NFL
Hockey media gathered today in Toronto at the storied Hockey Hall of Fame. It was the much-anticipated announcement the PWHL has teased for weeks. Social media has been buzzing about what it could be. Would it be a revival of Hockey Night In Canada? Would it be ownership news?
Today, Hockey Hall of Famer Jayna Hefford ushered in a new era for the young league. The PWHL will now have an All-Star Tournament.
The All-Star Tournament will take place at Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, on March 7th next year. The games will be aired on TSN and ION. TV rights have been a huge part of the PWHL’s growth as it adds teams and expands into more markets. The countdown starts now, literally. A giant clock will be prominently displayed on the floor below the Great Hall. It will count down to the second the first All-Star Tournament is played.
The meeting focused on the league’s growth over the last 3 years. The league has grown from 6 teams to 12 and doubled its roster from around 300 to over 600. Hockey Hall of Fame President and CEO Jamie Dinsmore heavily emphasized the motif of growth in the sport for these athletes. He states, “The PWHL is creating opportunities for a new generation of women’s hockey players to play professionally, to build careers, and to inspire the next generation and ultimately leave their mark on this game.” He would later go on to say, “That’s what makes the growth of the PWHL so important. It allows players to build the kinds of careers and legacies that can one day be celebrated here.”
The tournament will be a 3-on-3 round-robin tournament featuring players selected by media, executives, and players. The roster construction will consist of 6 Forwards, 3 Defenders, and 1 Goaltender. The teams represented will be Team Canada, Team USA, a Rookie team, and an International Team. See the infographic below.
My initial reaction to the team makeup is that it will clearly wind up being a USA vs. Canada rematch. I pity the rookie team that will have to face off against Hillary Knight and Hannah Bilka in one game. Then, turn around and play against Marie-Philip Poulin and Sarah Fillier right after. Also, I’m a little disappointed in the 3-on-3 format. I love fast-paced hockey, but 3-on-3 feels a bit inauthentic, if you ask me. With there being 12 teams, I feel like it shouldn’t be a huge hurdle to get full squads of players. The PWHL isn’t the only league guilty of this; the NHL is also doing a 3-on-3 round robin, and I think that is lame, too.
The cheapening of the All-Star Game is an industry-wide epidemic. The NFL recently announced it’s doing away with the Pro Bowl games after decades of being a mockery of the sport. The NHL seemingly finally found its footing a couple of seasons ago with the 4 Nations Face Off, only to go back to the small-squad round robin.
Putting all of that aside, these athletes have proven that they absolutely deserve the recognition. The sport has exploded in popularity since February’s Winter Olympics, and they are doing exactly what they should be doing, striking while the iron is hot.
A small side note: Amy Scheer reiterated after the press conference that the 4 expansion franchises in Detroit, Las Vegas, San Jose, and Hamilton will have names before the season starts. Training camp begins on November 18th.
