STEELE SPORTS
The state of hockey now has a new team to support as the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is officially underway in its inaugural season, bringing PWHL Minnesota to St. Paul with some familiar faces leading the franchise.
Possibly the biggest name on the roster is longtime hockey icon Kendall Coyne Schofield, who serves as PWHL’s first-ever captain.
Working alongside Coyne Schofield as assistant captains are former University of Minnesota standouts Kelly Pannek and Lee Stecklein.
Through four games this season, PWHL Minnesota currently sits atop all teams with three wins and one overtime loss.
Aiding the fast start for the new franchise is the fact that Minnesota fans have shown out in numbers to begin the season.
In the team’s second game of the season against Montreal, 13,316 fans packed the Xcel Energy Center to set a new record attendance at a professional women’s hockey game.
Averaging three goals per game in wins, PWHL Minnesota has proven to be a high-octane team that can topple even the toughest of defenses.
My first introduction to the PWHL came two weeks ago, when I watched the team’s 3-0 home win over Montreal on a TV at Torey’s Restaurant between sports coverage assignments.
Not only was the pace of play and athleticism of these athletes on full display, but the passion for the game was evident even through the TV screen.
A professional women’s hockey league has been long overdue, and to see the excitement and opportunity that this league is bringing to top-tier athletes across the nation is something worth getting excited about.
Also worth mentioning is the positive influence this league is having on female youth athletes.
As someone who watched his two cousins come up through the Benilde-St. Margaret’s girls’ hockey program, I have seen firsthand the effect athletes such as Pannek have had on their skills and love for the game.
Now more than ever, athletes like Pannek have an even larger platform to influence the next generation of great female athletes, while also receiving financial compensation for playing the game they love.
The PWHL is truly a win-win situation for fans and athletes alike, and if you haven’t tuned in yet, I recommend you watch or attend PWHL Minnesota’s upcoming home game against PWHL Montreal on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.