PWHL Roundup: Week Three
We're back from international break & there's some great hockey being played.
The PWHL has returned from international break, and we’re right back in the thick of things as we grow ever-closer to the Olympics. The Boston Fleet stay hot with Aerin Frankel continuing to dominate in net; Sandra Abstreiter makes her season debut and nabs her first PWHL win, and Dara Greig scores her first PWHL goal. Here’s what you missed this week in the PWHL:
League Standings
Boston Fleet | 18 points (6-0-0-1)
Montréal Victoire | 11 points (3-1-0-1)
Toronto Sceptres | 10 points (3-0-1-2)
Minnesota Frost | 10 points (3-0-1-2)
Vancouver Goldeneyes | 8 points (2-1-0-4)
Seattle Torrent | 7 points (2-0-1-2)
New York Sirens | 6 points (2-0-0-5)
Ottawa Charge | 5 points (1-1-0-5)
Highlights of the Week
Fleet (*still*) on Fleek
The Boston Fleet continue to look strong as the season goes on. After beating the Sirens 2-0 on Wednesday, Boston finally suffered its first loss in a 5-2 decision to the Frost. The team rebounded nicely on Sunday with a 3-1 win in Seattle, and Aerin Frankel finally got a (much-deserved!) night of rest. The Fleet have allowed just six goals against in seven games this season and have scored a league-high 18 goals, so they’re firing on all cylinders right now, and it’s working.
Philips Makes 41 Saves
The Ottawa Charge may be struggling to find their footing a bit, but Gwyneth Philips certainly looks like she’s at the top of her game. Philips had 27 saves in their game against Vancouver on December 16 (which was unfortunately a loss), then followed it up with a whopping 41-save performance against the Frost in the OT win on Sunday.
Mixed Results for the Takeover Tour
The first two Takeover Tour games of the season are now in the rearview mirror. A sellout crowd of 10,438 fans packed Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre on December 17 to see the Victoire beat the Sceptres 2-1. On Sunday, Chicago’s Allstate Arena hosted 7,238 fans as the Charge beat the Frost in the aforementioned OT win. (Allstate Arena, home to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, has a capacity of 18,500.) Chicago’s attendance was the lowest of all the Takeover Tour games to date.
Who’s Hot
🔥Aerin Frankel: Frankel continues to be an absolute star in net. She’s potted five wins on the season so far - in just six games - including three shutouts. Her 0.83 GAA is a league best, as is her .969 save percentage.
🔥Megan Keller: The Boston Fleet captain is on a four-game point streak, with five points since December 7. She had one goal in the team’s 3-1 win over the Torrent on Sunday and is second in the league in points, leading all defenders.
🔥Kelly Pannek: Pannek is on a two-game point streak and has eight points in six games so far this season, leading the league in that category. She has points in five of her last six games and has notched five assists and three goals.
🔥Kristýna Kaltounková: The New York Sirens rookie registered her first multi-point game on Sunday against the Sceptres, with a pair of goals and five shots.
What’s Next
Eight PWHL games remain in the 2025 calendar year, beginning on Tuesday evening. This week also sees a couple more Takeover Tour games, with the Frost and Goldeneyes squaring off in Edmonton Saturday and the Torrent and Sirens facing off in Dallas (!) on Sunday.
Further Reading
For The Ice Garden, I took a look at what the PWHL has determined is a ‘kick’ and what isn’t - and how the rules have (and have not) been consistently applied.
This excellent piece from LJ at The Ice Garden takes the opportunity to design “reverse retro” third jerseys for PWHL teams, connecting with local women’s hockey history. It starts with the Canadian teams here.
Tyler Kuehl at Daily Faceoff gives his list of the top 10 women’s hockey players of 2025 - at least, among those playing in North America.
The Italian national team has been training at Montréal’s Verdun Auditorium for the past month, thanks to a partnership with Danièle Sauvageau.
Hilary Knight speaks with ESPN’s Emily Kaplan about preparing for her final Olympics.