PWHL Toronto
PWHL Toronto | |
---|---|
City | Toronto, Ontario |
League | PWHL |
Founded | 2023 |
Home arena | Mattamy Athletic Centre Scotiabank Arena Coca-Cola Coliseum |
Colours | Blue, black and white |
Owner(s) | Mark Walter Group |
General manager | Gina Kingsbury |
Head coach | Troy Ryan |
Captain | Blayre Turnbull |
Website | toronto.thepwhl.com |
Current season |
PWHL Toronto[1] is a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are one of the six charter franchises of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).
History[edit]
On August 29, 2023, it was announced that Toronto would be home to one of the PWHL's first six franchises.[2] The league announced on September 1 that Gina Kingsbury, the former vice president of hockey operations at Hockey Canada and general manager of the Canadian women's national team, would be the team's general manager.[3][4] On September 15, Troy Ryan, the head coach of the Canadian women's national team, was announced as the team's head coach.[5][6]
Toronto's first three players—Canadian national team members Sarah Nurse, Renata Fast and Blayre Turnbull—were signed to three-year deals on September 5, 2023.[7] The team selected 15 players at the inaugural PWHL draft on September 18; the team's first pick, at second overall, was veteran Canadian national team member Jocelyne Larocque.[8] Ahead of the start of the inaugural 2024 season, Turnbull was named team captain, with Fast and Larocque serving as assistant captains.[9]
In November 2023, it was announced that the team's colours would be blue, black, and white.[10] The same month, it was announced that the Mattamy Athletic Centre in the old Maple Leaf Gardens would become the home of Toronto's PWHL team.[11] On January 1, 2024, Toronto hosted the first ever PWHL game at Mattamy, with visiting New York posting a 4–0 victory over Toronto.[12] The teams faced each other again on January 5, with Toronto securing its first win by a score of 3–2; Natalie Spooner scored the first goal in team history in the second period.[13]
On February 16, 2024, Toronto hosted its first game at the Scotiabank Arena against Montreal dubbed by the league as "The Battle on Bay Street".[14] The game set a league and women’s hockey attendance record with a sellout crowd of 19,285, beating the previous record of 18,013 at the 2013 IIHF Women's World Championship.[15] Two months later, on April 20, Montreal hosted Toronto at the Bell Centre (the home of the NHL's Canadiens), selling out the arena and setting another new attendance record (21,105).[16] This game was known as "The Duel at the Top."[17]
Team[edit]
Current roster[edit]
Reserves[edit]
No. | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23 | Jess Jones | F | L | 33 | 2024 | Picton, Ontario | |
21 | Emma Keenan | D | L | 26 | 2023 | Calgary, Alberta | |
55 | Jessica Kondas | D | R | 24 | 2023 | Calgary, Alberta |
Draft history[edit]
The 2023 PWHL Draft was held on September 18, 2023, using a "snake draft" format with the selection order reversing after each round; Toronto's first pick was second overall.[21] Toronto made the following selections:
Rd | Pick | Player | Nationality | Position | Previous team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Jocelyne Larocque | Canada | Defence | Team Adidas (PWHPA) |
2 | 11 | Emma Maltais | Canada | Forward | Ohio State Buckeyes (WCHA) |
3 | 14 | Kristen Campbell | Canada | Goaltender | Team Scotiabank (PWHPA) |
4 | 23 | Natalie Spooner | Canada | Forward | Team Scotiabank (PWHPA) |
5 | 26 | Jesse Compher | United States | Forward | Wisconsin Badgers (WHCA) |
6 | 35 | Kali Flanagan | United States | Defence | Boston Pride (PHF) |
7 | 38 | Victoria Bach | Canada | Forward | Team Scotiabank (PWHPA) |
8 | 47 | Brittany Howard | Canada | Forward | Toronto Six (PHF) |
9 | 50 | Allie Munroe | Canada | Defence | Connecticut Whale (PHF) |
10 | 59 | Mellissa Channell | Canada | Defence | Team Harvey's (PWHPA) |
11 | 62 | Maggie Connors | Canada | Forward | Princeton Tigers (ECAC) |
12 | 71 | Rebecca Leslie | Canada | Forward | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) |
13 | 74 | Hannah Miller | Canada | Forward | Shenzhen Kunlun Red Star (ZhHL) |
14 | 83 | Alexa Vasko | Canada | Forward | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) |
15 | 86 | Olivia Knowles | Canada | Defence | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) |
References[edit]
- ^ Ganter, Mike (May 19, 2024). "Not the ending they wanted, but PWHL Toronto's first year a success". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ Wyshynski, Greg (August 29, 2023). "Six inaugural franchises revealed for new PWHL". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- ^ "PWHL names six general managers as teams begin roster construction". Sportsnet. CP. September 1, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- ^ Kennedy, Ian (September 1, 2023). "Gina Kingsbury To Step Away From Role With Hockey Canada". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ "Ryan, MacLeod headline PWHL coaches". Sportsnet. The Canadian Press. September 15, 2023. Archived from the original on September 17, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Ngabo, Gilbert (September 15, 2023). "Team Canada coach Troy Ryan adds Toronto PWHL job". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on September 16, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ "Sarah Nurse, Blayre Turnbull and Renata Fast sign with Toronto's PWHL franchise". The Globe and Mail. CP. September 6, 2023. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ Kennedy, Ian (September 18, 2023). "Jocelyne Larocque Goes Second Overall To Toronto In PWHL Draft". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ Martin, Curtis (December 30, 2023). "Turnbull Named Toronto's Captain". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ Kennedy, Ian (November 23, 2023). "PWHL Releases Jersey Designs". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- ^ Glennie, Drew-Anne (November 3, 2023). "MAC Confirmed as PWHL Toronto's Home Rink". ontherecordnews.ca. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ Donkin, Karissa (January 1, 2024). "New York shuts out Toronto in 1st PWHL game as Canada's Shelton leads the way". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ "Maltais' short-handed goal lifts Toronto over New York for 1st PWHL win". CBC Sports. AP. January 5, 2024. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "Scotiabank Arena to host PWHL's 'Battle on Bay Street' between Toronto, Montreal". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. January 25, 2024. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ Ibrahim, Abdulhamid (February 16, 2024). "PWHL Toronto tops Montreal 3-0 in front of record-setting crowd at Scotiabank Arena". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- ^ Rainbird, Daniel (April 20, 2024). "PWHL-leading Toronto clinches playoff berth, wins in OT before record crowd in Montreal". CBC Sports. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ Rowe, Daniel J. (April 20, 2024). "Nurse OT winner breaks Montreal hearts as Toronto wins PWHL 'Duel at the Top'". CTV News. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ a b Donkin, Karissa (December 12, 2023). "PWHL teams release final 23-player rosters ahead of Jan. 1 season opener". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
Teams will also carry 3 reserve players for 2024 season
- ^ a b "PWHL Toronto Roster 2024 Regular Season". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
- ^ a b "Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Roster Updates". March 19, 2024.
- ^ Burgess, Melissa (September 2, 2023). "PWHL Introduces General Managers, Announces Draft Order". The Victory Press. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.