5 takeaways from week one of the PWHL season: New rules, bodychecks and a hat trick

We’re one week into the PWHL’s inaugural season, and so far it’s been filled with road warriors, one-goal games, an overtime thriller and a hat trick. No sightings of a partridge in a pear tree, however, but we digress.

The Jan. 8 game between Ottawa and Boston was postponed due to inclement weather, which means they’re the only two teams that haven’t played twice. But there’s still plenty to dissect from the start of hockey’s newest professional league.

Here’s five takeaways from the first week of the PWHL’s inaugural season.

1. The opening game was a success

Despite the lopsided final score of 4-0, the PWHL’s opening game between Toronto and New York was a great success. Thousands of fans lined up before the game, a diverse crowd of parents taking their children, couples young and old, or friends just wanting to see good hockey.

One thing that stood out to me was during intermissions, when dozens of fans would line up for team and league gear. There was some question as to how fans would respond to the lack of logos and licensed merchandise, but the lines were long, and two sources confirmed with me that by the end of the game, nearly $10,000 in merchandise had been sold.

Again, it was one game, but it indicates that people not only want to watch these games, but wear their teams colors and support them. That alone should be a massive plus to the league.

2. The state of hockey is the queen of the castle

Talk about starting off the season with a bang. After defeating Boston 3-2 on Jan. 3, Minnesota beat Montreal 3-0 on Jan. 6 and set the professional women’s hockey attendance record with 13,316 fans at the Xcel Energy Center, breaking the record Ottawa set earlier in the weekend with 8,318 at TD Place in Ottawa.

Forward Grace Zumwinkle led the way for Minnesota, scoring the game-winning goal vs. Boston then following up with a hat trick against Montreal. Zumwinkle, who scored 61 points in 39 games with the University of Minnesota in 2022-23, was named one of the player’s of the week by my colleague Tyler Kuehl. There’s little doubt she’ll be back on the list a few times in 2024.

It’s only one week, but Minnesota’s 2-0-0 record made a statement to the league that they mean business.

3. One new rule is a ‘killer’

There were a few wrinkles to the PWHL, notably how scoring a goal on the penalty kill immediately wipes the penalty out. Watching the second Toronto-New York game on Jan. 5, the game was tied 2-2 in the third period when Emma Maltais scored shorthanded, instantly killing the penalty and giving Toronto the lead and the momentum.

It’s refreshing to see a league of this quality try new things, and this specifically has encouraged teams to put their more skilled players on the penalty kill, especially when the team with the power play may not have the most defensively-sound players on the ice. Anything that encourages offense is a good thing.

4. Bodychecking has boosted the league

Having covered the women’s game for years, one thing players have discussed both privately and publicly is the wish for officials to allow more physical play. By IIHF standards, there’s only room for a bit of contact in women’s hockey, so for the PWHL to not only enable it, but encourage it, has been positive.

Games are noticeably more physical, with some bodychecks providing momentum swings and pops from the crowd. There are some instances of players making rushed passes in fear of getting hit, causing turnovers and more offensive chances (again, encouraging offense is a good thing).

Players are still getting a feel for it, but to see the game’s best be able to use every tool from their toolbox is refreshing. I’m sure the players feel the same way.

5. Television broadcasts are crisp

One knock I’ve heard in the past from those within the game and those watching has been the lack of quality in the older league’s television broadcasts. Some of the games would have two, maybe three cameras on tripods that wouldn’t capture how fast the game was, or would hinder the viewing experience for fans at home.

With the PWHL, HD broadcasts, multiple cameras from different parts of the rink and a general higher quality on the production side makes the viewing experience far better. One can only assume that once the league starts to settle in, everything that goes into watching a game will get better.

Keep an eye out every Monday for Tyler and I’s five takeaways, and if you haven’t already, read his piece on the first players of the week for 2024.