The puck dropped on the future of women's hockey in Boston, signaling the beginning of an exciting new chapter, as the Boston Professional Women's Hockey League team laced up for their premier face-off. The Tsongas Center in Lowell played host to the historic event Wednesday evening, where the local squad clashed with their counterparts from Minnesota, and while they may have slipped to a 3-2 opening defeat, the league's inception was a clear win for aspiring female athletes and fans alike.
With a rousing turnout and palpable enthusiasm in the stands, the spotlight shone not just on ice but on young hearts too because eyes were brimming with hope as they watched their sporting dreams find a new home in this arena - not just for Boston but for the booming sisterhood of Toronto, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, and Minnesota teams forming the new PWHL. Among the elated crowd was young Lana McHenry, a hokey player herself from Conway, New Hampshire, and to quote her in a statement obtained by Boston 25 News, "I feel excited and thankful that I’m here and it’s always so fun to watch hockey." It was a family affair as her mother, Dawn McHenry, echoed her daughter's sentiments and anticipation for the future the league guarantees.
Amid cheers, the team skated under the stewardship of newly minted captain Hillary Knight, and they received a celebrity puck start from former Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron, adding gravitas to an already monumental night. Acknowledging the sport's traction and fanfare, PWHL Advisory Board member Stan Kasten said to Boston 25 News, "There’s no question if you watch women’s hockey you’re going to have an appetite for it." The evening was not void of digital footprints as Mike Eruzione, who captained the famed 'Miracle On Ice' 1980 Gold Medal hockey team, chimed in through social media after witnessing the game.
While the fans and players alike were still buzzing from the energetic debut many focus was already shifting to the future, as DM Danielle Marmer, tour guide of Boston's team destiny, put it according to Boston 25 News, "The fact this league exists and we’re putting women’s hockey on a platform where young girls can grow up and have a dream to believe into playing pro hockey – it’s incredible." That sentiment of progress and dreams realized was shared across the board, with Carley Capobianco, a confirmed Bruins enthusiast, telling WHDH "the league is definitely a step forward for women." As Boston readies for more action, facing Ottawa next, they know they skate not just for wins but for every little girl who's ever been told her place was not beside the boards, dreaming of a shot at the big leagues.
