| PWHL Boston | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Boston, Massachusetts |
| League | PWHL |
| Founded | 29 August 2023 |
| Home arena | Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell |
| Colors | Forest green, grey, white |
| Owner(s) | Mark Walter Group |
| General manager | Danielle Marmer |
| Head coach | Courtney Kessel |
| Captain | Hilary Knight |
| Website | boston.thepwhl.com |
 Current season | |
Boston are 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).
It was revealed on August 29, 2023, that one of the PWHL's first six franchises would be located in Boston. [1] Danielle Marmer, a former scout and player development assistant for the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins, was named the team's inaugural general manager. [2] [3] On September 15, Boston University women's team associate head coach Courtney Kessel was announced as the team's first head coach. [4]
The team's first three signings during the league's initial free agency period were United States national team players Hilary Knight, Aerin Frankel, and Megan Keller, all signed to three-year deals. [5] [6] Boston's first selection in the 2023 PWHL Draft, held on September 18, was Swiss forward Alina Müller, taken third overall. [7]
In November, it was revealed that the team's colors would be green, grey, and white. [8] It was also revealed that the team would host home games at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. [9]
Ahead of the start of the inaugural 2024 season, former Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron introduced Knight as Boston's captain; Keller and Jamie Lee Rattray were introduced as assistant captains. [10] The team hosted its inaugural game against Minnesota on January 3, 2024. [11] The team's first ever goal was scored by Theresa Schafzahl, 7:59 into the 2nd period. [12] Minnesota ultimately won the game by a score of 3–2. [13]
| No. | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 |  | Kelly Babstock | F | R | 31 | 2024 | Mississauga, Ontario |
| 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. [17] Boston's first pick was at number 3 overall. [18]
| 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 Soderberg |  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) |
Patrice Bergeron-Cleary is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League, all with the Boston Bruins. He served as team captain from 2021 until his retirement in 2023. Bergeron played junior hockey with the Acadie–Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for one full season before being selected 45th overall by the Bruins in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He made the immediate jump from junior to the NHL after his draft and joined the Bruins in the 2003-04 season. In international play, Bergeron competed for Canada and won gold medals at the 2004 World Championships, 2005 World Junior Championships, 2010 Winter Olympics, 2012 Spengler Cup, and 2014 Winter Olympics. Bergeron is a member of the Triple Gold Club after winning the Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011. He scored two goals, including the Stanley Cup-winning goal, in Game 7 against the Vancouver Canucks.
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.
Brianne Alexandra Jenner is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of Ottawa of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and a member of Canada women's national ice hockey team.
Bradley Kevin Marchand is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and captain of the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Bruins selected Marchand in the third round, 71st overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Jillian T. Dempsey is an American ice hockey player who currently plays for PWHL Montreal in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). The former captain of the Boston Pride of the now-defunct Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), she holds the all-time PHF records for games played, goals, assists, and points, and is one of only two players to have won the Isobel Cup three times.
Lee Ethel Stecklein is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for PWHL Minnesota of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and a former member of the United States women's national ice hockey team. Stecklein first represented the United States at the 2011 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship, and went on to play at the Winter Olympics in 2014, 2018 and 2022. She played college ice hockey at Minnesota. Stecklein is the only player to win both the NCAA national championship and the IIHF World Women's Championship three times.
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.
Sophie Shirley is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for PWHL Boston of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She made her debut with the Canadian women's national team in a two-game exhibition series against the United States in December 2016.
The Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the promotion of professional women's ice hockey. It was founded in May 2019 following the dissolution of the Canadian Women's Hockey League. PWHPA members expressed dissatisfaction with the operations of the existing professional National Women's Hockey League and vowed to boycott existing women's leagues and to work towards the establishment of a unified, financially sustainable professional league. From 2019 to 2023, the PWHPA organized a series of exhibition seasons, known as the Dream Gap tours, to generate support towards its goal.
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.
Ella Shelton is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain for PWHL New York of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), and member of Canada women's national ice hockey team. She was drafted fourth overall in the 2023 PWHL Draft by New York.
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 winner of the Walter Cup. Differences between the PWHL and other 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 is the first season of operation of the Professional Women's Hockey League, and began play on January 1, 2024. Six teams compete during the inaugural season, located in Montreal, Toronto, New York, Boston, Ottawa, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul. The season will culminate with a two-round best-of-five playoff including the top four teams to determine the season champion.
Ottawa are 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.
Montreal are 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.
Toronto are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are one of the six charter franchises of the Professional Women's Hockey League (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).
Minnesota are 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).
The 2023–24 PWHL Boston season is the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League. They play their home games at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts.
The 2023–24 season is the inaugural season of PWHL Toronto as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League. They play their home games at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.
Teams will also carry 3 reserve players for 2024 season
