Listening to hockey people talk about the PWHL Detroit team assembled by GM Manon Rheaume, you hear adjectives that Detroit Red Wings fans would love to be associated with their favorite team.
Tough. Unyielding. Gritty. Hard to play against.
That’s the type of team people in Hockeytown want to see Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman put on the ice.
It’s exactly the type of team that Rheaume is putting on the ice as Detroit gets ready for its inaugural PWHL season.
“We want a team that plays fast and relentless,” Rheaume said.
From the outset, Rheaume’s objective has been to put together a squad that will be carrying a physical identity.
Followers of the league insist that she is accomplishing this mission.
On defense, Sydney Bard is known for her physicality. Cayla Barnes is a tenacious defender who never shies away from physical confrontation on the ice. At 5-foot-11, Mia Biotti towers over most opponents.
Casey Borgiel blocked 38 shots in 36 games during her final season at Colgate. Mellissa Channell-Watkins delivered 44 hits in 30 games with the Vancouver Goldeneyes last season.
Stephanie Markowski blocked 35 shots over the past two seasons. Draftee Nina Jobst-Smith was among NCAA leaders in blocked shots with 61 for Minnesota-Duluth. The German national was also one of the best in the nation, winning 63.2% of her puck battles. That mark was second among PWHL Draft-eligible NCAA players.
Up front, Hannah Bilka is all about high-end compete level. Britta Curl-Salemme plays with an edge. Her disruptive checking style can cross the line. She’s earned her fair share of suspensions. Jesse Compher is an aggressive, intense player.
An imposing presence at 5-foot-10, Taylor Girard dominates one-on-one battles. Olivia Wallin plays a hard-hitting, gritty game. One of her hockey role models is Corey Perry.
Red Wings Striving to Get Tougher
While no one ever puts the words gritty team and Red Wings in the same sentence, it’s worth noting that the club’s offseason moves are leaning in that direction.
Veteran forward Viktor Arvidsson is no shrinking violet.
“I’m going to bring a competitive aspect to my game and just try to play hard,” Arvidsson said.
Forward Keegan Kolesar is tough as nails. His average is over 260 hits per season as an NHL regular.
“Just talking to guys now, it felt like there was a missing piece, maybe an identity of just having that,” Kolsar said of team toughness. “Not the fighting aspect, but more the toughness of being hard to play against.”
It’s what the Red Wings need. It’s what PWHL Detroit has.