National Women's Hockey League

National Women's Hockey League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2018–19 NWHL season
Sport Ice hockey
Founded March 2015 (2015-03)
Commissioner Dani Rylan
No. of teams 5
Countries United States
Headquarters New York City, New York, U.S.
Continent North America
Most recent
champion(s)		 Metropolitan Riveters (1st title)
Most titles Boston Pride,
Buffalo Beauts,
Metropolitan Riveters
TV partner(s) Cheddar
Twitter
YouTube
Official website nwhl.zone

The National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) is an American women's professional ice hockey league, established in 2015 with four teams.[1][2] The league has grown to five teams: the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, and Minnesota Whitecaps.[3] The league debuted as the first women's professional hockey league to pay its players.[2]

The Isobel Cup, the league's championship trophy, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season. It is named after Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy, the daughter of Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, donor of the Stanley Cup.[4]

History

League beginnings and inaugural 2015–16 season

The NWHL was formed by Dani Rylan in March 2015[5] with an estimated $2.5 million operating budget.[6] It was the first women's professional hockey league to pay its players.[2] Prior to the league's formation, the only choice for top level women's hockey in North America was the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL), which at the time paid bonuses and incentives but not salaries.[7] The league's inaugural season ran on a salary cap of US$270,000 maximum per team and a $10,000 minimum per player.[8] The players also earn 15% of profits from any NWHL jersey sold with their name on it.[9] The league placed its four original teams in markets where many young girls play ice hockey: the New York City area, Buffalo, and New England.[2]

Commissioner Dani Rylan had not disclosed the league's initial investors or how much had been invested.[10] Canadian Joel Leonoff, CEO of Paysafe Group and father of Connecticut Whale goaltender Jaimie Leonoff, has spoken about his investment in the league, although he declined to reveal the size of his investment.[6]

The inaugural NWHL Draft took place in Boston on June 2015[11] with each team selecting five collegiate athletes.[12] The league held tryout camps in various locales in Canada, along with an international player camp in Boston.[13] The league attracted many top level United States women's national ice hockey team stars from the CWHL such as Hilary Knight and former Team USA captain Meghan Duggan,[14] top graduating players from the NCAA,[15] and international players.[16]

In December 2015, the league signed their first league-wide sponsorship deal, a multi-year deal with Dunkin' Donuts.[17] On December 31, 2015, the Boston Pride played Montreal's Les Canadiennes of the CWHL to a 1–1 tie in the first Women's Winter Classic (officially the "Outdoor Women's Classic presented by Scotiabank") the day before the 2016 NHL Winter Classic and at the same site, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. It was the first outdoor professional women's hockey game and the first game between the NWHL and the CWHL.[18]

The 1st NWHL All-Star Game took place on January 24, 2016, in Buffalo, New York. The game featured a 4-on-4 format with Hilary Knight of the Boston Pride and Emily Pfalzer of the Buffalo Beauts serving as team captains. On Saturday March 12, 2016, the Boston Pride became the first Isobel Cup champions with a 3–1 win over the Buffalo Beauts and a 2–0 series win.

Structural changes and NHL partnerships (2016–present)

On August 4, 2016, the league announced that all four inaugural season jersey designs would be retired and replaced with new jersey designs that were voted upon by fans.[19] Two days prior to this announcement, the league announced a partnership with You Can Play,[20] an organization dedicated to eradicating homophobia in sport. Not only did each team in the league have a You Can Play athlete-ambassador, it would eventually begin to develop a policy with regards to transgender players. This initiative took place in response to the October 7, 2016, announcement that Buffalo Beauts player Harrison Browne was transgender (and the first openly transgender athlete in professional American team sports).[21]

Part way into the league's second season, the NWHL informed its players on November 17, 2016, that they would receive up to a 50% pay cut. This decreased the league player minimums to $5,000 per player.[22] Five weeks later, in an attempt to partially compensate for the salary rollback, the league introduced an incentive program where players from the home team split the revenue generated by tickets sold in excess of 500 after each game.[23] On February 3, 2017, the league announced that the season and playoffs would be shortened to accommodate for the players' participation in the 2017 IIHF World Championships and preparations for the 2018 Olympic teams.[24] In September 2017, the league joined with 16 other international hockey organizations in formally adopting the NHL's Declaration of Principles, with the goal of advancing teaching, policies, and programs to strengthen hockey communities around the world.[25]

In October 2017, the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) partnered with the Riveters, the first NHL team to partner with an NWHL team.[26][27][28] The three-year partnership provides facilities for Riveters games and practices, and assists with sponsorships, marketing, and tickets.[27] The team changed their name to the Metropolitan Riveters and adopted the colors of the Devils.[27] Some Riveters games are broadcast on The One Jersey Network, the Devils' digital radio station as well.[29] As part of the new affiliation, the Riveters and Devils held a doubleheader at the Prudential Center for the Riveters' 2017–18 season opener against the Boston Pride followed by the Devils' game against the Arizona Coyotes.[30]

On December 21, 2017, the Buffalo Beauts were acquired by Pegula Sports and Entertainment, owners of the Buffalo Sabres, Rochester Americans, and the Beauts' arena HarborCenter.[31] The Beauts were the second team to become affiliated with an NHL franchise, following the Metropolitan Riveters and the New Jersey Devils partnership in October, the first NWHL franchise to not be owned by the league and the first team in professional women's hockey to be owned by a National Hockey League owner.[32]

On May 15, 2018, the league announced its first expansion franchise had been acquired, the Minnesota Whitecaps would join the league for the 2018–19 season.[33][34] The Whitecaps played in the Western Women's Hockey League (WWHL) in Canada from 2004 to 2011.[35] Following the WWHL's closure, the team played as an independent, playing against college teams[35] and in exhibition games against NWHL teams during the inaugural 2015–16 season.[36] The Whitecaps signed a partnership agreement with the Minnesota Wild, with whom the Whitecaps had cooperated as an independent, in the 2018 offseason.[37]

In August 2018, the NWHL also began an affiliation program, called the Jr. NWHL, with youth hockey organizations to promote growth in girl's and women's hockey.[38][39]

After a call for more transparency the league announced they would reveal some the league investors and their stories over the 2018–19 season. The first league investor to be reveled was Neil Leibman, co-owner of the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball.[40]

Teams

Current teams

Team City Primary arena Head coach Isobel Cups Runners-up Joined NHL partner
Boston Pride Boston, Massachusetts Warrior Ice Arena Paul Mara 1 1 2015
Buffalo Beauts Buffalo, New York HarborCenter Ric Seiling 1 2 2015 Buffalo Sabres
Connecticut Whale Stamford, Connecticut Terry Conners Ice Rink Ryan Equale 0 0 2015
Metropolitan Riveters Newark, New Jersey Barnabas Health Hockey Center Randy Velischek 1 0 2015 New Jersey Devils
Minnesota Whitecaps Saint Paul, Minnesota TRIA Rink Jack Brodt
Ronda Engelhardt		 0 (1 Clarkson Cup) 0 2018 Minnesota Wild

Seasons

2015–16

The inaugural NWHL Draft took place in Boston on June 20, with each team selecting five collegiate players.[41] The draft order was decided on June 8 by lottery: the New York Riveters to pick first, followed by the Connecticut Whale, the Boston Pride, and the Buffalo Beauts.[42] The first overall pick by the Riveters was Boston College graduate Alex Carpenter, the 2015 winner of the Patty Kazmaier Award for the most outstanding player in NCAA women's hockey, and the daughter of National Hockey League All-Star Bobby Carpenter.[43] The other first round picks included University of Minnesota forward Hannah Brandt by Connecticut, Northeastern University forward Kendall Coyne by Boston, and University of Wisconsin defenseman Courtney Burke by Buffalo.[44][45]

The first game in league history occurred on October 11, 2015, a sell-out match between the New York Riveters and Connecticut Whale.[46] Manon Rheaume dropped the puck in the ceremonial opening faceoff before the game.[47] The first goal in league history was scored by Jessica Koizumi of the Connecticut Whale during the team's 4–1 win.[48]

2016–17

The same four teams returned for the second season. Prior to the first game of the season, Harrison Browne of the Buffalo Beauts made the declaration that he was a transgender athlete.[49] The 2nd NWHL All-Star Game was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a rumored expansion market.[50] Amanda Kessel and Kelley Steadman were named as All-Star captains.[50] Kessel scored the first hat trick in NWHL All-Star history and was named Star of the Night by ESPN's SportsCenter.[51] Brianna Decker finished the season as the league's top scorer and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP).[52] The Buffalo Beauts, who finished in third place in the shortened season, upset the league-leading Boston Pride in the Isobel Cup,[53] broadcast online by ABC News.[54] The Beauts were honored at a Buffalo Sabres game later that month.[55]

2017–18

The same four teams returned for the third season, all in the same primary home arenas for the first time. Buffalo played their home opener at Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex in the suburbs of Rochester and there was also one neutral-site game in Pittsburgh.[56] The Metropolitan Riveters won the Isobel Cup defeating the Buffalo Beauts.[57]

Isobel Cup Champions

Harrison Browne of the Buffalo Beauts lifts the 2017 Isobel CupIsobel Cup.
Harrison Browne of the Buffalo Beauts lifts the Isobel Cup in 2017.

The Isobel Cup, the league's championship trophy, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season. It is named after Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy, the daughter of Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, the namesake of the Stanley Cup.[58] The front of the trophy is engraved with "The Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy Cup 1875–1963. This Cup, shall be awarded annually to the greatest professional women's hockey team in North America. All who pursue this Cup, pursue a dream; a dream born with Isobel, that shall never die. EST. 2016."[58] The Boston Pride won the inaugural championship in 2016.[59] The Buffalo Beauts have earned the most appearances in an Isobel Cup Final with three straight appearances from 2016 to 2018,[60] winning in 2017.[61]

Year Winning Team Coach Losing Team Coach Series City
2016Boston PrideBobby JayBuffalo BeautsRic Seiling2–0 (series)Newark, NJ
2017Buffalo BeautsRic SeilingBoston PrideBobby Jay3–2 (single game)Lowell, MA
2018Metropolitan RivetersChad WisemanBuffalo BeautsRic Seiling1–0 (single game)Newark, NJ

Broadcasting

As of May 2018, NWHL games are available on Cheddar, with games streamed live and on demand via Sling TV, Amazon, Twitter, and Facebook Live.[62] The league also streams and archives some games on its YouTube channel for free. The service is dubbed The Cross-Ice Pass. Some archived matches are also available.[63]

During the inaugural season, some games were shown on ESPN3.[64] The league's flagship franchise, the Boston Pride, became the first women's hockey team to enter a regular broadcasting agreement with a regional sports network, with 8 of its 18 games presented on either NESN or NESNplus during the league's inaugural season.[65] In 2016, third-party broadcasts moved from ESPN3 to Cheddar.[66] On March 16, 2017, the league announced that ABC News' website would provide live streaming coverage of the 2017 Isobel Cup Playoffs.[67] On June 20, 2017 it was announced that the NWHL had made a deal with Twitter to live stream 16 regular season games, one game a week (billed as the "Twitter NWHL Game of the Week") plus the All Star Game and the NWHL/Team Russia Summit Series for the 2017–18 season.[68] As part of the partnership with the New Jersey Devils in October 2017, some Riveters games are broadcast on The One Jersey Network, the Devils' digital radio station.[29]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. Women's Players Highlight NWHL Rosters". Usahockey.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "NWHL, first paid women's pro hockey league, drops puck on first season". CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  3. ↑ Neale, Jen (March 26, 2015). "NWHL, new women's hockey league, promises to pay players". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on March 31, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  4. ↑ Fink, James (April 16, 2015). "Buffalo Beauts to play at HarborCenter". Buffalo Business First. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Behind the scenes on an NWHL road trip". SI.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Borzi, Pat (February 9, 2016). "Father of Connecticut Whale Goalie Among NWHL's Mystery Investors". espnW. ESPN Inc. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  7. ↑ Cleary, Martin (September 30, 2007). "Dreaming of a league of her own". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007.
  8. ↑ Cimini, Kaitlin (September 30, 2015). "NWHL Release of Player Finances Raises Questions". Today's Slapshot. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015.
  9. ↑ Clinton, Jared. "NWHL opens shop and reveals jerseys, portion of profit goes to players". The Hockey News. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  10. ↑ Keyser, Hannah. "Where Does The NWHL Go From Here?". Deadspin. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Women's Pro League Offering Pay Signs Its First Player". The New York Times. June 11, 2015. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  12. ↑ "NWHL giving women platform to shine". Sporting News. October 9, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  13. ↑ Clinton, Jared (July 2, 2015). "NWHL to hold first Canadian-based free agent camps". The Hockey News. Longueuil, PQ. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Women's hockey stars not discouraged by NWHL setbacks". AP News. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  15. ↑ "2016 NWHL Draft dominated by WCHA players". SB Nation College Hockey. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  16. ↑ "International NWHL, CWHL Player Percentage Slow to Grow". Excelle Sports. May 11, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  17. ↑ Cimini, Kaitlin (December 7, 2015). "The NWHL Runs on Dunkin' (Donuts)". Today's Slapshot. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017.
  18. ↑ "NHL to host first-ever Outdoor Women's Classic presented by Scotiabank". National Hockey League. December 28, 2015. Archived from the original on January 22, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  19. ↑ "NWHL retires inaugural season jersey designs". NWHL.zone. August 4, 2016. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  20. ↑ "NWHL partners with You Can Play". You Can Play Project. August 1, 2016. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  21. ↑ "NWHL player Harrison Browne comes out as a transgender man". ESPN. October 7, 2016. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  22. ↑ "NWHL hit with bad news". The Fourth Period. November 18, 2016. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016.
  23. ↑ "NWHL players to receive attendance bonuses". Excelle Sports. December 23, 2016. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  24. ↑ "NWHL to complete playoffs before world championships". ESPN. February 3, 2017. Archived from the original on February 4, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Hockey: NWHL among 17 international organizations to adopt declaration of principles". Excelle Sports. September 7, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  26. ↑ "NWHL commissioner praises Devils-Riveters partnership". SI.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  27. 1 2 3 "Devils Will Invest in a Women's Hockey Franchise". The New York Times. October 4, 2017. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Devils form multi-year strategic partnership with the NWHL's Riveters". New Jersey Devils. October 5, 2017.
  29. 1 2 "The Devils fan's guide to the Riveters partnership". NHL.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  30. ↑ "NEW JERSEY DEVILS ENTER FIRST OF ITS KIND AGREEMENT AND FORM MULTI-YEAR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NWHL'S RIVETERS". NWHL. October 5, 2017. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Owners of the Sabres Add N.W.H.L.'s Beauts to Buffalo Stable". The New York Times. December 21, 2017. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Terry and Kim Pegula Acquire Buffalo Beauts". National Women's Hockey League. December 21, 2017. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  33. ↑ "National Women's Hockey League expands with addition of Minnesota Whitecaps". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  34. ↑ "NWHL Expands to Minnesota". NWHL.Zone. May 15, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  35. 1 2 "Professional women's hockey coming to Minnesota: Whitecaps named NWHL expansion team". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Finally, NWHL lands Minnesota Whitecaps as its first expansion team". ESPN. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Wild, Whitecaps announce alliance". Star Tribune. August 13, 2018.
  38. ↑ "NWHL Unveils Affiliate Junior League". BusLeagueHockey.com. August 2, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Jr. NWHL". NWHL. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Co-Owner of MLB's Texas Rangers is an NWHL investor". TheIceGarden.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  41. ↑ "NWHL giving women platform to shine". Sporting News. October 9, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  42. ↑ Zoë Hayden (June 9, 2015). "Women's Hockey News Roundup, 6/9". Stanley Cup of Chowder. Archived from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Alex Carpenter's Last Chance to Add a National Title to Her Résumé". The New York Times. March 11, 2016. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Five WCHA Players Selected During Inaugural NWHL Draft" (PDF). Western Collegiate Hockey Association. June 20, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  45. ↑ "Two former college hockey stars bypassed the NWHL to play for free". ESPN. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  46. ↑ Clinton, Jared (October 7, 2015). "NWHL sells out inaugural game, Manon Rheaume to drop ceremonial puck in Buffalo". The Hockey News. Longueuil, PQ. Archived from the original on October 8, 2015.
  47. ↑ Marrazza, Dan (October 11, 2015). "As puck drops on opening day, NWHL focused on sport's long-term growth". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  48. ↑ Clinton, Jared (October 11, 2015). "Watch Jessica Koizumi enter the record books with first goal in NWHL history". The Hockey News. Longueuil, PQ. Archived from the original on October 13, 2015.
  49. ↑ Willis, Jay (January 1, 2018). "Transgender Hockey Star Harrison Browne Has More to Accomplish Before Hanging up the Skates". GQ. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  50. 1 2 "7 Things To Know About The National Women's Hockey League All-Star Game". February 10, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  51. ↑ "NWHL: Amanda Kessel awarded Star of the Night by ESPN's SportsCenter". Excelle Sports. February 13, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  52. ↑ "Team USA Members Receive NWHL Honors". USA Hockey. March 14, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  53. ↑ "Champion Buffalo Beauts Bring The Isobel Cup to the WYRK Studios". Country 106.5 WYRK Radio. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  54. ↑ "NWHL announces broadcast partnership with ABC News for Isobel Cup Playoffs". The Ice Garden. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  55. ↑ "Buffalo Beauts honored at Sabres game after winning Isobel Cup". Excelle Sports. March 22, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  56. ↑ "2017–18 NWHL Schedule Announced". August 8, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  57. ↑ "Metropolitan Riveters hold off defending champion Buffalo Beauts for first NWHL title". ESPN. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  58. 1 2 "Isobel Cup". National Women's Hockey League. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  59. ↑ "The Boston Pride Are the NWHL's First-Ever Isobel Cup Champions". Boston Magazine. March 13, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  60. ↑ "Buffalo Beauts score in overtime to earn third straight Isobel Cup appearance". The Buffalo News. March 17, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  61. ↑ "Buffalo Beauts upset Boston Pride for Isobel Cup". ESPN. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  62. ↑ Furlong, Rich (November 14, 2016). "How to Watch NWHL Games". National Women's Hockey League. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  63. ↑ Murphy, Mike (October 10, 2015). "NWHL Games will be Streamed for Free with Cross-Ice Pass". SB Nation. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  64. ↑ Neale, Jen (November 25, 2015). "NWHL, ESPN announce partnership to stream on ESPN3". Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo Inc. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  65. ↑ SI Staff (November 17, 2015). "NWHL, NESN reach deal to televise eight Boston Pride games in 2015–16". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  66. ↑ Laung, Diamond (November 15, 2016). "National Women's Hockey League To Broadcast Games on Cheddar's Sling TV Channel". sporttechie.com. SportTechie, LLC. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  67. ↑ "NWHL announces broadcast partnership with ABC News for Isobel Cup Playoffs". theicegarden.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  68. ↑ "NWHL & Twitter Partner on 'Game of the Week' Broadcasts for the 2017–18 Season". June 20, 2017. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017.

Further reading

  • Theberge, Nancy (2000). Higher goals: women's ice hockey and the politics of gender. Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN 0791446417. OCLC 42771390.
  • Scott, Richard (2017). Who's Who in Women's Hockey Guide 2018. Blurb, Incorporated. ISBN 1364113309. OCLC 990850828.
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