PWHL Players of the Week: Thompson, Tapani, Maschmeyer ring in the New Year with a bang

As the calendar turns to 2025, a few players made significant impacts last week for their respective teams.

From a couple of standout performances between the pipes and some more offensive excitement, these players were exceptional in the week in the PWHL.

Susanna Tapani (F, Boston Fleet)

It has been apparent that the Fleet has been having trouble scoring once again. However, they received a big spark with a player who has some…Finnish.

Tapani was one of the more productive players for Boston since being acquired from Minnesota last season. She has been a little streaky this season, but she was a big reason the Fleet hung with the Frost last Thursday.

After Minnesota took a 3-1 lead near the halfway mark of the third, the 31-year-old single-handily tied the game with two goals less than a minute apart to help send the game to overtime.

It was Tapani’s second and third goals of the season. Unfortunately, she couldn’t complete the hat trick, as the Fleet ended up losing in overtime.

Yet, the jump Tapani had in the game shows what kind of a difference-maker she can be for Boston. I’m sure the team would like to see the production a little more often to help the team climb out of the bottom of the league’s standings.

Claire Thompson (D, Minnesota Frost)

Our first player to be named to the Players of the Week twice this season earned it. Now, yes, Thompson and the rest of the Frost had a tough time against the New York Sirens on Saturday, but that hasn’t taken away from the stellar play Thompson has shown over the first month of the campaign.

Thompson picked up two assists in the Frost’s overtime win over the Fleet on Thursday, making an outstanding defensive play that led to the game-winning goal.

It was the second multi-point game for the Canadian National Team star. Thompson had a four-point performance against the Ottawa Charge on Dec. 19.

It certainly hasn’t been an easy return to hockey for Thompson, consistently being put up against the opponent’s top stars almost every shift. Yet, she has continued to shine in the early going. Prior to the 5-0 loss to the Sirens, the 26-year-old had built up a five-game point streak in which she posted nine points over that span.

Thompson is currently tied for the league lead in points (10) with New York’s Alex Carpenter, leading all skaters with nine assists.

Emerance Maschmeyer (G, Ottawa Charge)

We knew that with how the Charge was built, their success was going to be dictated based on how Maschmeyer played.

Ottawa came into the week having lost three straight games, two of which Maschmeyer was in the net for. However, the Team Canada mainstay made up for by posting two exceptional outings.

Last Sunday, the Charge was heavily outshot by the Sirens, especially in the final 40 minutes. Yet, Maschmeyer stood tall, and ended up making 34 saves in a 3-1 win.

Then, as if that wasn’t enough, Maschmeyer stood on her head on New Year’s Eve in an emotional game against the Toronto Sceptres. Ottawa was outplayed from start to finish, leading the shot count 38-13. Yet, the 30-year-old was only beaten once, helping her team to a 2-1 victory, putting the Charge in a playoff spot.

At this point, Maschmeyer has a 3-2-0 record, leading all PWHL goaltenders with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.

There is nothing more important for a team’s success than a good goaltender. If Maschmeyer can get some momentum going for herself, it will be the difference in whether the Charge will advance to the playoffs or not.

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