As the Premier Hockey Federation came to a close another one emerged. The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is the first women’s hockey league to include top-end players from both the United States and Canada. The beginning of a new era started on January 1st, 2024 when the puck dropped at the first-ever PWHL game.
Team Minnesota captain, Kelly Pannek, has been amazed by the amount of support the league has received from fans across North America. Not only hockey fans but sports fans as a whole have been eager to witness these athletes’ talent and hard work come to fulfillment within the new league. “As players, we knew the interest and support of fans would be there but to see it coming to fruition has been surreal,” Kelly Pannek said.
Being named captain, for some can affect how they act on a daily basis. The role can give the individual more say and power in decisions. Pannek believes that her role change on the team hasn’t affected much of how she interacts with the people around her. She instead uses it to lead by example and keep the energy of the team positive. “I try just to be me and be very authentic while being a positive influence on the people around me,” Pannek said.
Former Finnish Olympian Mira Jalosuo is Team Minnesota’s head coach. She was given the opportunity to help get this league up on its feet and is excited about the future of what’s to come. Her favorite part about the PWHL so far has been all the fans. “Seeing young female players in the stands having a smile on their face and knowing they have a place to play after college [is great],” Jalosuo said.
Given that the team has only been together for a short period of time, the group has found ways to come together. With a mixture of highly experienced players and young players coming out of college they have formed an environment of learning and wanting to get better as a whole. “We are a very tight-knit group. We have a good mix of veteran players who have played together for years and younger players who keep the locker room light and not super serious,” Jalosuo said.
Due to how quickly the league has come together, they have yet to announce the team names. Calling each team by their city, fans have been left brainstorming and wondering what their favorite teams’ names will be. “I would honestly leave it up to the fans to vote for a name but if I had to go with one I would say Minnesota Miracle,” Jalosuo said.
Each team’s name has quickly become a topic of discussion. While some of the names may be limited each player has been able to come up with new ideas. “I’m not the most creative from a marketing perspective but if copyright or trademarks allowed, my vote would be the Minnesota Lakers giving a nod to the Minneapolis Lakers which are now known as the LA Lakers,” Pannek said.