Latest news with #TakeoverTour
Boston Globe
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Boston Fleet say they'll play four home games, up from two, at Agganis Arena in 2025-26 season
The Fleet played a pair of games at Boston's only larger announced attendance was 6,032 on Feb. 16, Advertisement The Fleet averaged an announced 4,330 fans across their 11 games at Tsongas in 2024-25, and 5,316 for the five played on a weekend (Friday-Sunday). All six of their dates on Tuesday or Wednesday nights drew fewer than 4,000. Tsongas lists a hockey capacity of 6,500, larger than Agganis's 6,221. Related : Those numbers were up from the league's first season, in which PWHL Boston averaged 3,770 fans in 11 games at Tsongas, but put the Fleet fifth in the six-team league behind Toronto (9,059/game), Montreal (9,013), Ottawa (6,888), and Minnesota (6,524). Only New York (2,764), which has missed the playoffs in back-to-back years and played more than half its home games midweek, drew fewer. Advertisement The PWHL announced total attendance of nearly 645,000 in the 2024-25 season, an average of 7,245 buoyed by nine neutral-site Takeover Tour games. Those games averaged nearly 14,000 fans, with two of the sites — Lowell's Tsongas Center will be the Fleet's primary home arena for the third straight season in 2025-26. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff The Fleet are in a state of flux with the annual player draft set for Tuesday night in Ottawa. After Boston has the second pick in each of the draft's six rounds.
Vancouver Sun
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
PWHL expansion full of 'bittersweet feelings' for newly signed players
Jenn Gardiner is still in shock. The former Montreal Victoire forward can't quite fathom that she'll soon be playing professional hockey in the city where she grew up. 'I really can't wrap my hand around the fact that there's actually a team at home and I get to be on it,' Gardiner said Friday, less than 24 hours after she signed with the Professional Women's Hockey League's new expansion team in Vancouver. 'Honestly, I still can't believe that it's actually happening. I think there's just been so many little girls that I've heard from, that I work with, that I coach in the summer reach out. And that's just kind of just touching on the importance of this team in Vancouver.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Gardiner is one of five players PWHL Vancouver inked to new deals during an exclusive expansion team signing window this week. The club also picked up defender of the year candidates Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques from the Minnesota Frost, former Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and former Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse. Nurse and Gardiner both experienced Vancouver's hunger for professional women's hockey when they played there during a 'Takeover Tour' stop in January. More than 19,000 fans packed Rogers Arena for the game, and the crowd was dotted with signs crying for a permanent team in the city. 'I've always been blown away by the amount of support and the real longing and wanting of professional women's hockey in the West Coast,' Nurse said. 'So I'm just excited that the time is now and we get to be the foundation of the future out west.' Nurse — cousin of WNBA star Kia Nurse and Edmonton Oilers defender Darnell Nurse.– was one of the Toronto Sceptres first three signings. She had six goals and eight assists in 21 games last season, despite missing nearly two months with injury. The 30-year-old from Hamilton added one assist in four playoff contests before the Sceptres were ousted from the semifinals by the Frost, who went on to win the Walter Cup for the second year in a row. Playing so close to home has been special, said Nurse. 'It is such an honour to play in Toronto,' she said. 'To be able to see all the jerseys in the stands, to be able to see the signs and the messages that have been sent throughout my time in Toronto and also in the last few days has been bittersweet. … I just couldn't be more grateful for all of the support.' Before the Sceptres released their list of the three players they wanted to protect during the expansion process, Nurse spoke with general manager Gina Kingsbury. 'It was definitely a difficult and very emotional conversation,' Nurse said. 'The team in Toronto is deep. There's a lot of players that are worthy of being protected. All the power to their group moving forward because they do have a great group.' The expansion process came with tough feelings for Maschmeyer, too. The 30-year-old goalie was one of Ottawa's foundational signings, and posted a 9-9-4-2 record for the Charge last season before suffering a leg injury late in the campaign. Rookie goalie Gwen Philips took over in net and backstopped the squad to the Walter Cup final. Ottawa then opted to protect Philips during the expansion process. 'It's definitely been a journey, a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, I would say,' Maschmeyer said. 'Gwen, I cannot say enough amazing things about her. … She's obviously an incredible goaltender and had a standout playoff series. I have no ill will against her. Honestly, I'm very happy for her. 'I think we both deserve starting roles and so this is the best scenario, where we both get to own the net.' Some of the PWHL's biggest stars were left unprotected during the expansion process, including Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight. The 35-year-old American tied for the league lead in scoring last season with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) and is up for the Billie Jean King award as the PWHL's most valuable player. Knight became the first player to sign with the league's other new expansion side, PWHL Seattle, on Wednesday. Players knew heading in that the expansion process would bring 'bittersweet feelings,' she said. 'Definitely, there's a lot of conversations that happen behind the scenes and you kind of have to meet people where they are, and figure out which pieces work and what people want to do and how to build a successful franchise,' Knight said. 'I think things aligned personally for me in the right way. And I can't wait for puck drop.'
Hamilton Spectator
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
PWHL expansion full of ‘bittersweet feelings' for newly signed players
VANCOUVER - Jenn Gardiner is still in shock. The former Montreal Victoire forward can't quite fathom that she'll soon be playing professional hockey in the city where she grew up. 'I really can't wrap my hand around the fact that there's actually a team at home and I get to be on it,' Gardiner said Friday, less than 24 hours after she signed with the Professional Women's Hockey League's new expansion team in Vancouver. 'Honestly, I still can't believe that it's actually happening. I think there's just been so many little girls that I've heard from, that I work with, that I coach in the summer reach out. And that's just kind of just touching on the importance of this team in Vancouver.' Gardiner is one of five players PWHL Vancouver inked to new deals during an exclusive expansion team signing window this week. The club also picked up defender of the year candidates Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques from the Minnesota Frost, former Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and former Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse. Nurse and Gardiner both experienced Vancouver's hunger for professional women's hockey when they played there during a 'Takeover Tour' stop in January. More than 19,000 fans packed Rogers Arena for the game, and the crowd was dotted with signs crying for a permanent team in the city. 'I've always been blown away by the amount of support and the real longing and wanting of professional women's hockey in the West Coast,' Nurse said. 'So I'm just excited that the time is now and we get to be the foundation of the future out west.' Nurse — cousin of WNBA star Kia Nurse and Edmonton Oilers defender Darnell Nurse.— was one of the Toronto Sceptres first three signings. She had six goals and eight assists in 21 games last season, despite missing nearly two months with injury. The 30-year-old from Hamilton added one assist in four playoff contests before the Sceptres were ousted from the semifinals by the Frost, who went on to win the Walter Cup for the second year in a row. Playing so close to home has been special, said Nurse. 'It is such an honour to play in Toronto,' she said. 'To be able to see all the jerseys in the stands, to be able to see the signs and the messages that have been sent throughout my time in Toronto and also in the last few days has been bittersweet. … I just couldn't be more grateful for all of the support.' Before the Sceptres released their list of the three players they wanted to protect during the expansion process, Nurse spoke with general manager Gina Kingsbury. 'It was definitely a difficult and very emotional conversation,' Nurse said. 'The team in Toronto is deep. There's a lot of players that are worthy of being protected. All the power to their group moving forward because they do have a great group.' The expansion process came with tough feelings for Maschmeyer, too. The 30-year-old goalie was one of Ottawa's foundational signings, and posted a 9-9-4-2 record for the Charge last season before suffering a leg injury late in the campaign. Rookie goalie Gwen Philips took over in net and backstopped the squad to the Walter Cup final. Ottawa then opted to protect Philips during the expansion process. 'It's definitely been a journey, a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, I would say,' Maschmeyer said. 'Gwen, I cannot say enough amazing things about her. … She's obviously an incredible goaltender and had a standout playoff series. I have no ill will against her. Honestly, I'm very happy for her. 'I think we both deserve starting roles and so this is the best scenario, where we both get to own the net.' Some of the PWHL's biggest stars were left unprotected during the expansion process, including Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight. The 35-year-old American tied for the league lead in scoring last season with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) and is up for the Billie Jean King award as the PWHL's most valuable player. Knight became the first player to sign with the league's other new expansion side, PWHL Seattle, on Wednesday. Players knew heading in that the expansion process would bring 'bittersweet feelings,' she said. 'Definitely, there's a lot of conversations that happen behind the scenes and you kind of have to meet people where they are, and figure out which pieces work and what people want to do and how to build a successful franchise,' Knight said. 'I think things aligned personally for me in the right way. And I can't wait for puck drop.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
PWHL expansion full of ‘bittersweet feelings' for newly signed players
VANCOUVER – Jenn Gardiner is still in shock. The former Montreal Victoire forward can't quite fathom that she'll soon be playing professional hockey in the city where she grew up. 'I really can't wrap my hand around the fact that there's actually a team at home and I get to be on it,' Gardiner said Friday, less than 24 hours after she signed with the Professional Women's Hockey League's new expansion team in Vancouver. 'Honestly, I still can't believe that it's actually happening. I think there's just been so many little girls that I've heard from, that I work with, that I coach in the summer reach out. And that's just kind of just touching on the importance of this team in Vancouver.' Gardiner is one of five players PWHL Vancouver inked to new deals during an exclusive expansion team signing window this week. The club also picked up defender of the year candidates Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques from the Minnesota Frost, former Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and former Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse. Nurse and Gardiner both experienced Vancouver's hunger for professional women's hockey when they played there during a 'Takeover Tour' stop in January. More than 19,000 fans packed Rogers Arena for the game, and the crowd was dotted with signs crying for a permanent team in the city. 'I've always been blown away by the amount of support and the real longing and wanting of professional women's hockey in the West Coast,' Nurse said. 'So I'm just excited that the time is now and we get to be the foundation of the future out west.' Nurse — cousin of WNBA star Kia Nurse and Edmonton Oilers defender Darnell Nurse.– was one of the Toronto Sceptres first three signings. She had six goals and eight assists in 21 games last season, despite missing nearly two months with injury. The 30-year-old from Hamilton added one assist in four playoff contests before the Sceptres were ousted from the semifinals by the Frost, who went on to win the Walter Cup for the second year in a row. Playing so close to home has been special, said Nurse. 'It is such an honour to play in Toronto,' she said. 'To be able to see all the jerseys in the stands, to be able to see the signs and the messages that have been sent throughout my time in Toronto and also in the last few days has been bittersweet. … I just couldn't be more grateful for all of the support.' Before the Sceptres released their list of the three players they wanted to protect during the expansion process, Nurse spoke with general manager Gina Kingsbury. 'It was definitely a difficult and very emotional conversation,' Nurse said. 'The team in Toronto is deep. There's a lot of players that are worthy of being protected. All the power to their group moving forward because they do have a great group.' The expansion process came with tough feelings for Maschmeyer, too. The 30-year-old goalie was one of Ottawa's foundational signings, and posted a 9-9-4-2 record for the Charge last season before suffering a leg injury late in the campaign. Rookie goalie Gwen Philips took over in net and backstopped the squad to the Walter Cup final. Ottawa then opted to protect Philips during the expansion process. 'It's definitely been a journey, a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, I would say,' Maschmeyer said. 'Gwen, I cannot say enough amazing things about her. … She's obviously an incredible goaltender and had a standout playoff series. I have no ill will against her. Honestly, I'm very happy for her. 'I think we both deserve starting roles and so this is the best scenario, where we both get to own the net.' Some of the PWHL's biggest stars were left unprotected during the expansion process, including Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight. The 35-year-old American tied for the league lead in scoring last season with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) and is up for the Billie Jean King award as the PWHL's most valuable player. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Knight became the first player to sign with the league's other new expansion side, PWHL Seattle, on Wednesday. Players knew heading in that the expansion process would bring 'bittersweet feelings,' she said. 'Definitely, there's a lot of conversations that happen behind the scenes and you kind of have to meet people where they are, and figure out which pieces work and what people want to do and how to build a successful franchise,' Knight said. 'I think things aligned personally for me in the right way. And I can't wait for puck drop.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
Toronto Star
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
PWHL expansion full of ‘bittersweet feelings' for newly signed players
VANCOUVER - Jenn Gardiner is still in shock. The former Montreal Victoire forward can't quite fathom that she'll soon be playing professional hockey in the city where she grew up. 'I really can't wrap my hand around the fact that there's actually a team at home and I get to be on it,' Gardiner said Friday, less than 24 hours after she signed with the Professional Women's Hockey League's new expansion team in Vancouver. 'Honestly, I still can't believe that it's actually happening. I think there's just been so many little girls that I've heard from, that I work with, that I coach in the summer reach out. And that's just kind of just touching on the importance of this team in Vancouver.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Gardiner is one of five players PWHL Vancouver inked to new deals during an exclusive expansion team signing window this week. The club also picked up defender of the year candidates Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques from the Minnesota Frost, former Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and former Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse. Nurse and Gardiner both experienced Vancouver's hunger for professional women's hockey when they played there during a 'Takeover Tour' stop in January. More than 19,000 fans packed Rogers Arena for the game, and the crowd was dotted with signs crying for a permanent team in the city. 'I've always been blown away by the amount of support and the real longing and wanting of professional women's hockey in the West Coast,' Nurse said. 'So I'm just excited that the time is now and we get to be the foundation of the future out west.' Nurse — cousin of WNBA star Kia Nurse and Edmonton Oilers defender Darnell Nurse.— was one of the Toronto Sceptres first three signings. She had six goals and eight assists in 21 games last season, despite missing nearly two months with injury. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The 30-year-old from Hamilton added one assist in four playoff contests before the Sceptres were ousted from the semifinals by the Frost, who went on to win the Walter Cup for the second year in a row. Playing so close to home has been special, said Nurse. 'It is such an honour to play in Toronto,' she said. 'To be able to see all the jerseys in the stands, to be able to see the signs and the messages that have been sent throughout my time in Toronto and also in the last few days has been bittersweet. … I just couldn't be more grateful for all of the support.' Before the Sceptres released their list of the three players they wanted to protect during the expansion process, Nurse spoke with general manager Gina Kingsbury. 'It was definitely a difficult and very emotional conversation,' Nurse said. 'The team in Toronto is deep. There's a lot of players that are worthy of being protected. All the power to their group moving forward because they do have a great group.' The expansion process came with tough feelings for Maschmeyer, too. The 30-year-old goalie was one of Ottawa's foundational signings, and posted a 9-9-4-2 record for the Charge last season before suffering a leg injury late in the campaign. Rookie goalie Gwen Philips took over in net and backstopped the squad to the Walter Cup final. Ottawa then opted to protect Philips during the expansion process. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'It's definitely been a journey, a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, I would say,' Maschmeyer said. 'Gwen, I cannot say enough amazing things about her. … She's obviously an incredible goaltender and had a standout playoff series. I have no ill will against her. Honestly, I'm very happy for her. 'I think we both deserve starting roles and so this is the best scenario, where we both get to own the net.' Some of the PWHL's biggest stars were left unprotected during the expansion process, including Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight. The 35-year-old American tied for the league lead in scoring last season with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) and is up for the Billie Jean King award as the PWHL's most valuable player. Knight became the first player to sign with the league's other new expansion side, PWHL Seattle, on Wednesday. Players knew heading in that the expansion process would bring 'bittersweet feelings,' she said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Definitely, there's a lot of conversations that happen behind the scenes and you kind of have to meet people where they are, and figure out which pieces work and what people want to do and how to build a successful franchise,' Knight said. 'I think things aligned personally for me in the right way. And I can't wait for puck drop.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
