PWHL’s sold out debut was the success the new league needed

On New Year’s Day, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) played its first game in front of a sold-out crowd at the Mattamy Centre as Toronto hosted New York.

While it may not have been the result the home team wanted, losing 4-0 to New York, the league couldn’t have been happier with how the first day went, with scores of media members in attendance, long lines at the merchandise tables, and a diverse sea of fans cheering on the players.

On Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss the league’s first game and why hockey fans should be excited with the start of the new league.

Tyler Yaremchuk: I loved seeing all the buzz on social media about the start of the PWHL and their league getting going.

There was a lot to like here: I loved the hype, I loved teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs showing some love, and I loved how accessible this product is as well. Not only did they partner with some major broadcasters in Canada, but you can watch every game for free on YouTube. I’m really hoping that they’ve finally gotten women’s hockey right.

Frank Seravalli: I think they have. Did you see the physicality in the game and how awesome that part of it is? lt was a marked difference from what we’ve seen before.

I haven’t been able to get on board the women’s hockey train in the last number of years. Not because it isn’t good — I watch the Olympics and the Women’s World Championships — but because we lacked a pure best-on-best league. The best players were not in the same league.

It’s amazing what came together in getting it to this point. The work in the last three or four months has been incredible to watch.

You can watch the rest of the segment and the full episode here…