Three neutral site stops down and six to go, the Professional Women's Hockey League is quickly discovering how popular it has become at a time when the second-year six-team league is considering .
The PWHL鈥檚 first three stops over the past two weeks generated a combined turnout of 45,664 fans, including a crowd of 14,018 in Denver that spent a portion of the game chanting: 鈥淲e want a team! We want a team!.鈥�
鈥淚 think pleasantly surprised but not shocked by any means,鈥� PWHL senior vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford told The Associated Press.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a demand for the women鈥檚 game that we鈥檝e proven, and to see it in other markets is pretty awesome. I wasn鈥檛 in Denver, but I heard from many the chants of we want a team,鈥� she added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to be in these venues where I think people feel like they鈥檙e auditioning for a team. It鈥檚 a neat feeling.鈥�
The initial response was enough for Hefford to jokingly suggest that perhaps the PWHL should consider expanding on its expansion plans.
鈥淵eah, we鈥檒l see what happens,鈥� she said with a laugh.
the PWHL鈥檚 series of neutral site games opened with Boston鈥檚 3-2 shootout win over Montreal before a crowd of 12,608 at Seattle鈥檚 Climate Pledge Arena on Jan. 5. Three days later, the 鈥� the PWHL鈥檚 third-largest crowd 鈥� in 91原创鈥檚 Rogers Arena.
And the turnout in Denver for was a PWHL U.S. attendance record, breaking the previous mark of 13,736 set in Detroit last season during one of the league鈥檚 two neutral-site games.
鈥淚t was amazing to be in that rink and hearing they want a team. It gives you hope for the future to keep growing the league,鈥� Montreal鈥檚 Marie-Philip Poulin said about playing in Denver, during a Zoom call Thursday. 鈥淲e鈥檙e the lucky ones to be there, but there鈥檚 more games of the tour. And I鈥檓 very excited to be able to be part of one more.鈥�
The Victoire will have taken part in the PWHL鈥檚 first four neutral site games with Montreal to play Ottawa in Quebec City on Sunday. The game has limited tickets available for the 18,000-plus seat Videotron Centre, which opened in 2021 in the city鈥檚 bid to lure back an NHL franchise after the Nordiques left for Denver following the 1994-95 season.
Quebec City officials have made no secret of their desire to land a PWHL team in launching a campaign well before the league announced it was considering expansion in October.
鈥淚鈥檓 not at all surprised that tickets sold like hotcakes,鈥� said Quebec City councillor Jackie Smith, who has been spearheading the expansion bid. 鈥淚t is out of the question that Quebec City will not receive the first expansion team in this league.鈥�
PWHL officials have been guarded discussing expansion plans in saying the decision has yet to be made whether they intend on adding one or two teams. The league identified more than 20 potential markets which are being rated by size, access to facilities, economic partnership opportunities and fan base potential.
The Takeover Tour rounds out with stops in Edmonton, Buffalo, New York, Raleigh, North Carolina, Detroit and St. Louis over the next two months.
Ottawa goalie Emerance Maschmeyer is looking forward to travelling to Quebec City for the Charge鈥檚 first neutral site game of the season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been really exciting to watch from afar. I think there鈥檚 a lot of passion and energy in the rink. You can hear it over the TV screen,鈥� Maschmeyer said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 not the same as being there in person. I think it鈥檚 been electric and we鈥檙e excited that we鈥檙e going to be a part of it here shortly.鈥�
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AP Women鈥檚 Hockey:
John Wawrow, The Associated Press
