Breaking Down Barriers: A New Era Unveiled | Episode 1 | Season 2
[Music] the hockey world is gearing up for the historic inaugural season of the professional women’s hockey league for months there’s been so much excitement surrounding the pwl women’s sports are where it’s at right now the market the audience the interest the players they’re all out
There we’ve been talking about this day for years it feels like it’s this point and so the fact that we’re here it’s pretty Monumental seeing it is critically important representation counts Billy Jean King the iconic tennis player said that you believe you can be it if you see it number 14 Rana
Fast I think there will be a lot of pride in 10 15 20 years to look back and know that we were a part of growing what this leak has has become and to see how far it’s come what an incredibly moving
Opening to this game the past present and future women’s hockey meet right here the inaugural puck Drop this has been you know challenging for the last couple years um because you know those that are a part of the pwhpa you know were we taking a stand and you know early on that meant you know
Missing out on some of your your prime years of of playing um but we understood that kind of from the get-go that this wasn’t going to be um you know for our immediate benefit it was going to
Be for the Next Generation the name of our tour that we’ve called it for the last couple years is the dream Gap tour because there is a gap that exists between what young boy hockey players can dream about doing and what young female hockey players can dream about doing and we wanted to
Close that Gap the hockey fans know we’ve had previous iterations of of women’s Pro leagues but we felt as players we want to see something that is going to last and going to stand the test of time and and really supports the players that are within it and the most important thing about
Our movement is that all the top players are together and we’re have the same vision going in the same direction we’ve decided for 4 years now to not play professionally we’ve chosen that we’ wanted to stay connected as a group and see out the mission that we set on years ago
To create that truly professional leag that has all the amenities that we need to allow us to be truly professional athletes but also give the fans um and the public the right experience and show our game at the highest level if you believe in something and you want to make change you can
Make change by your actions and that’s exactly what our association has done and I think it’s incredible to look and see that there’s been you know 150 to 100 players over the course of four years that have been connected to a single Mission I think even just believing that if
You want something done you can work towards it big news for women’s hockey it is being reported that the professional women’s hockey player association is buying out the premier Hockey Federation creating a path forward for a brand new Pro Women’s Hockey League all Under
One Roof big news today the professional women’s hockey league has been established and there’s an original six and hopefully in a 100 years we look back and say that was the original six for many of the players predominantly those in the pwpa this was well over a four-year Journey uh
From the closing of the cwl and from that point on it’s been a single goal a single vision of a professional [Music] league in downtown chirano Ontario history will be made the best women’s hockey players in the world are in one building for the draft we decided where we were going to
Do it I believe was 18 days in advance but despite the time we never let time be an excuse because we knew we owed it to the players happy draft day everybody to the Future cheers guys thank you
For being here pink and blue I think Blue’s a winner thank you to every woman who played this game who won’t be lacing up her skates but will be right there alongside us with the first overall pick in the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League draft Minnesota selects Taylor
Heisy we were going to get them on the ice in January and that’s been our goal all along was to make sure that we fulfilled our commitment to them and when you have good people that are passionate and motivated and care so deeply about what we’re doing
It’s possible and uh I couldn’t be more proud of of the people and the team behind this Jane has just been invaluable for us and and we’re so lucky to have her leadership um Not
Only was she one of the best to ever play the game but she’s now a huge leader in in taking our game to the next [Music] level I grew up playing in Kingston I played lots of sports but hockey was certainly the one that I wanted to put everything towards
And my dreams were to play in the NHL when I was young and then morphed into playing for Team Canada and becoming an Olympian when I realized that was possible because I saw it I played in five Olympic Games four Olympic gold medals over the course of my career I
Played in three what we called professional leagues but weren’t professional in any way that we would consider professional it’s only when our voices are united that we become too loud to ignore I use that line in my final Hockey Hall of Fame speech and
At the time you know the pwhl wasn’t created but it was certainly we were trying to do something in women’s hockey that would change the way it currently existed y let’s do this okay make sure that’s locked perfect I’m very excited we’ve been talking about this day
For years it feels like at this point and so the fact that we’re here um I’m ready for the puck to drop and for us to be Off to the Races it’s pretty Monumental I think you know this is
A historic building this is a building that you know my dad watched the maple Le play at you know all those years ago and the fact that I get to play professional hockey here today um is pretty special good is cute love a little Sparkle shine um but it’s something
That means a lot to me and so many other women here all the women who came before us and obviously our fans and supporters it’s uh pretty special to have everybody here Hi how are you good are you excited you look excited little cold but you got
Your mittens on you’re all good to go you want to Pi a photo let’s do it thank you so much Lu awesome thanks for coming I think the sky is the limit for this group when I think about where hockey is right now and thinking about where we want to go we
Want to be that Global leader there you go how are you and we want to make this the best game in the world here you go of course all right have a good day awesome thank you
And we want to push the limits we want to be Innovative and very creative and so um as we look to move forward I think that we’re going to be able to change our game for the better moving
Forward finally game on I think that we’ve waited a long time to get to this point again we’ve been talking about it for so long but I think that trust and instinct is going to take over and this
Is a game that I’ve been playing my whole life and so I know exactly what to do and I totally ready for it happy New Year everybody and welcome to history in the making we’re in Toronto Ontario
We are inside the Madame athletic center and this is formerly Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens it’s a day of first year that’s for sure the fans are piling in a huge lineup to get into the building we know it’s a sellout crowd let’s enjoy this it’s a day that’s going to be incredibly emotional
For a lot of lot of people in this building and and those watching on television around the the globe uh for women that played the game and uh before me and my generation it’s such a proud
Moment to see us finally get to this point where um you know we have a professional League that’s filling buildings and there’s an increased demand around women’s sport right now so this is so much bigger than hockey what we’re doing uh this is societal change that we’re creating you know
Maybe some of these young girls can watch our women and say if they can do it and they didn’t have a lot of opportunities to play um I can do it too there’s real inspiration in being able to
Meet best in the world at what they do and see them play number 20 from Hamilton Ontario Sarah your alternate Captain number 14 from Burlington Ontario Rana F right now they just have to live the moment look at the faces look at the support look at all of
It that you have fought and battled for on the shoulders of the past generation to the present live in the present and all the young ones out there they are looking at their future opportunity such an unbelievable moment I’ve got chills danella the energy has been your since everyone
Took their seats please welcome to the ice joined by Jana heord pwl Advisory Board member Billy Jean King I didn’t know in advance I was walking out with Billy it was something that sort of came up closer to game time so that in itself is you know imagine walking to Center I Billy
Jeene King someone that’s done so much someone that you know is the reason behind this being possible and and the the reception she gets is always amazing the energy she [Applause] brings I remember walking out and seeing some of the players in their faces and the emotion on them
You know get chills thinking about it I remember specifically looking at a couple people across the rink in the signs you know about dreams coming true and thank you and all of those messages that are just really heartwarming and and well beyond just the hockey game itself what an incredibly
Moving opening to this game yeah I’d like to be around the net right now just to see what their leadership is saying to them about it being the first time the puck will drop in the p whhl and
The emotion and you can see the smiles they know what this means for themselves for everyone who came before them and of course the future generation it was such a great celebration
Of a lot a lot of work a lot of years um a lot of people that that put so much into this the past president future women’s hockey meet right here the inaugural puck drop lir Turnbull Alex
Carpenter face off it’ll be New York that gets first possession and kick things off here in the pwhl six teams is important because anything less didn’t feel like enough for a league and anything more we felt would dilute the talent and knowing that we’re
An emerging and a growing League we need to put the best product on the ice every night women’s sports are where it’s at right now the market the audience the interest the players they’re all out there all the different ingredients are out there you just have to put them
Together there’s the desire to watch them play it’s entertaining it’s being broadcast on television you just put all those different ingredients together and you’ll have a winning success sign free agent Alex Carpenter and she’ll take the draw New York wins at chelton
With her and she gets it Ella Shelton scores history is [Applause] hers the first goal of the professional women’s hockey league I didn’t even notice that first and then when all your teammates kind of look at you and are jumping you’re just like oh my gosh that actually went
In so um probably a very surreal moment for me I couldn’t tell you if I remember it all that well blacked out a little bit during it the idea that I’m a path maker for a bunch of young girls
Going into hockey it’s pretty exciting that they know that they can now watch professional women’s hockey on the TV and and grow up to be just like one of us and Chase that dream of playing [Music] professional we’ve always said this is about so many people it’s about the ones that came before
You know my generation it’s about the people of my generation that you know never had this but always wanted it the current generation who had the courage to stand up and really enforce change and then the next Generation that now these young girls feel like there’s
A place for them in hockey it’s fun to watch all of these athletes we saw them warming up and the excitement that they had for this moment and I hope they leave today in in a reflective manner
Of what it’s meant those before them those in the game and those to come I love the fact that that it’s on television I love the fact that um the best they playing the girls are doing a great
Job in and promoting the sport when you put the big picture together it was you know a dream come true for these players that had worked so hard and sacrificed so much and been questioned so
Much about why they were doing this and it was really I think validation that all of that was worth it just you know as hard as it was for those four years that was always my philosophy
Is just make it impossible for them to say no if anybody can show the way I know they can players who stayed in the game that may have considered retirement but saying uh-uh I am staying for this
Moment and that will do it the very first pwhl regular season winner New York New York gets the first goal in the professional women’s league off the Stick of Ellis Shelton that’ll be a puck
That will go to to the Hockey Hall of Fame matter who is Victorious and this one it being New York today truly it’s a victory for the game we were ready for this professionally but sometimes you
Need to be patient you need the right people in the right places and I think the leadership did a good uh job at waiting uh for the right time and uh women’s hockey is at its best and I’m
Looking forward to uh to see the future and and hope the little girls now playing that they can dream of one day becoming a pro hockey player these young girls you know I would say it’s there’s now opportunities in media and officiating and executive leadership and coaching and then of
Course even for the young boys that are growing up in a world where they look up to female athletes and that can’t be lost on the importance of what we’re doing I think that was the moment that we
Were all waiting for the hype leading up to this game was insane and rightfully so almost felt like an Olympics like that’s the level of hype that we felt before the game and I think we’re off to the
Racist everybody was cheering us on every time we walked on and off the bench I definitely felt the energy I think to the greater game in the Next Generation it is obviously huge you know this is the start of something that is going to be here for generations to come people that
Come to watch us play understand that anything is possible that when you have a group of committed people that dedicate themselves to a vision they stay United they create a United Voice Change Is Possible the demand for women’s hockey since we’ve launched has been incredible an incredible moment for both these teams in this building the energy has been your since everyone took their seats toss ahead Here Comes Minnesota turned over right to heisy she scores the number one overall
Pick in the draft scores the first PW HL goal on American ice obviously we’re in a point in time we’re seeing it across multiple sports but now hockey entering into the market it’s it’s been amazing to see from our ticket sales that have outpaced all of our projections in every
Single Market it is Toronto and New York with a sellout crowd and many many more watching Canada and the USA the gravity of that game was insane and I think that we all felt it to be you know
The first professional women’s hockey game um on that stage was absolutely incredible in front of what will be a record crowd women’s professional hockey takes a giant step it’s the home opener for pwl Minnesota and this is a Monumental day in Minnesota hockey history we’re setting records
Across North America for professional women’s hockey 13, 316 fans in attendance in St Paul here today state of hockey way to show up today way to show out the television viewership numbers have been through the roof uh we’re offering visibility to the game and the players that we’ve never seen
Before just being here and being able to cheer you on and encourage you in everything you’re doing is absolutely awesome uh so go on and go the dream and now these women are playing professional women’s hockey just amazing to see this moment become a reality on the fans and the stands now
The point bringing that into the middle Boyd out big shot in it touches down ottawa’s first goal there’s been a significant investment in the quality of production and it’s all part of the long-term plan to make sure that we highlight the athletes that we make them
Visible that we tell their stories and that’s when people fall in love with them and they’re amazing people they’re amazing ambassadors and I think now that people are having a chance to see it on a more consistent basis our our fan engagement is just going through the roof well
It is a big week ahead for hockey fans the NHL allstar game is coming to Toronto the one thing I’m really excited about is the pwhl 3on three showcase this past month has obviously been a really big one for women’s hockey and for us to be here this big event getting to showcase
Our game to more hoppy fans it’s really exciting and it’s just an opportunity I think for all of us to to get together and and also just celebrate our league and help her out of it we are L to F her another there you go yeah thanks for cominging it that’s cool conc
All hello being able to think of where we came from in 2020 we had that gun fre game and to be here in Toronto and doing the same thing but as a league representative it’s pretty Monumental to be able to be here representing the pwhl and uh use
The NHL stage and their platform um and be showcased as professional of the to [Applause] players it’s honestly a dream come true you know to get to be paid to play uh to get to go to the rink every day and and be treated like a professional and have a hockey
Season and games it’s uh it it’s feels too good to be true so we’re just relishing it enjoying it and honestly having a [Music] blast I’ve always had a player mindset and I wanted to help make it better for the players maybe some of these young girls can watch our women and say
If they can do it and they come from a small town and didn’t have a lot of opportunities to play I can do it too you know I have two daughters now and the thought of telling them
Or my son that they can’t do something or can’t dream to be something because of their gender is something I never want to do it’s pretty crazy uh being at FanFest today and then the amount of boys who are stopping us like that’s never happened within the last year things have
Completely changed and turned around so it’s been pretty cool and I can’t wait for um the girls to continue to have that respect as they grew up as hockey players but it’s awesome to
See um the growth from that side of the game and um it’s pretty cool I feel like every video I see all the buildings are packed so it’s it’s really cool and uh definitely love to get out to some
Action at some point I think it’s been going great so it’s it’s been fun to see and talking with uh with some of them over the last couple days it seems like they’re really really happy with how everything’s been working out so um it’s been really positive from what we’ve been
Hearing and you know we’ve been watching some of their games always cool to watch and uh cool for them to be here as well and kind of get to spend some time with that as we have our own
Niche community and now with our league and our visibility we’ve been able to reach them so much easier to be at an NHL event obviously you’re going to attract NHL fans and that’s an opportunity to bring NHL fans and introduce them to our game in the pwhl and make them NHL and pwhl
Fans
“BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS – A NEW ERA UNVEILED” promises an exclusive and in-depth exploration of the launch of the inaugural season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). The episode explores the challenges faced, the sacrifices made, the palpable excitement felt in each city in the league, and the meticulous preparations that have culminated in a historic season opener on January 1st, 2024.
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3 comments
What is your first impression of a friend?🧡
Wenn du deine eigene Insel hättest, wie würde sie aussehen, und was würdest du auf ihr machen?✨
Austin mathess has done for for the mexican and central american expansion than the nhl ever thought