A New Era of Women’s Hockey Begins with The PWHL

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) dropped the puck for its first game of its first official season on January 1, representing a new era in women’s hockey.

The PWHL is composed of six teams: three from Canada and three from the United States, one of those U.S. teams being Minnesota. 

The new league was brought to life after the shutdown of the Premier Hockey Federation, previously known as the National Women’s Hockey League before 2021, due to the league being bought out by the Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises. 

There has been turmoil in the past with funding a professional women’s hockey league, but those who represent the Minnesota team have hopes for a bright future ahead in the sport they express extreme passion for. 

Natalie Darwitz, the general manager for the Minnesota team, upon being asked to take on the position, said, “To be one of the first six GMs of the league and the first GM of Minnesota is quite an honor. My goal is to push this thing forward, grow the game even more and to give these players a tremendous opportunity and experience.”

Darwitz added that the team has demonstrated a great dynamic on the ice as they prepare for their season. “We have a great group that come to the rink every day, hungry to get better, and they have each other’s backs,” Darwitz said.

While not all players on the Minnesota team are former players for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Women’s hockey team, a good majority of players have represented the maroon and gold in the past. Darwitz said this creates trust between those players since they have familiarities within their backgrounds.

Lee Stecklein, a starting defender and team leader for Minnesota, emphasized the strong connection between the players, especially those she has played with before.

“It’s made it very familiar and comfortable despite starting something that is totally new,” Stecklein said. “You get the chance to play with people who you know really, really well.”

On top of Minnesota players supporting each other, the PHWL itself is an all-inclusive and welcoming league, according to Darwitz. She added the league will learn more about how to improve this aspect as time goes on. 

To Stecklein, the opportunity to play on the Minnesota team was where she wanted to continue her professional career and knew immediately she wanted a spot on the team so she could honor those before her, along with paving the way for future women hockey players to come. 

“I think that women’s hockey has so much to offer,” Stecklein said. “I want people to keep playing, like I’ve been able to keep playing, so they can continue to improve.”

Before a professional league was formed, women’s hockey was only broadcasted every four years during the Winter Olympics. Now, every year during the month of January, the PWHL will broadcast their games for the world to see.

“To see this through yearly now and to grow the game, I’m so excited for these players to put a great product on the ice,” Darwitz said. “It’s long overdue, and they deserve it.”

“The more we can educate people and show them what we do on the ice, hopefully the more people continue to come watch us play,” Stecklein added.

Darwitz and Stecklein both said that the start of this league has the potential to show the world that women should be able to play the sport they have a driving passion for as a career.

“For all those little girls growing up that aren’t even figuring out where they want to go to college yet are able to have that dream to play in this league and have this league still be there when it’s their time, that’s my dream,” Stecklein said. 

Stecklein added she hopes people begin to realize hockey is a feasible career for women out of college with a steady income for those who want to dedicate their careers to the sport. 

Minnesota played their first game on January 3 against Boston, winning 3-2 with Taylor Heise, the first overall draft pick and former Minnesota Golden Gopher, scoring the opening goal for the team. 

Minnesota won their first home game on January 6 against Montreal, winning 3-0. The home opener saw 13,316 fans, which is the most to have ever attended a women’s hockey game in Minnesota.

To see the Minnesota team play, fans can purchase tickets on the PWHL website for the opportunity to watch the team play at the Xcel Energy Center, home of the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild. 

Darwitz said she believes everything we do in life is to “pave the path forward,” which is also what she believes when it comes to every women’s hockey player in the past who made it possible for the PWHL to come to fruition. 

“For these players and the past players who didn’t have this opportunity to play professional hockey, this is for them,” Darwitz said. “This is a tremendous moment for the players to reap the rewards of those other players who planted the seeds way back when.” 

The PWHL has looked to the past and honored those before them while looking towards the future for those yet to come. With the first season underway, the PWHL represents a new era in women’s hockey. 

For more information of PWHL Minnesota, log on to: www.minnesota.thepwhl.com/en/