nwhlinsider-blog

[nwhlinsider-blog]

why didn't you post last week?

I’m a college student that doesn’t get paid to write for a tumblr blog

I had exams to study for

[nwhlinsider-blog]

Oct. 25 BOS @ BUF

The Buffalo Beats and Boston Pride faced each other for the second time in a rematch of the season-opening 4-1 win for the Boston Pride. Brianna Decker was a major contributor in the Pride’s 5-3 win, scoring the first goal of the game,tallying one more in the second, and an empty netter late in the third to get the first hat trick in the NWHL’s brief history. Gigi Marvin and Emily Field scored the other two goals for Boston. Even in the loss Buffalo had some stand out performances, Steadman tallied two for her team, Duggan showed herself in a few roughing situations, and Brianne McLaughlin was...well Brianne McLaughlin. Kourtney Kunichika was credited with the third Beauts goal of the afternoon. The third game of the season for these teams moved Boston to a 3-0-0 record and Buffalo to a 0-3-0 record. Next week Boston will attempt continue their streak against the Riveter while Buffalo will house the Connecticut Whale and look for their first win of the season.

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Oct. 11, 2015: NYR @ CTW

     As I stood in line waiting for the doors at Chelsea Piers Sports Complex to open a woman behind me questioned the bleacher already filled with youth hockey players, the man in front of me answered that many of the girls teams around Stamford had purchased tickets. I couldn’t help but chime in that I was glad they were getting seated first and he agreed, saying he’d be happy to stand, the girls are the ones who need to get the most out of today.

     With the inaugural game of the NWHL young girls sporting sticks and skates have a new type of role model, a type of female hockey player that is not merely playing as a hobby but playing as a career. The girls in the stands made their presence known, from their volume and their many attempts at starting a wave before the game had even started to being the first in line to get autographs after the game, the enthusiasm was easily discernible. Adding to that the young women who Whale goaltender Jaimie Leonoff gave her stick to proved that the girls who weren’t rocking team jerseys were just as bright-eyed. Unlike so many generations before them these girls could now set their sights on a goal that was becoming more plausible thanks to the paychecks players are now receiving.

     Youth hockey players were only a portion of the some 800 tickets sold for this game, the stands were filled with diversity of age and gender, despite what some may think of the crowd women’s hockey attracts. The typical excuses of female players not being fast or aggressive enough to entertain hockey fans are easily brushed off by anyone who has seen these women play. The timing of plays can be calculated, but that didn’t stop the scoring opportunities from being just as rich as any other professional game. As for aggression, the rules prohibit checking not chippiness, no rule stops the game from being spirited or the scrums from being heated.

     The Whale tallied four in a win that left no one feeling bored or unsatisfied. After the quick first goal by Whale player Koizumi, Riveters player Ammerman answered back to make the game 1-1. The tie lasted for a whole 70 seconds before Stack put Connecticut up once again. Darkangelo and Babstock both scored in the third to secure the victory for the home team. While each of these players and many more deserve recognition for their performance the score seems to be the least meaningful thing to happen today; when looking back on this day what will matter is not points or save percentages but the reality that talented and deserving women are being paid to play hockey in America. In creating this new kind of women’s hockey league Dani Rylan has made progress in three ways: female hockey players have salaries, young girls have role models and hope to play professionally, and the women’s hockey communities have a growing fan-base. I don’t see this progression slowing down, nor do I want to.

Donate to the NWHL here

Buy merchandise here (remember, while players are paid, the salary cap for an entire NWHL team is less than what a single typical NHL rookie is given, players make 15% of merch with their name on it. Support the league, support the girls)

[nwhlinsider-blog]

Oct. 11, 2015: NYR @ CTW

     As I stood in line waiting for the doors at Chelsea Piers Sports Complex to open a woman behind me questioned the bleacher already filled with youth hockey players, the man in front of me answered that many of the girls teams around Stamford had purchased tickets. I couldn’t help but chime in that I was glad they were getting seated first and he agreed, saying he’d be happy to stand, the girls are the ones who need to get the most out of today.

     With the inaugural game of the NWHL young girls sporting sticks and skates have a new type of role model, a type of female hockey player that is not merely playing as a hobby but playing as a career. The girls in the stands made their presence known, from their volume and their many attempts at starting a wave before the game had even started to being the first in line to get autographs after the game, the enthusiasm was easily discernible. Adding to that the young women who Whale goaltender Jaimie Leonoff gave her stick to proved that the girls who weren’t rocking team jerseys were just as bright-eyed. Unlike so many generations before them these girls could now set their sights on a goal that was becoming more plausible thanks to the paychecks players are now receiving.

     Youth hockey players were only a portion of the some 800 tickets sold for this game, the stands were filled with diversity of age and gender, despite what some may think of the crowd women’s hockey attracts. The typical excuses of female players not being fast or aggressive enough to entertain hockey fans are easily brushed off by anyone who has seen these women play. The timing of plays can be calculated, but that didn’t stop the scoring opportunities from being just as rich as any other professional game. As for aggression, the rules prohibit checking not chippiness, no rule stops the game from being spirited or the scrums from being heated.

     The Whale tallied four in a win that left no one feeling bored or unsatisfied. After the quick first goal by Whale player Koizumi, Riveters player Ammerman answered back to make the game 1-1. The tie lasted for a whole 70 seconds before Stack put Connecticut up once again. Darkangelo and Babstock both scored in the third to secure the victory for the home team. While each of these players and many more deserve recognition for their performance the score seems to be the least meaningful thing to happen today; when looking back on this day what will matter is not points or save percentages but the reality that talented and deserving women are being paid to play hockey in America. In creating this new kind of women’s hockey league Dani Rylan has made progress in three ways: female hockey players have salaries, young girls have role models and hope to play professionally, and the women’s hockey communities have a growing fan-base. I don’t see this progression slowing down, nor do I want to.

Donate to the NWHL here

Buy merchandise here (remember, while players are paid, the salary cap for an entire NWHL team is less than what a single typical NHL rookie is given, players make 15% of merch with their name on it. Support the league, support the girls)

[nwhlinsider-blog]

The Connecticut Whale secure the first win of the NWHL with their 4-1 performance against the New York Riveters. Full story tomorrow.