Rallying for the PWHL: How Fans Can Champion Women’s Hockey
The PWHL will have teams in Boston, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, Toronto and Minneapolis-St. Paul, and will play a 24-game regular season schedule.
Women’s hockey has come a long way, breaking barriers and showcasing incredible talent on the ice. One of the most exciting developments just recently is the emergence of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Draft picks announced September 18th, 2023. This league provides a platform for women to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level. As a fan, you can play a vital role in supporting women’s hockey by buying tickets, filling the stands, purchasing merch, sharing the excitement, and much more. In this blog post, we’ll explore various ways you can show your support for the PWHL while adding hashtags, calls to action (CTAs), and other engagement strategies.
Buy Tickets
The simplest and most direct way to support women’s hockey is by buying tickets to PWHL games. Your presence in the stands not only adds to the electric atmosphere but also contributes to the league’s financial sustainability. When attending games, don’t forget to use the official league hashtags like #PWHLAction and #WomenInHockey to connect with fellow fans online and spread the excitement.
Fill the Stands
A packed arena is a thrilling sight and a testament to the sport’s popularity. Encourage your friends, family, and fellow hockey enthusiasts to join you at PWHL games. Use social media to organize group outings and promote the league. The more fans in the stands, the louder the cheers, and the greater the support for women’s hockey.
Buy the Merch
Show your dedication by proudly wearing PWHL merchandise. Whether it’s jerseys, caps, scarves, or other team memorabilia, purchasing league merchandise not only showcases your support but also contributes to the league’s revenue. Use hashtags like #PWHLmerch and #GameDayStyle to share your gear and inspire others to do the same.
Share on Social Media
In today’s digital age, social media is a powerful tool for raising awareness and generating interest. Whenever you attend a PWHL game, take photos, videos, and share your experiences on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Use league-specific hashtags and encourage your followers to attend games as well. Include a call to action like “Join me at the next PWHL game! #PWHLAction #WomenInHockey.”
Support Local Initiatives
Many PWHL teams engage with their local communities through various initiatives, such as youth hockey clinics, charity events, and school programs. Get involved in these activities to support both the league and the growth of women’s hockey at the grassroots level. Share your participation on social media and urge others to join you using hashtags like #CommunitySupport and #YouthHockey.
Volunteer and Donate
Consider offering your time and skills to help organize and promote PWHL events. Whether it’s volunteering at games, assisting with marketing efforts, or supporting community outreach programs, your involvement can make a significant difference. Additionally, consider making donations to the league or its affiliated charities to further support their mission.
Encourage Media Coverage
Increased media coverage can help bring more attention to women’s hockey. Reach out to sports media outlets and journalists, urging them to cover PWHL games and events. Share exciting highlights and player profiles to generate interest and support.
Women’s hockey has reached a pivotal moment, and your support is crucial in helping the PWHL flourish. By buying tickets, filling the stands, purchasing merch, sharing on social media, supporting local initiatives, volunteering, and encouraging media coverage, you can make a significant impact. Use hashtags, calls to action, and engagement strategies to rally fellow fans and amplify your support for women’s hockey. Together, we can champion this incredible sport and ensure its bright future.
Women’s hockey roles set to expand beyond the ice with advent of new league
For many players, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) provides a reliable space to ply their trade.
But not only does the league introduce jobs for those on the ice — it creates work for women in the infrastructure of the game, including front-office staff, coaches, scouts and more.
The new league, which on Tuesday introduced six franchises in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston and Minneapolis-St. Paul and the New York area, now needs to fill all those behind-the-scenes positions.
In the PWHL, women may be able to step right into roles that could take years to reach in the NHL.
Jayna Hefford, the PWHL’s senior vice-president of hockey operations, was charged with hiring the league’s first six general managers. She said she values experience and hockey knowledge, but had hoped to include people with diverse backgrounds as well.
Hefford added that a “very high number of women” are candidates.
“I’m personally less concerned about gender as I am about bringing the right people that bring the right mix of functional skills to the table,” she said. “We’re really pleased with the candidates that have emerged .”
PWHL draft will reintroduce feeling of year-long team camaraderie to women’s hockey
“Yes, there was the national team. And for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) members like the Canadian defender, there were Dream Gap Tour squads as well.
But the camaraderie of a professional team, with all of its members located in one city, was glaringly absent, ” said women’s hockey players Renata Fast and missed one simple thing: teammates.
“It’s going to be a pretty special, full circle moment just reflective of everything the women’s game has gone through,” Fast said. “And it didn’t matter the path that these players have taken that will be drafted, whether it’s PHF [Premier Hockey Federation], international leagues, everyone was involved in getting the game to this point.”
Other women’s hockey leagues have folded. What’s different this time?
Hefford says she hopes the new league will “set the bar.”
She says the PWHL is looking to the WNBA and the National Women’s Soccer League and learning from their experiences about what has worked, and what has not.
“I really think we’re going to set the standard,” she said. “We have a group that’s behind this that is committed to so many things beyond just women’s hockey, but around equality and equal opportunity.”
Key this time, she says, is the collective bargaining agreement.
“It provides certainty for the athletes. It provides certainty around working conditions, player safety, meals, housing. For the ownership group, it’s sustainability. It’s ensuring that we’re on a path to make this successful in the long term.“
After the draft, those who aren’t selected will be able to sign with teams and compete for spots in training camp on the six 23-player rosters.
- PWHL senior vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford
- Gina Kingsbury has been named the general manager for the PWHL franchise in Toronto
- Former U.S. team captain Natalie Darwitz (Minnesota), Danielle Marmer (Boston) and Pascal Daoust (New York) were also named general managers by the new league.
complete list of eligible players
#PWHLSupportersUnite #WomenInHockey
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