Blayre Turnbull’s triumphant hat trick in the PWHL pre-season game marked a significant moment not only for her but also for women’s hockey. After a gap of over four years since regular play, Turnbull’s stellar performance underscored the anticipation and excitement surrounding the inaugural season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
Her three goals propelled Toronto to a 5-3 victory over Boston in a pre-season match held in Utica, N.Y., where teams convened for games and preparations ahead of the league’s commencement on January 1st.
Turnbull, a seasoned player who previously celebrated a Clarkson Cup win with the Calgary Inferno before the CWHL’s closure, expressed immense joy and relief at the return to competitive hockey, echoing the sentiments of many players eagerly awaiting this level of competition.
While recognized for her defensive prowess in the national team, Turnbull’s role in the PWHL is expanding, emphasized by her placement on Toronto’s top line alongside Sarah Nurse and Victoria Bach. The league’s formation has allowed her to embrace a more significant offensive role.
Toronto’s head coach, Troy Ryan, highlighted Turnbull’s importance in the team’s lineup, expecting her to contribute offensively. Turnbull lived up to this expectation with her hat trick, showcasing her scoring abilities, including a goal on a break and another during a 5-on-3 advantage. Sarah Nurse added another goal for Toronto, while Brittany Howard contributed two assists to the team’s victory.
The emergence of the PWHL and Turnbull’s stellar performance signify a new era and heightened opportunities for women’s hockey, bringing enthusiasm and anticipation for the league’s official launch.
Final Opportunity for GMs to Assess Rosters Before Season Commences
Monday’s closed-door games at Utica University’s Nexus Center provided general managers and team personnel with an important finale to evaluate their rosters before finalizing their teams for the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s inaugural season. With first cuts already made, reducing each team’s roster to 27 players, this week’s games are pivotal for GMs to make their last assessments.
Teams are gearing up for final cuts by the end of the week, aiming to settle on a roster comprising 23 players on contract along with two reserve players, with the deadline for final rosters set for December 11.
Boston emerges as a formidable team on paper, boasting strengths in goaltending, defensive pairings, and notable players like Alina Müller from the Swiss national team and veteran Hilary Knight. However, some key players, including Knight, Megan Keller, and starting goalie Aerin Frankel, were absent from Monday’s game.
Instead, Boston’s head coach, Courtney Kessel, used the opportunity to give more ice time to depth players striving for roster spots. These players were also involved in the shootout that follows each pre-season PWHL game, showcasing their skills and contributing goals.
Kessel emphasized the importance of providing every player a fair chance to earn a spot on the roster, creating opportunities for them to shine in crucial moments like shootouts. She intends to ensure each of the team’s 27 players participates in at least two games during the week, maximizing the evaluation process before finalizing the roster.
The pre-season games serve as a critical platform for teams to assess their talent pool, finalize selections, and build competitive rosters ahead of the much-anticipated start of the PWHL season.
Diverse Pre-Season Strategies
It seems like both the Boston and Toronto teams adopted distinct strategies in their pre-season approaches for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
In the case of Boston, Coach Kessel emphasized the team’s three-on-three overtime performance, highlighting the improved transition game as the match progressed. The team’s style appears to revolve around being a physically dominant squad with a focus on speed. Sophie Shirley, who primarily played alongside Jamie Lee Rattray and Alina Müller, managed to secure a regulation goal. Shirley mentioned the team’s initial emphasis on physicality and creating contact on the ice.
On the other hand, Toronto took a different route in their first pre-season game, opting to field most of their star players, including starting goaltender Kristen Campbell. Despite carrying four goalies, the coaching staff faces a decision-making process regarding this position. However, Coach Ryan’s choice to start Campbell was aimed at preparing her for the upcoming season in January.
Ryan mentioned the importance of a strong start and setting a positive tone for the season, even with key players absent from the lineup.
These varied strategies suggest different focuses for each team in their pre-season preparations. Boston seems to emphasize physicality and speed while working on their transition game, whereas Toronto prioritizes getting key players into the game and preparing them for the season’s start, aiming for a solid beginning to their campaign. Both approaches offer valuable insights into each team’s priorities and tactics as they gear up for the official start of the PWHL season.
Rule Experimentation
The PWHL’s pre-season games are not only serving as opportunities for teams to fine-tune their strategies and finalize rosters but also as a testing ground for rule experimentation and adjustments by the league office in preparation for the upcoming season.
One notable experimentation involves the format of the games, including a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime followed by a five-player shootout, irrespective of the game’s score. This format allows coaches and GMs to assess players in diverse situations, aiding them in making informed decisions about their final rosters.
Moreover, the league office is using the pre-season camp as a platform to experiment with various rule variations. For instance, different penalty kill situations are being tested each day, such as serving entire two-minute penalties regardless of power play goals scored. Another experiment involves playing games with no icing for teams playing shorthanded, aiming to explore potential impacts on gameplay dynamics.
Additionally, altering the period structure by having long changes in the first and third periods, as opposed to the traditional second period, is a tactical move that might influence gameplay and potentially contribute to increased scoring opportunities throughout the game.
Players, like Blayre Turnbull, have observed that these rule changes require a more strategic approach to puck and shift management, necessitating smarter decision-making on the ice.
Furthermore, the pre-season games allowed the first glimpse of players donning their team colors, albeit not the officially unveiled jerseys yet. Each team showcased jerseys featuring the PWHL’s logo, providing an initial preview of the team identity.
The pre-season camp serves as a valuable platform not only for team preparations but also for the league to experiment and fine-tune rules, potentially shaping the gameplay dynamics for the inaugural PWHL season starting in January.
Minnesota Triumphs Over Ottawa: [Score/Outcome] Recap
Minnesota’s victory over Ottawa in the pre-season game showcased an offensive spectacle with eight different players contributing goals. Despite Ottawa initially taking the lead and holding a 3-1 advantage early in the second period, Minnesota mounted an impressive comeback, scoring five consecutive goals to lead 7-4 by the end of regulation.
The game extended into 3-on-3 overtime, where Minnesota secured another goal before triumphing in the shootout.
Ottawa’s defender, Jincy Roese, acknowledged the team’s learning curve and growth, emphasizing the importance of building a cohesive team culture during the training camp. Despite experiencing both positives and negatives in the game, Roese expressed pride in being part of a group dedicated to progress and development.
Roese herself contributed to Ottawa’s early success by opening the scoring in the first period. However, Minnesota’s head coach, Charlie Burggraf, highlighted their opponent’s dominance in the neutral zone, specifically with rapid rushes that overwhelmed their defense.
Burggraf acknowledged Ottawa’s relentless style of play as a challenge that required adjustment. He described their opponent’s approach as overwhelming, likening it to a “tsunami” in terms of intensity. Despite Ottawa maintaining momentum, Minnesota adapted their game plan to slow down the pace and ultimately managed to regain control and secure the win.
The game showcased contrasting phases of dominance from both teams, highlighting the importance of adaptability and strategic adjustments in competitive matchups, ultimately culminating in a thrilling and hard-fought victory for Minnesota.
