| PWHL Boston | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Boston, Massachusetts |
| League | PWHL |
| Founded | 29 August 2023 |
| Home arena | Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell |
| Colors | Forest green, gray, white |
| Owner(s) | Mark Walter Group |
| General manager | Danielle Marmer |
| Head coach | Courtney Kessel |
| Captain | Hilary Knight |
| Website | boston.thepwhl.com |
 Current season | |
PWHL Boston is a professional ice hockey team based in Lowell, Massachusetts. They are one of the six charter franchises of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).
On August 29, 2023, it was announced that one of the PWHL's first six franchises would be located in Boston. [1] [2] This ensured the continuation of professional women's hockey in the area after the folding of the Boston Pride and the Premier Hockey Federation earlier that summer; the Pride had been that league's most successful franchise, winning three Isobel Cup championships. [3] Danielle Marmer, a former scout and player development assistant for the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins, was named PWHL Boston's inaugural general manager. [4] [5] On September 15, Boston University women's team associate head coach Courtney Kessel was announced as the team's first head coach. [6]
The team's first three player signings were United States national team players Hilary Knight, Aerin Frankel, and Megan Keller, all signed to three-year deals. [7] [8] Boston's first selection in the 2023 PWHL Draft, held on September 18, was Swiss forward Alina Müller, taken third overall. [9]
In November, it was revealed that the team's colors would be green, gray, and white. [10] It was also revealed that the team would host home games at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. [11]
Ahead of the start of the inaugural 2024 season, former Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron introduced Knight as Boston's captain; Keller and Jamie Lee Rattray were introduced as alternate captains. [12] The team hosted its inaugural game against PWHL Minnesota on January 3, 2024. [13] The team's first ever goal was scored by Theresa Schafzahl, 7:59 into the 2nd period. [14] Minnesota ultimately won the game by a score of 3–2. [15] Boston's first victory came in a 3–2 overtime decision against PWHL Montreal on January 13. [16] Boston went on to finish third in the league standings, clinching a playoff spot in their final regular season game. [17]
In the first round of the playoffs, Boston faced Montreal. Boston went on to defeat Montreal in three straight games, with all three victories coming in overtime. [18] Boston advanced to the championship series, where they faced Minnesota. Goaltender Aerin Frankel led the playoffs in saves. [19] However, Boston lost a close five-game series, with Minnesota clinching the Walter Cup championship in Lowell on May 29. [20]
| No. | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 |  | Caitrin Lonergan | F | R | 26 | 2024 | Roslindale, Massachusetts |
The 2023 PWHL Draft was held on September 18, 2023, and used a "snake draft" format with the selection order reversing after each round. [24] [25] Boston's first pick was at number 3 overall. [26]
| Rd | Pick | Player | Nationality | Position | Previous team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Alina Muller |  Switzerland | Forward | Northeastern Huskies (Hockey East) |
| 2 | 10 | Sophie Jaques |  Canada | Defence | Ohio State Buckeyes (WCHA) |
| 3 | 15 | Jamie Lee Rattray | Canada | Forward | Team Harvey's (PWHPA) |
| 4 | 22 | Loren Gabel | Canada | Forward | Boston Pride (PHF) |
| 5 | 27 | Hannah Brandt |  United States | Forward | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) |
| 6 | 34 | Jessica DiGirolamo | Canada | Defence | Team Adidas (PWHPA) |
| 7 | 39 | Theresa Schafzahl |  Austria | Forward | Vermont Catamounts (Hockey East) |
| 8 | 46 | Emily Brown | United States | Defence | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) |
| 9 | 51 | Taylor Girard | United States | Forward | Connecticut Whale (PHF) |
| 10 | 58 | Emma Söderberg |  Sweden | Goaltender | Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (WCHA) |
| 11 | 63 | Sophie Shirley | Canada | Forward | Wisconsin Badgers (WCHA) |
| 12 | 70 | Shiann Darkangelo | United States | Forward | Toronto Six (PHF) |
| 13 | 75 | Emma Buckles | Canada | Defence | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) |
| 14 | 82 | Tatum Skaggs | United States | Forward | Team Scotiabank (PWHPA) |
| 15 | 87 | Jess Healey | Canada | Defence | Buffalo Beauts (PHF) |
Hilary Atwood Knight is an American ice hockey forward and captain of Boston of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She is also a member of the United States women's national ice hockey team. She previously played for the Les Canadiennes de Montréal of the CWHL and the Boston Pride of the NWHL, with whom she won the inaugural Isobel Cup.
The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) was a women's professional ice hockey league in the United States and Canada that operated from March 2015 until June 2023. The league was established in 2015 as the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL), comprising four league-owned teams. Over time, some teams gained independent ownership and the number of teams grew to seven; teams during the league's final season in 2022–23 included the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, Montreal Force, and Toronto Six. The Isobel Cup was awarded annually to the league playoff champion.
The Boston Pride were a professional women's ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They were one of the four charter franchises of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). The Pride played at Warrior Ice Arena, which is also the practice facility for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. The Pride won the inaugural Isobel Cup in 2016 and became the first professional women's ice hockey team to win three championship titles when they claimed consecutive victories in 2021 and 2022.
The Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy Cup, often shortened to Isobel Cup, is the championship trophy that was awarded annually to the now defunct Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) playoff winner. The trophy is named after Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy, the daughter of Lord Stanley—former Governor-General of Canada and namesake of the Stanley Cup—and one of the first women known to play the game of ice hockey.
Aerin Frankel is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for PWHL Boston of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and member of the United States women's national ice hockey team. She was one of the best goaltenders in women's NCAA history. She won the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2021. She is a two-time recipient of the WHCA National Goalie of the Year award and was the inaugural winner in 2021. In 2023, Frankel won gold with the United States women's national ice hockey team at the 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship in Brampton, Ontario.
Taylor Heise is an American professional ice hockey forward for PWHL Minnesota of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She played college ice hockey at Minnesota where she won the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2022. She is also a member of the United States women's national ice hockey team. She was drafted first overall in the 2023 PWHL Draft.
The Professional Women's Hockey League is a professional women's ice hockey league in North America, wholly owned and operated by the Mark Walter Group. It consists of six franchises, three each from Canada and the United States, who play a regular season to earn one of four places in a postseason tournament that determines the winner of the Walter Cup. Differences between the PWHL and other North American professional hockey leagues include a 3-2-1-0 points system, terminations of penalties following a short-handed goal, best-of-five shootouts, and greater restrictions on body checking. The league's matches are broadcast nationally in Canada by the CBC and TSN, their French-language affiliates Radio-Canada and RDS, and Sportsnet. In the United States, it is broadcast in syndication, while worldwide it is streamed on YouTube.
The 2023–24 PWHL season was the first season of operation of the Professional Women's Hockey League, and began play on January 1, 2024. Six teams competed during the inaugural season, located in Montreal, Toronto, New York, Boston, Ottawa, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul. The season culminated in a two-round best-of-five playoff including the top four teams to determine the season champion. PWHL Toronto topped the regular season standings with 17 wins and 47 points. In the playoffs, PWHL Minnesota won the inaugural Walter Cup, defeating PWHL Boston in a 5-game series for the title.
PWHL Ottawa is a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. They are one of the six charter franchises of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). Ottawa plays its home games at TD Place Arena.
PWHL Montreal is a professional women's ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec. They are one of the six charter franchises of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They play home games at the Place Bell in Laval and the Verdun Auditorium in Verdun.
PWHL Toronto is a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario. They are one of the six charter franchises of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). Toronto topped the standings in the league's inaugural regular season.
PWHL New York is a professional ice hockey team based in the New York metropolitan area. They are one of the six charter franchises of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).
PWHL Minnesota is a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They are one of the six charter franchises of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). In 2024, PWHL Minnesota won the PWHL's inaugural Walter Cup championship.
The 2023 PWHL draft was the first draft in Professional Women's Hockey League history, and took place on September 18, 2023, at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
The 2023–24 PWHL Minnesota season was the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They played their home games at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The 2023–24 PWHL Boston season was the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They played their home games at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts.
The 2023–24 PWHL Montréal season was the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League. They played their home games at Verdun Auditorium in Montreal and Place Bell in the suburb of Laval. They also played one game at the Bell Centre on April 20.
The 2023–24 PWHL New York season was the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They played their home games at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
The 2023–24 PWHL Ottawa season was the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They played their home games at TD Place Arena in Ottawa.
The 2023–24 PWHL Toronto season was the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They played the majority of their home games at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, hosting one game at Scotiabank Arena and their playoff games at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Teams will also carry 3 reserve players for 2024 season
