To say that I’m happy women’s hockey has finally gained the attention of networks and audiences in North America is an understatement. After twenty years of ups and downs with the PHF and NWHL and the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association, the world’s best female players have a “league of their own.”

And what a league.

The PWHL has drawn significant attendance numbers and television/online viewership in its inception. Reportedly, the premiere on January 1st even outdrew the Outdoor Classic.

In an interview with John Gormley a few years ago, he asked me what I thought about the possibility of a professional women’s league. I said that I thought there was an “appetite” for it if only the media would decide to get involved. I had no idea how ready the world was!

Isn’t it inspiring to see so many little girls sporting PWHL toques in the stands? The play is fast-paced, and the officials (so far, at least) are letting the women engage in a gritty game that includes a degree of contact. I also can’t seem to get enough of footage of these women walking confidently into the arena, suited up in their game day duds. My mother would have loved all of this.

One interesting parallel between the PWHL and the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1954) is that the PWHL is backed by Los Angeles Dodgers’ owner Mark Walter. The AAGPBL was the genius of Chicago Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley.

The involvement of tennis great Billie Jean King also cannot be understated. King brings an understanding of what it means to be a female player in male-dominated sport to the table (and so much more).

At this point, the PWHL teams do not have names or logos, and for me, that is irrelevant. The most important factors are the quality of the game, ease and consistency of access for fans, and attendance numbers. So far, none of those appear to be a problem.

Will the NHL eventually back this league, as the NBA has done for the WNBA?

I don’t know.

I don’t know if the league will be sustainable without the NHL’s involvement. I also don’t know if the NHL, which has its own set of issues, is an organization the PWHL wants to be affiliated with.

The seeds for the eventual failure of the AAGPBL were planted the day Wrigley abandoned the teams (which eventually grew from four to ten) to the ownership of individual cities. Then again, promotion is a heck of a lot different eighty years later.

So, let’s jump to a much easier question. Namely, what’s your favourite team?

I still haven’t decided on mine since I can find reasons to cheer on any team in a match-up. When Toronto is playing, I keep an eye out for Kaitlyn Willoughby, Number 28. Kaitlyn is a former University of Saskatchewan Huskie and a real-life character in Shootout. Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod and Ottawa Assistant Captain Emily Clark (another Saskatchewan product) have also earned my respect and admiration. Howie Draper, longtime University of Alberta Panda coach, is now behind the New York bench, working his magic. And who doesn’t love Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin?

The league extends into May, and although my travel plans won’t take me to a game this season, I hope to attend a PWHL game in person sometime in the near future. In the meantime, I will satisfy myself with attending the February 9th Rivalry series game in Regina, and the 2024 U Sports Women’s Hockey Championship at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon in mid-March.

Let’s hope the momentum of the women’s game continues!