutral site games showcase the PWHL’s relationship with the NHL. Notably, a record-breaking attendance for a women’s hockey game was set at Toronto and Montreal’s match at the Maple Leafs’ venue, and there’s potential for a new record when Montreal hosts next month. These are signs of continuing NHL support, emphasized by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman’s acknowledgment of the synergy between the league and the PWHL.
The recent integration of professional women’s hockey under one banner by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, the PWHL’s main investor, has provided consistency and unity in the sport. The powerful backing came through the acquisition of the competing Premier Hockey Federation.
AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report. For more information on women’s hockey, visit https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey.