The first ever game of the Professional Women’s Hockey League was played on Monday with New York defeating Toronto 4-0 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Ontario. There have been numerous women’s hockey leagues before including the National Women’s Hockey League, the Western Women’s Hockey League, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, and Premier Hockey Federation.
So why is this league different? Well, the bottom line is it has strong ownership. The league is financially supported by the Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball franchise, specifically Dodgers owners Mark and Kimbra Walker. Meanwhile Dodgers owner and tennis legend Billie Jean King is on the PWHL Board of Directors.
In Monday’s game, Corrine Schroeder of Elm Creek, Manitoba recorded the first ever shutout in the league. The 24-year-old who played for the Boston Pride of the PHF a year ago, made 29 saves for New York in the four goal win. She made eight saves in the first period, 16 saves in the second period, and five saves in the third period.
Ella Shelton of Ingersoll, Ontario scored the first ever goal in the history of the league. She scored New York’s game-winner at 10:43 of the first period from Alex Carpenter. Two more Canadians scored in the New York win. Jill Saulnier of Halifax, Nova Scotia scored at 4:57 of the third period to put New York up 3-0, and Kayla Vespa of Hamilton, Ontario closed out the scoring at 7:42 of the third period. Shelton and Saulnier won a gold medal for Canada at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Montreal and Ottawa will play their first game in the history of the league. They will play against each other at Toronto Dominion Place in Ottawa, Ontario.
