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00:00:05Dreams do come true I mean this is a dream come true no one thought this would happen I'm so
00:00:14happy to be in my lifetime that I get to see this we're at a tipping point women's sports
00:00:23oh this is a movement oh no question
00:00:30welcome to history in the making only 125 days from the announcement of this
00:00:35league to today that is also in and of itself a remarkable feat but who better
00:00:40than women to get it done
00:00:49ice hockey may best be known for the hardcore heavy hit but what if the game
00:00:57is about more than a puck a stick a goal what if it's about disrupting the sports industry
00:01:10what if it's about seeing women's sports as an investment and not a gamble now with the United
00:01:18professional league six competitive teams and one championship cup these world-class hockey
00:01:27players are here to prove that fans will show up and turn up to celebrate women on the ice
00:01:34you
00:01:36you
00:02:36I actually played like one year of contact with the guys.
00:02:39That's when I switched over to girls hockey.
00:02:42Do you have your outfit ready for tomorrow?
00:02:44I think I've got a few things put together.
00:02:47After that, I went on to Ohio State University.
00:02:50I was there for five years.
00:02:52I did my undergrad and master's in civil engineering.
00:02:55This league is something I never could have even imagined as a little girl.
00:02:59It's not something that we thought about when she first started to play hockey.
00:03:03Having an opportunity to be a part of this is that we're really looking forward to be a fan and
00:03:07watching women's hockey at this level.
00:03:10Yeah, great in here.
00:03:11Great in here.
00:03:11Yeah.
00:03:14I sat down last week and just really wanted to make, like, a mental note that, like, this week's really
00:03:18important.
00:03:19Not just hockey-wise for me, it's just to take in, like, all the hard work that I've done has
00:03:22led to this.
00:03:23I've got my two outfits.
00:03:24I've got to pick between the two.
00:03:25I've got two colors, pink and blue.
00:03:28So, I think blue's the winner.
00:03:30To have little girls, like, be able to see what I've always wanted and what I now got, like, everything
00:03:36is tangible.
00:03:37Women's sports is something to be reckoned with, so I'm just excited to show everyone who loves us and doesn't
00:03:43necessarily love us that it's going to come together and we're going to do something great.
00:03:47In downtown Toronto, Ontario, inside the CBC Broadcast Center, history will be made.
00:03:54The best women's hockey players in the world are in one building.
00:03:58I knew this day would come.
00:04:00I didn't think it would take this long.
00:04:03I didn't think it would be this hard.
00:04:05But it's definitely worth it.
00:04:13So, I might backtrack and then you could piece it together, but, um, okay, so let me just think of
00:04:18the timeline right now.
00:04:20Um, okay, yeah, so then I'm going to go back a little bit.
00:04:24Okay, yeah, so what people don't realize is that we have fought so hard for this league to be built.
00:04:32You know, I get emotional because it's been so hard.
00:04:35What people don't understand is that even though we were Olympians, we all had other jobs as well.
00:04:41While there were leagues that called themselves professional, they were professional by name only.
00:04:48The players weren't provided with the resources, the support, the compensation, the benefits that allowed them to just play hockey
00:04:57and be a professional athlete.
00:05:00Hockey's been my everything, but when I have to have a job to allow me to have health insurance so
00:05:05that I can continue to play hockey,
00:05:06to have a paycheck so I can purchase my own gear and get my skate sharpened,
00:05:09and I'm bringing my bag back and forth from the rink every day and airing it out in my garage,
00:05:15and that to me isn't professional.
00:05:19I knew that this isn't right, but how do we change it?
00:05:30In 2019, we got together before the World Championships started.
00:05:34We all looked at each other like, we can't keep doing this.
00:05:36Like, I was fired up.
00:05:37I called Angela Ruggiero.
00:05:40I had played with her a little bit in the U.S. program, and I was like, Angela, what do
00:05:44we do?
00:05:44Like, this is just, we can't keep doing this.
00:05:47And she said, you need to call someone like Billie Jean and Alana.
00:05:50You've got to think big.
00:05:51And I was like, okay, um, can you share their phone number, please?
00:05:56Because that's not what I'm going to find in the phone book.
00:05:58I got to my parents' house.
00:06:01My mom made dinner for me, and I said, Mom, I can't eat.
00:06:04I have a phone call to make.
00:06:05All I know is we're at a Laker game.
00:06:07You know, I got a call from Kendall Coyne, and she said,
00:06:10we won a professional league and wanted to meet with us about ice hockey.
00:06:17I go, great.
00:06:18I know absolutely nothing about ice hockey.
00:06:22Billie Jean and I, you know, we came from a sport that had the playbook.
00:06:27Billie built the playbook.
00:06:31So we have been through the steps it takes to get there.
00:06:35And I said, are you committed to each other?
00:06:37And if you're going to be committed, do you have an association?
00:06:40And if you can do that, then you've got a chance to make it.
00:06:44But you have to stick together through thick and thin.
00:06:59There was members from Team USA and Team Canada that got together right away and said we needed something more.
00:07:05A lot of the top Canadian players, a lot of the top American players, which obviously we are rivals when
00:07:11we step on the ice, but this was bigger than any rivalry.
00:07:13There was one common ground, and that was changing the landscape of this game forever.
00:07:18You know, many years we've been scratching the surface of what could be.
00:07:20And I'm excited to be, you know, another small piece in this puzzle, as all these other players are.
00:07:25To have a professional league and somewhere sustainable to play.
00:07:29But I think everyone's just rowing in the right direction.
00:07:32And that, at the end of the day, is going to get women's professional hockey to where it needs to
00:07:35be.
00:07:36It started with a little post that we all posted together, where we're going to stick together to be able
00:07:42to create something better.
00:07:44We come together, over 200 players strong, to say it is time to create a sustainable professional league for women's
00:07:52hockey.
00:07:53And the NHL started in 1917.
00:07:57So it's been over 100 years.
00:08:00And it was so obvious, this is what the top players wanted.
00:08:04Obviously, I think 2019 was the start of something big.
00:08:09But I don't think we knew at that point how big it was going to be.
00:08:11The one thing we did is we said to the players, if you do have an association, who do you
00:08:16want to head it up?
00:08:17And every single player said, Jaina Hefford.
00:08:20Once I got on the other side of playing, I started to understand what needed to happen in order to
00:08:28drive the sport forward.
00:08:29And it was a collection of really incredible women that were willing to sacrifice a lot for the betterment of
00:08:37the long term of our sport.
00:08:39We always believed and knew we'd be successful with the right support, with the right resources, with the right investment.
00:08:46I think of the five board members, Sarah Nurse, Hillary Knight, Breanne Jenner, Liz Knox, myself.
00:08:53I can't stress enough how hard we worked to keep people together and unified, you know, meeting after meeting, defeat
00:09:03after defeat, push back here, push back here, not worth here, too expensive here.
00:09:08There were just so many doors feeling like they've been closed over and over again.
00:09:14There were a lot of hard days, a lot of dark days, and understandably hard for players to stay hopeful
00:09:20that this league was going to happen.
00:09:23And in those four and a half years, it was hard to see players retire, see players say, you know
00:09:28what, I want to go get a job.
00:09:29This is too difficult.
00:09:31We had to come up with a different game plan.
00:09:33We work with Mark Walter, we're part of the ownership group of the Dodgers, he's an amazing guy, and he
00:09:39loves sports.
00:09:40So we started talking to Mark about this idea of a hockey professional league for the women.
00:09:46It wasn't a long conversation with Mark, it was actually very quick.
00:09:50He said, can you get me the best players?
00:09:53And I said, yes.
00:09:55And that was really the extent of our conversation.
00:09:57So Mark came to me in a way that made me believe he really wanted this to happen, if it
00:10:03could be done.
00:10:04Here's a preconceived notion, I would have bet anything on him, this can't be done.
00:10:10Women's hockey, professional women's hockey, nah, come on.
00:10:13How many times do we have to talk to Mark?
00:10:18Oh, man.
00:10:19He made us do the work, and we had to spend years on a business plan and running the numbers,
00:10:28and he challenged us a lot.
00:10:30This road was so challenging.
00:10:33We talked about the idea of being patient.
00:10:36We could barely say it by the end of the four years.
00:10:38I remember Billy saying that when you read history, it feels very fast, but when you live it, it feels
00:10:45slow.
00:10:54I think for me, when this endeavor started, I knew for myself it was never about playing in this league,
00:11:02it was about building this league.
00:11:03And especially as this process continued to take a little bit longer than we anticipated, that we hoped for.
00:11:10You know, I wanted to start a family.
00:11:20You're back.
00:11:23I never knew if I would make it back from after having a child.
00:11:29I had a goal, too, but I was also realistic that it's very hard to.
00:11:34And so it was, for me, really never about playing in it, and I think that's what helped me stay
00:11:42so committed.
00:11:44During that time, it was not easy, and I didn't expect it to be easy.
00:11:52Sorry.
00:11:53You think of those dark days, like those days I, like, didn't eat all day, those days where, like, I
00:11:58didn't even talk to Michael.
00:12:00Like, I'm surprised he's still with me, like, the poor man.
00:12:02Like, it was like, you want to go on vacation?
00:12:03I'm like, why?
00:12:04So I sit there on the phone and talk about women's hockey, you know?
00:12:07It was five years of hard.
00:12:12Mark said, I want them to be a union so I can do a collective bargaining agreement, because if I
00:12:17can't do that, it's really going to be tough.
00:12:19I need to know exactly how things are going to work.
00:12:23Mark is a can-do guy, which makes me a must-do guy.
00:12:26I had a lot of experience in collective bargaining, but I'd never started from scratch before.
00:12:32I'd never started from a blank sheet of paper, which is what we did.
00:12:37And that was really the final hurdle that we needed to overcome to unlock the investment of Mark and Kimber
00:12:43Walter.
00:12:44This whole idea started with these women, and so we took very seriously their suggestions, their requests, their demands.
00:12:52Everything had to be negotiated.
00:12:53You know, how many games?
00:12:55How much are we paid?
00:12:57What does the draft look like?
00:12:58We ratified that CBA.
00:13:00We unlocked the funds for this league to be built.
00:13:03And I honestly think part of my body finally relaxed.
00:13:09And within 12 hours, I was at the hospital giving birth.
00:13:14Both babies were born on the same day, is how I would describe it.
00:13:19I have often said, if she had gone into labor one week earlier, we would never have had a league,
00:13:24because we would not have been able to get the deal done in time.
00:13:28So that kind of worked out.
00:13:30When we finally got the call that it was happening, it was the best feeling ever,
00:13:33knowing we were going to get to live out our dream of playing professional women's hockey.
00:13:37This is completely different than anything we've ever had before, and I think that's what's so exciting.
00:13:41And, you know, many years we've been scratching the surface of what could be,
00:13:45and now we're here, and it's going to be a magical journey for everyone.
00:13:48I knew once that that announcement was made that things were going to happen pretty quickly,
00:13:52so it was kind of like, buckle up and get ready, because here we go.
00:13:57People, smart people, had told me, Stan, it's a great idea, congratulations,
00:14:01but you do have to put it off of you, because you can't get it done.
00:14:04And they were not wrong.
00:14:06I don't really have a league.
00:14:08I don't have a name.
00:14:09I don't have cities.
00:14:11I don't have venues.
00:14:12I don't have equipment.
00:14:13I don't have GMs.
00:14:14I don't have anything.
00:14:15But I had promised the players that we're going to start our first game on January 1.
00:14:20We were off to the races.
00:14:22It was a challenge.
00:14:23Negotiate arena deals higher over, I think, like 150 people.
00:14:28But you know what?
00:14:29We had resources, the passion, and absolutely the right people in place.
00:14:35January 1 wasn't going to move.
00:14:37It was always going to get here on January 1.
00:14:39I think what people don't understand is that one phone call has turned into one million phone calls
00:14:46and millions and millions of dollars of investment into women's hockey.
00:14:55You have won it all.
00:14:57You have done it all.
00:14:58Today, after four and a half years of very hard work, this must be pretty special in your heart.
00:15:02It's taken such a village to get to this point, and I don't think it's hit me just yet,
00:15:06but it's historical, and everything that we do from here out is going to be historical,
00:15:10knowing that this is the inaugural season.
00:15:13This banner day in women's hockey, the best women in the game,
00:15:17I'm talking world and Olympic champions,
00:15:20dreaming that a day like today would happen.
00:15:24Here we are, best day ever.
00:15:27We get to be drafted to play in a professional league.
00:15:30For it to really come to fruition and it to be this amazing, it's a dream.
00:15:35This is a league that's going to stand the test of time.
00:15:38The fact that we are going to be professional athletes is really everything,
00:15:41and it's everything for the next generation.
00:15:43I'm just so thrilled.
00:15:45You know, when I was growing up, the only women's hockey I saw on TV was the Olympics.
00:15:49It's going to be so different for young girls growing up now.
00:15:52They're going to have a professional league to dream about playing in,
00:15:54to dream about being on a draft day like this.
00:15:56It's just absolutely amazing.
00:15:59It is my honor to present one of the greatest and most influential athletes of all time,
00:16:05Billie Jean King.
00:16:10You know, when Billie Jean King came up on that stage,
00:16:14looking around the room and everybody had shivers.
00:16:17Everybody was so excited for that moment because it was real.
00:16:21Thank you to every woman who played this game who won't be placing up her skates,
00:16:27but will be right there alongside us.
00:16:30To those who worked two jobs, bought her own equipment,
00:16:34simply for the love of this magnificent game.
00:16:38To the leagues that came before,
00:16:41and everyone who dreamed what today could look like.
00:16:45With the first overall pick in the inaugural professional women's hockey league draft,
00:16:51Minnesota selects...
00:16:54Taylor Heise.
00:17:03It's been a long journey to get here.
00:17:05Boston select Sophie Jakes.
00:17:09There was many women before me that broke down so many barriers
00:17:13and provided the opportunities that myself and my generation got to have.
00:17:17Montreal select...
00:17:18Edrin Ambrose.
00:17:20The women of this generation have stood up for what they believed in.
00:17:24They've been courageous in that.
00:17:26Toronto is beyond thrilled to draft Natalie Spooner.
00:17:32And today they get to have their moment.
00:17:35Billie Jean and Alana, they were with us every step of the way.
00:17:38I get emotional because it's been so hard.
00:17:41And they believed in us.
00:17:48Hey, Toronto.
00:17:49I'm Sarah Nurse, and I hope you are so excited
00:17:52because I could not be more grateful and more honored
00:17:54to be bringing professional hockey to the city.
00:17:57Hey, Minnesota fans, it's Taylor Heise.
00:17:59It's Allie Monroe.
00:18:00Emma Malte.
00:18:01It's Christine Campbell.
00:18:01It's Zoe Boyd.
00:18:02Gabby Hughes.
00:18:03I'm Nicole Hensley.
00:18:03Alexa Vasco.
00:18:04Hey, Toronto.
00:18:05It's Natalie Spooner, your hometown girl.
00:18:07Get your tickets for this season,
00:18:09and I'll see you at the game.
00:18:15Are we ready to go to the arena?
00:18:17Are you ready to go cheer on Mummy?
00:18:19He's wearing his little knitted sweater.
00:18:22Ready?
00:18:23Going to put the sweater on?
00:18:26Where'd Rory go?
00:18:27Be careful.
00:18:29Watch the stairs, please.
00:18:31Ooh.
00:18:32There we go.
00:18:50Everything feels kind of new from a new team,
00:18:53new venues, new game schedule,
00:18:56the professionalism of it,
00:18:57getting to go to practice and get your meals provided
00:18:59and have equipment staffed,
00:19:00and there are so many things that led to that,
00:19:02but all of it was, like,
00:19:04such pleasant surprises in the same sense,
00:19:06because it was like, wow,
00:19:06like, this is what we should have been getting all along.
00:19:09Happy New Year, everybody,
00:19:10and welcome to History in the Making.
00:19:13We are in Toronto, Ontario.
00:19:14We are inside the Mattamy Athletic Centre,
00:19:16and this is formerly Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens,
00:19:19and if these walls could talk.
00:19:22We talked about how long the road has been to get here,
00:19:25but only 125 days from the announcement
00:19:27of this league, Cheryl, to today,
00:19:29that is also in and of itself a remarkable feat,
00:19:32but who better than women to get it done?
00:19:37Look at the purple lights.
00:19:38Look at all of it that you have fought and battled for
00:19:42on the shoulders of the past generation
00:19:45and all the young ones out there.
00:19:46They are looking at their future opportunities.
00:19:49Such an unbelievable moment.
00:19:51I've got chills.
00:19:53We grew up in a hockey household.
00:19:55My dad's won three Stanley Cups
00:19:56playing with the New Jersey Devils,
00:19:59so I always would tell my dad,
00:20:00I want to play in the NHL,
00:20:01and he's like, you can't, you can't.
00:20:03Like, it's not for women.
00:20:05I remember how devastated he was telling me.
00:20:11Just relieved, like,
00:20:13man, that we finally have this.
00:20:19And the crowd, it just swells in here.
00:20:23The energy has been here
00:20:24since everyone took their seats.
00:20:33This is a day to cherish for the rest of your lives.
00:20:35I cannot tell you how meaningful it's going to be
00:20:37as you get older.
00:20:45Not only for yourselves,
00:20:47but for the future generations, so.
00:20:50Good luck today.
00:20:51Cherish every moment.
00:20:52Go for it.
00:20:53And you know how to win.
00:20:54Stay in the now.
00:20:55Stay in the road.
00:21:00And now for a ceremonial puck drop.
00:21:26Past, present, and future women's hockey meet.
00:21:29Right here, the inaugural puck drop.
00:21:33Blair Turnbull with Alex Carpenter.
00:21:35Face off.
00:21:46Nurse with plenty of room on the outside.
00:21:49She'll look for another redirection.
00:21:51Schroeder dives and makes the save again.
00:21:53Now far side into the wall.
00:21:57Alice Shelton scores!
00:22:01History is hers!
00:22:08That's my top nurse.
00:22:10Looks to get her stick on it.
00:22:12Stopped by bourbonate this time.
00:22:14It's hard to see the physicality of the game.
00:22:16But hitting, well, not hitting,
00:22:17but the contact along the wall.
00:22:25She gets it!
00:22:26More down!
00:22:28New York!
00:22:31And that will do it.
00:22:33Winner, New York.
00:22:36Today, truly, it's a victory for the game.
00:22:42There was a heaviness and an emotion in that building from everyone.
00:22:47The moment was something that anyone who was in that building will remember for the rest of their lives.
00:22:59He's, I think he'll be fine if you just do the pass.
00:23:02He's very tired.
00:23:04My last game was December of 2022.
00:23:07I had Drew July of 2023.
00:23:11And it's getting back on the ice and getting back in the weight room.
00:23:15And knowing that I am different, I'm now a mom.
00:23:20But when I get back on the ice, I'm still the same player that I once was.
00:23:25Having a child doesn't change that.
00:23:27It changes me, but it doesn't change the player that I am and that I can be.
00:23:36Nice.
00:23:38My first game was on January 3rd.
00:23:41Six months and three days postpartum.
00:23:44I'm telling myself, just get through this game.
00:23:46It's not going to be pretty.
00:23:47You're not going to feel great.
00:23:48But give yourself grace and be proud of yourself.
00:24:00Tonight, I'm playing against Hillary Knight in Boston.
00:24:05She's a legend.
00:24:06She's one of the greatest to ever do it.
00:24:11Of course, I love playing with her more than against her.
00:24:14But, you know, I think no one loses today.
00:24:22We haven't seen someone do this in a while.
00:24:24God's work right there.
00:24:25We aren't used to.
00:24:26We take the ice quality pretty serious here.
00:24:28Yeah.
00:24:29Oh, my gosh.
00:24:30Like, this is incredible.
00:24:31We've been waiting for the season to start for six weeks now.
00:24:35If not, actually, like, four years.
00:24:37So it's going to be exciting.
00:24:38It's finally here.
00:24:39And hopefully, we're going to have a crowd filled with Boston fans.
00:24:45We want to win a championship here.
00:24:49This day is finally here.
00:24:51To see it finally happen, it's really almost impossible to put into words.
00:25:02You guys good?
00:25:03Kind of, that kind of just came up.
00:25:04Mix it up.
00:25:05Don't be so predictable.
00:25:07When you're lining up, she's like, oh, perfect.
00:25:08I'll just go under.
00:25:09Right?
00:25:10Mix up what you're doing.
00:25:12Go after it.
00:25:13All right.
00:25:17When we stand on that blue line today, let's take a moment to soak it in.
00:25:20We do it for our teammates that are at home, our coaches that helped us, our families, our
00:25:26loved ones.
00:25:27But most importantly, you do it for yourselves.
00:25:30Because you earned this.
00:25:31Let's go out there and kick some ass.
00:25:59Here we go.
00:26:02and four minutes in, the number one overall pick in the draft
00:26:07scores the first PWHL goal on American Ice.
00:26:14Turnover, another goal!
00:26:19Austin trying to regain their footing.
00:26:22Here's Hilary Knight, pulls back, backhands,
00:26:24tries to find a teammate, it's in!
00:26:29This one's definitely gonna get looked at.
00:26:31It looked like there might have been goaltender interference.
00:26:34No goal!
00:26:36Wow!
00:26:38That's the final 3-2 Minnesota win!
00:26:53Alright, hey, that's a tough one.
00:26:55We had tons of chances, tons of ozone play.
00:26:59We're so offensively talented,
00:27:01but we're getting a little too cute when we're around that net.
00:27:04Sometimes we're gonna have to bury those dirty goals to get us going
00:27:06and then it's gonna open up that ice to score some goals.
00:27:10But I'll tell you, that was a phenomenal third period.
00:27:13If we can play three periods like that, moving forward,
00:27:17I don't think anyone's gonna touch this team.
00:27:19Like, that was awesome.
00:27:20That last, like, ten minutes of that period was unreal.
00:27:23So, if we take anything away from that game,
00:27:25like, let's take that away into...
00:27:27When do we play next?
00:27:28Like, Monday.
00:27:29Monday.
00:27:29Quick turnaround.
00:27:30So, all done.
00:27:31I thought you guys played amazing.
00:27:33I held us back today, and I'm so worried.
00:27:34No, you didn't.
00:27:38I have more to continue to this game.
00:27:40Erin, Erin, Erin, if you can...
00:27:41We have your back.
00:27:42We all do.
00:27:44I have more to worry about this.
00:27:54Good.
00:27:56Everyone owns a big Starbucks.
00:27:58That's what I think.
00:27:59So, awesome.
00:28:00Yeah, it was really good to get the win.
00:28:02We're gonna build from here, get better,
00:28:04but we got the win tonight.
00:28:12I was really pumped when I saw Montreal was, like,
00:28:15our home opener,
00:28:16because I think we'll have a lot of friends and family
00:28:19if they can get tickets.
00:28:21Trade.
00:28:27For so many years,
00:28:28you're just told as a female athlete
00:28:31that you're, like, a role model,
00:28:32but you're not told that, like,
00:28:34we can be a successful, like,
00:28:35entertainment business.
00:28:37It's really refreshing being spoken of
00:28:40for our talent, for our speed,
00:28:42for the plays that we're making,
00:28:44and not just that we're inspiring young girls.
00:28:54Hockey is an amazing platform.
00:28:57It's all of yourselves.
00:28:58Head, heart, and guts in Canada.
00:29:01Hockey's almost like a religion.
00:29:03The crowds, they want it.
00:29:04There's a demand.
00:29:06They care.
00:29:06It's unbelievable to see the excitement and the gratitude.
00:29:12And, you know, we're just at the beginning of the road.
00:29:15I've been pretty fortunate to have a career with Hockey Canada,
00:29:18with Team Canada,
00:29:19where I play on the world's level, Olympic level.
00:29:23Gold medal, there's silver medal, there's bronze medal.
00:29:25Obviously, being part of a professional league,
00:29:28this one was something that I never thought would happen.
00:29:32But this league is the next chapter.
00:29:34I'm very excited to be able to maybe one day
00:29:38raise that first Walter Cup.
00:29:44I feel really excited for everybody.
00:29:47It's different than any other hockey game,
00:29:49because I'm trying to just, like, stay focused on my job.
00:29:52But it's like, you have to soak it in,
00:29:54because it's so much bigger than a hockey game today.
00:29:56Giving him looks, and I'm giving him hell.
00:29:58He good with me, cause I don't kiss and tell.
00:30:00Waving goodbye, and I'm wishing him well.
00:30:02Knocking him out, and I'm ringing the bell.
00:30:04Ringing the bell, I'll stay up in the ring.
00:30:06Cutting him deep, and I hope that it sting.
00:30:07Got the whole world dangling for my strength.
00:30:09The opening face-off with Breanne Jenner,
00:30:11which is one of my good friends.
00:30:12I played with her for many years.
00:30:15That hug there, I think we just said,
00:30:17wow, we did it.
00:30:18Watching her, forget what you heard.
00:30:22Quickly into the part side,
00:30:23Captain Breanne Jenner,
00:30:25getting the crowd excited about it.
00:30:33And Ottawa now with some speed.
00:30:36The crowd feeling that one.
00:30:40Shot in, and touches Jen.
00:30:43Ottawa's first goal.
00:30:47Okay, help yourself.
00:30:49Help yourself.
00:30:52Help yourself.
00:31:03Oh, good.
00:31:04Oh, this girl wants an autograph.
00:31:05Oh!
00:31:05Can you sign?
00:31:06Yeah, absolutely.
00:31:08Do you want to hold it up for me?
00:31:10And yours, too.
00:31:13There you go.
00:31:14Thanks for coming, you guys.
00:31:22Come on, little puppies.
00:31:25Ooh.
00:31:25It's nice in the sun.
00:31:28Come on.
00:31:29We always joke.
00:31:31We're like Kendall Coyne literally started a hockey league.
00:31:33And she did.
00:31:34Come on.
00:31:36There we go.
00:31:36Oh, that's better.
00:31:38She wants to chase that ball really badly.
00:31:40Oh!
00:31:42Cheers to your motto.
00:31:43Say it.
00:31:44Let's be positive.
00:31:45Let's be grateful.
00:31:46It's just so positive for females in general,
00:31:48and you see it every game.
00:31:51When we launched the league,
00:31:53we thought there was ways we could be different
00:31:56from other hockey leagues
00:31:57to create more engagement for our fans.
00:32:07We did increase the level of physical play
00:32:10that was permitted,
00:32:11and that was something that both the fans,
00:32:12the players, the coaches all loved.
00:32:15Yeah, it's gonna get spicy.
00:32:17I mean, we have, like, pretty much, like,
00:32:20checking hockey, you know?
00:32:21I mean, bodies are gonna be flying,
00:32:23tempers are gonna spill over,
00:32:25and you're gonna have to have your teammates
00:32:27back.
00:32:28What do you think's gonna be
00:32:29trash-talking the most?
00:32:31Probably Abbey Rock.
00:32:33Yeah.
00:32:48The fans truly do just love the physicality,
00:32:51the hits, the fights right now.
00:32:52Like, it's honestly selling a lot of the league,
00:32:55to be honest.
00:32:57We're gonna fight the love
00:32:58and ready to go.
00:32:59Here we go!
00:33:09I was lucky enough to become the first player
00:33:11to get kicked out of a game.
00:33:19We were down in that game, and then I saw the puck go to the corner,
00:33:23and I thought, I really need that puck.
00:33:25Had a smaller girl in front of me,
00:33:27and she went right down to the boards.
00:33:29Why me?
00:33:30Why me?
00:33:30Why me?
00:33:30Chicks wanna try me?
00:33:31Thought I was gonna get a two-minute for boarding.
00:33:33And move my crown.
00:33:34Who is she?
00:33:35The queen, which means I'm busy.
00:33:37Then I was in a five-minute, and I was like,
00:33:38okay, five minutes a little bit much, but I'll take the five.
00:33:41There's a major penalty on the play.
00:33:43Play is now under review.
00:33:44Play officially under review now,
00:33:46and Avi Rock in disbelief.
00:33:48When you're looking at a major penalty,
00:33:50it's not just intent, but where your opponent is,
00:33:53and how vulnerable they are at the time of the hit,
00:33:56what kind of force.
00:33:57After review, number 11 New York has a major penalty,
00:34:00checked from behind.
00:34:01Major penalty, checked from behind.
00:34:03Ravi Rock, she's gotta leave the game.
00:34:06She doesn't wanna leave.
00:34:07The refs decided to switch it from a boarding
00:34:10to a checking from behind, so there I was.
00:34:14A big loss for New York.
00:34:16Avi Rock has left the game.
00:34:34After my son was born, I felt very lonely.
00:34:37I walked into the weight room and was confused.
00:34:41What can I do?
00:34:41What can't I do?
00:34:42There was no blueprints.
00:34:44It is the reality that women's hockey is extremely physical.
00:34:48We wanna see as many players as possible
00:34:51continue to prolong their career
00:34:53and not feel like that I have to pick having a child
00:34:56over being a professional hockey player.
00:34:59There's proof that you can do both,
00:35:01and there's going to continue to be more and more proof.
00:35:04Anytime you step on the ice as a professional athlete,
00:35:07you wanna be the best you can be because this is my job,
00:35:09this is a business, and ultimately I need to be on top.
00:35:13A big part of playing at the highest level is winning.
00:35:23I think just the wear and tear, the grind is exhausting.
00:35:28I mean, I've been injured since December 22nd, so it sucks.
00:35:31I feel the worst in here, but that does not feel great.
00:35:38Yeah, because this pocket of swelling is pushing right in.
00:35:41And there's like no way to alleviate that.
00:36:03There's five of us that live in this house.
00:36:05We live on Pearl Street, and so we call ourselves Pearl Palace.
00:36:09And we have a Christmas tree that's gonna stay up all year round.
00:36:13If you can zoom in here, it's Pearl Palace.
00:36:16And if you wanna zoom in over there, that's Sophie Jiggs as a baby.
00:36:20We keep that up.
00:36:21With my brother.
00:36:23Oh!
00:36:24Oh!
00:36:26Oh my goodness!
00:36:28That's Taylor Bernard for you guys.
00:36:37It's cool to see, like, across the league, like, people are, like, going hard with the outfits.
00:36:41It's the girls turning, yeah, I wanna apologize.
00:36:45It's the girls turning, yeah, it's about time.
00:36:49You know, game day fits need to be fire, because now it's all about the walk-in.
00:36:53Look at us, look at us, look at us, just trying to keep up.
00:36:56It's the girls turning, yeah, I wanna apologize.
00:37:00It gets so funny because we get prepared for, like, that 20-second walk-in,
00:37:05and then nobody will ever see that outfit again.
00:37:08Wow, that looks sharp.
00:37:10Am I supposed to do a buttons or no?
00:37:12I don't know.
00:37:13It looks like you own the league.
00:37:15I don't know if that's the vibe, I'm going to work.
00:37:18So I'd been at my house at Pearl Palace.
00:37:21It was Super Bowl Sunday, and it was, like, a bit before the Super Bowl,
00:37:25and I'd get a call from our GM.
00:37:27She was just like, you've been traded to Minnesota.
00:37:32All of my roommates were, unfortunately, out at that time,
00:37:35so no one was even in the house with me.
00:37:37I called my mom.
00:37:38She was like, okay, well, you just let us know what you need,
00:37:41and I put as much as I could fit in a suitcase.
00:37:45I was already on a flight to Minnesota before, like, my roommates were even back,
00:37:49so I didn't even really get to say bye to them.
00:37:52It's a nice, fresh sweat.
00:37:54I know, it's, like, brand new.
00:37:55It hasn't even been washed yet.
00:38:01The first trade was a surprise, and then to learn that it was a trade between your team
00:38:07and another team was even more of a surprise.
00:38:09You recognize very quickly that this is my job, and trades are a part of pro sports.
00:38:18Hesada, one, three, one, two, three!
00:38:19Hesada!
00:38:20Great job, Brian!
00:38:21Right up!
00:38:22Sophie Jakes is such a clutch player.
00:38:24I mean, she had 59 points her senior year.
00:38:27She had a little bit of a slow start in Boston.
00:38:29Seven games, no points.
00:38:30But how about being on a deep air with Lee's deck line tonight?
00:38:34No better company.
00:38:35Move! Move! Move!
00:38:37Move! Move! Move!
00:38:40Move! Move!
00:38:41Jakes, long drive, big caram off the end, boards, and they score!
00:38:48Sophie Jakes, the offensive potential for her is so obvious.
00:38:53She looks very comfortable on her skates here tonight.
00:38:56But how about the play of Lee Stackline and Sophie Jakes in the last couple minutes?
00:39:02I mean, they were blocking shots, doing a great job.
00:39:04Somebody had to make the first trade in league history, and they're gonna come out all right on that deal.
00:39:10For our first year, our starting out year, when no one knows us, no one knows a thing about us,
00:39:15until January 1, we were hoping for 1,000 people a night.
00:39:23It's packed. It's rocking.
00:39:27The fans are piling in a huge lineup to get into the building.
00:39:30Sold-out crowd of the Salka Center.
00:39:32This is a sell-out crowd.
00:39:33They sold-out arena each.
00:39:39This season, I felt like every game either team could win.
00:39:43There's so much talent in this league.
00:39:45It's really a tough battle every night to get a win.
00:39:48And a goal!
00:39:50Ebrose from the point!
00:39:52Montreal!
00:39:5433 seconds into the second!
00:39:58Here we go!
00:39:59Bingo!
00:40:01Patrick!
00:40:03Gray Sumwinkle!
00:40:05Carpenter, she's got a goal already.
00:40:07Takes a shot, she scores!
00:40:10Shot!
00:40:11They score!
00:40:12How about Kendall Coyne Schofield staying red hot!
00:40:16How has becoming a mom made you a better player?
00:40:19Um...
00:40:19Wait, this is a mom brain.
00:40:20What was the question?
00:40:21Yeah.
00:40:21A break away for Spooner!
00:40:23Here she comes, looking for 18!
00:40:26And she gets it!
00:40:28And Natalie Spooner, this year's leader in goals and points.
00:40:33Is out in front tipped!
00:40:34And she'll score!
00:40:35How about that!
00:40:37And Prime Minister Justin Trudeau!
00:40:40Huge claps!
00:40:42These are the moments the players will remember forever, that these fans will remember forever.
00:40:47And through the season we've seen how important the creation and success of this league is to them.
00:41:10How do we feel?
00:41:11I've only cried about eight times.
00:41:12Okay, perfect.
00:41:12Just weeping!
00:41:13Just weeping!
00:41:14Just weeping!
00:41:15The PWHL is proud to spotlight the amazing work that Black Girl Hockey Club Canada is doing year-round to
00:41:22make hockey more inclusive and grow the game.
00:41:25Hi guys! How is everyone?
00:41:28Nice to meet you!
00:41:30Thanks for coming!
00:41:34I never ever dreamt of playing professional hockey.
00:41:37I was never that little girl who thought that she was going to play in the NHL.
00:41:41And now I have young girls and young boys who come up to me in hockey arenas and on the
00:41:44streets and want to talk hockey with me.
00:41:47So, it's pretty special.
00:41:51In front of Bay Street Army, it's Montreal, Toronto.
00:41:54Marie-Philippe Poulet against Sarah Nurse, taking this face-off.
00:42:01This crowd gets loud and proud cheering on these women here tonight.
00:42:05I thought I couldn't take anymore.
00:42:06She shoots!
00:42:07She scores!
00:42:08Jessie Crawford up front!
00:42:10Opens the scoring!
00:42:1419,285 fans to most fans to ever attend a pro women's hockey game.
00:42:20Our two biggest crowds were when we played in Toronto.
00:42:24Well, Andre Hall was not going to stand for that.
00:42:26So, a month later, we scheduled a game in the largest NHL venue, which is the Bell Center.
00:42:34Cause when I do, I'm gonna smash ya!
00:42:38Now I'm out for blood!
00:42:41I'm raining tooth and claw!
00:42:43Montreal, over 20,000 people.
00:42:45I mean, it's unheard of.
00:42:47I think of that game at the Bell Center.
00:43:03I've never been in a rink that was so loud.
00:43:08It was a long, loud moment for all of us.
00:43:11It was surreal, and I just took a look around and just took it in.
00:43:16I'm taking all that I can take.
00:43:18I can take.
00:43:18I think it's time to escalate.
00:43:21With power, I will liberate.
00:43:23I'm here to negotiate.
00:43:26Yeah, I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:28Ambrose.
00:43:30She creates a leechous grasshouse.
00:43:32I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:40I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:44I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:46I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:48I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:50I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:51I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:52I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:52I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:52I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:53I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:55I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:57I'm out here on the wire.
00:43:59I'm out here on the wire.
00:44:01Montreal in this historic first season and it's a 3-2 win in overtime.
00:44:08The best in the league stays atop the standings now.
00:44:12What a celebration on a historic day in Montreal.
00:44:25You want to go back down?
00:44:27You want some food?
00:44:30Let's go get in our chair, right?
00:44:33Is that yummy or not yummy?
00:44:35Mmm.
00:44:37Today is the last game of the regular season, so we play Ottawa tonight.
00:44:43It is a big game for Ottawa.
00:44:46If they beat us in regulation, they will make the playoffs.
00:44:49If they don't, they don't make the playoffs.
00:44:52Every team is so close and has such good players that can take over games.
00:44:56It's so tight. I mean, every game is like you have to bring your best game.
00:45:00Like, you've got to play well.
00:45:08Final game of the BWHL's first regular season back where it all started on New Year's Day.
00:45:14Tonight is a must-win game in regulation for Ottawa.
00:45:18Toronto struggling at the start.
00:45:20Now the best in the league, but they have not always been the best against Ottawa.
00:45:25.
00:45:32Jenner with a quick touch.
00:45:33Now a chance.
00:45:34Natalie Spooner shoots.
00:45:35He scores!
00:45:39And make that another goal for Natalie Spooner, her 19th of the season.
00:45:46Sarah Nurse, working around, cutting in front.
00:45:49She scores!
00:45:53There is the official.
00:45:55Of course, a good goal.
00:45:57Looking for a centering feed.
00:45:59Watts in the way.
00:46:00And a good pass over to Breanne Jenner.
00:46:02She's got all kinds of room.
00:46:04Looking for some space.
00:46:05Watts in close.
00:46:07They score!
00:46:11Willoughby has it now.
00:46:12Harman trying to come up to it.
00:46:14But Samantha Kogan all alone with an empty net.
00:46:16She scores!
00:46:19A statement home win to close a historic season for BWHL Toronto.
00:46:26Best in the league.
00:46:29They do it again.
00:46:31Coming out, the two Canadian teams headed to the playoffs.
00:46:35That's Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Minnesota.
00:46:39Minnesota, grateful tonight for Toronto.
00:46:42They did not win their way into that playoff spot when they had the opportunities to clinch.
00:46:48It was because Ottawa failed to get the regulation win tonight.
00:46:52Minnesota is in.
00:46:54Tough to find the words right now.
00:46:56I think we were pretty devastated with that outcome today.
00:47:00I think, proud of the girls.
00:47:02I think we, you know, gave ourselves a chance to win.
00:47:04We thought we were going to do it.
00:47:06You know, the bench was positive.
00:47:08There was a lot of pressure on us today.
00:47:09And I think everyone handled that really, really well.
00:47:14I'm wondering who Toronto is going to pick now as they know the set standings.
00:47:26I think it's such a cool thing.
00:47:29I've never seen it really happen in sports before you get to pick who you play.
00:47:31But it'll be pretty neat.
00:47:34And going into playoffs, we're very excited to really play whoever we have to, to win a championship.
00:47:47Toronto was the number one seed.
00:47:48They picked us.
00:47:49And, you know, as I would too.
00:47:51But we all were like, whew, okay, we're in.
00:47:54But now we have a lot of work to do.
00:48:10Natalie Spooner shoots.
00:48:13She scores!
00:48:15Super Spooner!
00:48:18When this team was struggling, she put them on her back and took them straight to first place.
00:48:24Leads the league in goals and points.
00:48:26She has been dynamic.
00:48:28And Spooner, back again.
00:48:30They score!
00:48:33And will finish with her first ever.
00:48:36PW Rachel, playoff shutout win.
00:48:394-0 for Toronto.
00:48:41They take game one.
00:48:43Game one, we got shut out.
00:48:45And then the second game, we got shut out again.
00:48:48The 2024 PWHL playoffs heads to Montreal, Quebec for the first time ever.
00:48:55As Boston gets ready to go head-to-head with Montreal.
00:48:59Montreal, 51 shots on net.
00:49:02The most ever in the PWHL this year.
00:49:06As overtime action is underway in game one.
00:49:10Tappany in front, a chance for Boston.
00:49:11Keller, a high shot.
00:49:13Davey makes the stop and pucks loose.
00:49:15Looking for a chance, and she scores!
00:49:18Susanna Tappany, the hero in overtime.
00:49:21And Boston wins game one.
00:49:23It was unbelievable to see the parity.
00:49:25It was a battle every game, and ours went in overtime for three games.
00:49:29That right there says it all, how tight it was.
00:49:31With speed on the outside, Laura Stacey lets the slap shot go.
00:49:34Frankel makes the save.
00:49:35Aaron Frankel has been the story here in this series.
00:49:40Game one, some 54 shots.
00:49:43Now entering triple overtime.
00:49:45Ambrose, out in front, triples!
00:49:47And it had, but it wasn't enough!
00:49:52Another strong night for Aaron Frankel.
00:49:54Having stomped 55 of 56 shots for another record.
00:49:59Beating her own from just the other night.
00:50:01Well, and Erin Ambrose is well over 60 minutes in this game now
00:50:06because she was 55 coming into this third overtime,
00:50:09and she's still blocking shots.
00:50:10Out in front, a chance for Boston!
00:50:12And they score!
00:50:13In front!
00:50:15A game winner in triple overtime!
00:50:18Boston with all the leverage now, up to nothing.
00:50:21This is do or die.
00:50:23That's the way.
00:50:24Jobsle, inner side, here comes Alina Mueller on the outside
00:50:27for Boston Mueller.
00:50:27Cuts to center!
00:50:28Cuts a rebound!
00:50:30She scores!
00:50:32Tisanna Taffany!
00:50:34The overtime winner for the second time in this series!
00:50:38Boston will play for the Walter Cup!
00:50:41We persevered through a lot of adversity this year,
00:50:43and I think we had a lot of people who didn't think that
00:50:45we could even make the playoffs, let alone make the championship round,
00:50:49but I think we proved people wrong,
00:50:50and I'm really proud of our group for that.
00:50:57When you're part of these playoffs, you want to win,
00:51:00you want to raise that first Walter Cup.
00:51:01I was not able to make it the final.
00:51:04It's crazy the emotion you go through, that's for sure.
00:51:08Minnesota back home inside the XL Energy Center.
00:51:12The win tonight in Toronto moves on to the finals
00:51:14while Minnesota's playing to extend the series
00:51:17with the first ever playoff win.
00:51:18If we lose game three, our season is over.
00:51:22This is do or die for Minnesota.
00:51:24She's forced back down deep into her own end,
00:51:27just trying to stave off this pressure
00:51:28from Denisa Krishova on the forecheck.
00:51:31There's a good hit, but it takes down Natalie Spooner.
00:51:34She's slow to get up.
00:51:36Puck still in play.
00:51:38All over the bench.
00:51:39We'll keep an eye on that.
00:51:40We need a second here.
00:51:42We need a second in that room!
00:51:53I got hurt in that third game,
00:51:55and I think it sucks when you get hurt either way,
00:51:57but to be hurt in the playoffs,
00:51:59kind of when things were rolling for your team
00:52:01and feeling good, that's never fun.
00:52:13Minnesota holds on!
00:52:16A 2-0 shutout playoff win over Toronto.
00:52:21And now they look ahead.
00:52:23Game four and a chance to even this series.
00:52:26It's like all on the line,
00:52:27and they're playing do or die hockey.
00:52:28I think they were able to get some confidence.
00:52:30Wideless Shepherds win!
00:52:32Minnesota scores!
00:52:37An incredible overtime rally from the home team
00:52:42to tie up this playoff series.
00:52:44Winning game three and four against Toronto,
00:52:47we felt unbelievable.
00:52:49Give a lot of credit to Minnesota.
00:52:51It looked like Toronto was going to easily sweep this series.
00:52:54Talk about flipping the script.
00:52:56And then going into game five.
00:52:58All right, let's kick their ass next time
00:52:59and keep it going!
00:53:00Really didn't know what to expect.
00:53:02Minnesota playing for the Walter Cup.
00:53:05A 4-1 win over Toronto.
00:53:09A reverse sweep to upset the number one seed.
00:53:14Going into this,
00:53:16I don't think anyone had the bottom seeds
00:53:19winning their playoff series.
00:53:23And then it happened.
00:53:36We're gonna get started, folks.
00:53:37Sorry for the delay.
00:53:38This is a phenomenal time to ask any question
00:53:41that you've got, big or small.
00:53:42From our internal team,
00:53:45Jaina is gonna be presenting the Walter Cup
00:53:47alongside Billie Jean King.
00:53:49Billie Jean and Ilana, of course, presenting trophies.
00:53:52Stan is gonna join us to present
00:53:54the Ilana Claus trophy that you sent.
00:53:56When the captain has the Walter Cup,
00:53:58she's skating over, grabbing the trophy,
00:54:01and then doing the big iconic lift shot.
00:54:04And that's when our haze will go up.
00:54:06At that point, it's when the party
00:54:08sort of starts to get rolling.
00:54:11You didn't show anyone your photo, right?
00:54:12Not even my mother.
00:54:13Not too tight.
00:54:14Not too tight.
00:54:14Not too tight.
00:54:15You're like me.
00:54:15I'm a little claustrophobic.
00:54:16Yeah, thank you.
00:54:17I appreciate you.
00:54:18Amy, Jaina.
00:54:20What?
00:54:21You got it.
00:54:24Oh, she's a beauty.
00:54:26No.
00:54:27I do want to see the box, though.
00:54:28I've never seen it yet.
00:54:30There's a key.
00:54:31Oh, there's a key.
00:54:36All right, here's our Tiffany box.
00:54:39Okay, are we ready to see what this looks like?
00:54:41We've only spent a year working on this,
00:54:44and let's see what we have.
00:54:49Oh, wow.
00:54:50It turned out so great.
00:54:55We had seen the drawings,
00:54:57and I had spent hours on the phone
00:55:00with the Tiffany people.
00:55:01We talked a lot about the elements
00:55:03that were important to us.
00:55:05On the bottom is a puck of shattered glass
00:55:09because that's what we were doing.
00:55:12That's awesome.
00:55:14Oh, wow.
00:55:15It's been a long journey to get here.
00:55:17There was many women before me
00:55:19that, you know, I think broke down so many barriers.
00:55:21Well done.
00:55:22That's really special.
00:55:26That's, uh...
00:55:27Good job, team.
00:55:27That's gonna work.
00:55:28And the women of this generation
00:55:29have stood up for what they believed in.
00:55:31They've been unwavering in that.
00:55:34We know this is a societal change
00:55:36that we're experiencing,
00:55:37and we're so excited about the impact
00:55:38it's gonna have well beyond just the hockey arena.
00:55:46Women's hockey would not be where it is
00:55:48to stay without Kendall.
00:55:50I love watching her play
00:55:51just because she's so shifty and solid on her edges,
00:55:55and her skating base is just phenomenal.
00:55:57Yeah, it sucks to play against her.
00:55:58There's no doubt about that.
00:56:00You know, it's easier to fight with her
00:56:02than it is against her.
00:56:03The way she sees the game is just incredible.
00:56:05It's, like, one to three steps ahead of anyone.
00:56:08It's been a whirlwind of a year,
00:56:10ten months, or whatever it's been
00:56:11for all of us.
00:56:13You know, it comes down to one game.
00:56:16Chasing the championship for Minnesota.
00:56:18All they need is one win
00:56:19to be the first team to hoist the Walter Cup.
00:56:22Or will Boston rise to the occasion
00:56:24like we've seen them done before
00:56:25and carve out a win to keep chasing the championship?
00:56:28Come on!
00:56:30You're Minnesota!
00:56:32Minnesota's gonna take it!
00:56:37Okay, so we're gonna get away from that man-on-man.
00:56:40We'll go into layers.
00:56:41But let's make sure we have tons of communication.
00:56:43And success is gonna come in our habits.
00:56:45I would just quote Billie Jean King
00:56:47and say pressure's a privilege.
00:56:48We want to bring championships and titles to Boston,
00:56:51and we want to be a part of that legacy and that history.
00:56:53We want to win.
00:56:54You know what they want to do, right?
00:56:55Don't let it affect you.
00:56:57Play through it.
00:56:57I started the season with PWHL Boston,
00:57:00and I am definitely a bit nervous going into the finals.
00:57:05Playing against my old teammates.
00:57:07They're not tougher than you, I can promise you right now.
00:57:09Play through it.
00:57:10This is a big deal.
00:57:11This is championship.
00:57:13And I can't lose sight of the fact that Hillary's in the game.
00:57:16We fought those four and a half years together.
00:57:19This is everything to us.
00:57:41It is so fitting.
00:57:43It is so fitting.
00:57:43Almost now this is the championship!
00:57:46Can we try to integrate you into that?
00:57:56It is so fitting to have two pillars of the game that have made this moment possible
00:58:01and Hillary Knight with Boston and Kendall Coyne Schofield to be the ones to lead them
00:58:05to this very moment.
00:58:07Kendall Coyne Schofield, who is a pillar in the PWHPA and the president now of the Players Association,
00:58:11Hillary Knight, Cheryl.
00:58:12She's won it all.
00:58:13She's a face of the game and she's still got one more.
00:58:15She'll want to win.
00:58:16So what would your message be?
00:58:17The pressure, the load they're carrying tonight is huge and it's hard to ignore.
00:58:21Well, I think the first thing is when you take a moment to appreciate this crowd, you look
00:58:26around, you appreciate it, and then you get focused and then it becomes one shift at a
00:58:30time.
00:58:31Tisey takes it in deep.
00:58:32Here comes Kendall Coyne Schofield, the captain from Minnesota.
00:58:34An early shot.
00:58:34Frank will make the stop.
00:58:36Well, I love the way that Kendall Coyne Schofield jumps and attacks that dot.
00:58:42Loud and proud inside Excel Energy Center.
00:58:45Cheering their team on.
00:58:48Who will step up in Game 4 of the PWHL Finals?
00:58:53Austin with their season on the line.
00:58:55Can they find a way and push for a Game 5?
00:58:58We are very competitive because the stakes are so high.
00:59:01There's no room for error out there.
00:59:04Final 10 seconds here with one more drive.
00:59:09Off to overtime.
00:59:11Here we go.
00:59:1260 minutes was not enough here for Game 4 of the PWHL Finals.
00:59:17It's a 0-0 game.
00:59:19Next goal wins.
00:59:20We want the cup!
00:59:22We want the cup!
00:59:24We want the cup!
00:59:39Oh my God, they're good.
00:59:41Okay, so if somebody scores, you just go right into action.
00:59:45Like, immediately.
00:59:47Final five seconds to go.
00:59:49Panic.
00:59:50Can she get the shot off?
00:59:51She'll let go, but it's just wide.
00:59:53And so, 80 minutes was not enough.
00:59:58Second overtime right around the corner.
01:00:00Oh, give me.
01:00:02Royce, you are loving this.
01:00:03You can't deny it.
01:00:04If you don't finish this one out, momentum's with Boston.
01:00:09Taylor Heisey on the outside.
01:00:10Heisey draws it in.
01:00:12Cuts in front.
01:00:12Loose puck!
01:00:13And she scores!
01:00:17Sophie Jakes, your Walter Cup hero!
01:00:19Let's go!
01:00:42Angie!
01:00:44Tell them I want to challenge it.
01:00:46Come on, make them pick their shit up.
01:00:49Come on, you guys.
01:00:51Paul is under the field of your goal to interference.
01:00:54At the time, I think I kind of blacked out,
01:00:56so I didn't really know if she was pushed into me
01:00:59or if she just lost an edge.
01:01:01And a lot of times, goalie interference
01:01:03is up to the discretion of the ref.
01:01:05I hope they have to put their fucking helmets
01:01:07and gloves back on.
01:01:08It had been a good 30 seconds, I think,
01:01:10before we even realized that the goal was being questioned.
01:01:14With the championship on the line,
01:01:17it all comes down to this.
01:01:20It's a huge game.
01:01:21I'm truly feeling like the underdog,
01:01:23and you never know how a call like that's going to truly shake out.
01:01:26I go out to Heisey because I knew she was a part of the play,
01:01:28and I go, Taylor, I go, was a goaltender interfering?
01:01:31She goes, please don't talk to me right now, I'm praying.
01:01:33I didn't know which way the call was going to go.
01:01:35Watch, she cuts hard, and it falls.
01:01:38Oh, look at the red cam.
01:01:38Right, she loses her edge right there.
01:01:40Right there.
01:01:41And then?
01:01:42And then Frankel can't make a save.
01:01:43When they showed it on the big screen for the first time,
01:01:46all of us looked at each other like, oh no.
01:01:48There's no way Aaron Frankel can get reset
01:01:50or even push across to be able to make that save.
01:01:55Goal, goal, goal, goal, goal, goal, goal.
01:01:59And the way the deliberation.
01:02:02After review, the call on the ice has been overturned.
01:02:05We have no goal, the goal has been overturned.
01:02:09And so the Boston season will continue.
01:02:13Once that happened, it was like,
01:02:15how am I going to find my gloves, how am I going to find my stick?
01:02:17You can't make this shit up, guys.
01:02:19You cannot make it up.
01:02:21One more try.
01:02:23Well, and that's it, right?
01:02:24This is a marathon, and we're here for it.
01:02:27After we got our gloves, our helmets back on,
01:02:30the ice definitely felt tilted.
01:02:33I think at that moment, we had everything to lose,
01:02:36and they had nothing to lose.
01:02:37We're here till the end, along with you.
01:02:40I know that they were probably rattled,
01:02:42and I think that gave us the edge
01:02:44going into the continuation of the period,
01:02:47and then...
01:02:47Mueller with a chance here for Boston!
01:02:49And she scores!
01:02:51Alina Mueller, the season's saving goal!
01:02:54Oh, my God!
01:02:58What a turn of events!
01:03:01And what can happen in a couple of minutes, Kenzie?
01:03:04Just unbelievable!
01:03:05I think in that moment, it was just kind of shock.
01:03:08It was so hard.
01:03:09It was one thing if you thought you won a game,
01:03:11but then to think you won a championship is another.
01:03:25In the moment, you're like, what is going on?
01:03:27We need Game 5 of the PWHL Finals.
01:03:32What a night!
01:03:33Minnesota in disbelief.
01:03:35Boston finding a way.
01:03:37As Corgi Kessel says,
01:03:38it's not about how you start,
01:03:40it's about how you finish.
01:03:42We know that was a tough call to make
01:03:43in a building with 13,000 fans,
01:03:45that you knew we're going to not react well.
01:03:53But I think we're all very proud
01:03:55that we got the call right,
01:03:58and we've worked a lot this season
01:04:00on the technology that we were going to implement
01:04:02to ensure that we could get calls on the ice, right?
01:04:04And it worked out tonight.
01:04:11Obviously, it's a huge goal for us
01:04:13and kept us alive another day
01:04:15to be able to fight for this title.
01:04:18Let's go, baby!
01:04:28We were just ready to pack it up
01:04:29and bring the show back to Boston.
01:04:32Boston ended up scoring.
01:04:33We didn't get out of the overtime,
01:04:34and it's so hard.
01:04:36Everyone was trying to do what they could do
01:04:37to manage after that emotional rollercoaster
01:04:40of thinking you win, you didn't win.
01:04:42We went back into the room,
01:04:43and we looked at each other,
01:04:45and we said, we're going back to Boston.
01:04:47Pack our bags, and we got a job
01:04:49that we have to finish,
01:04:50and we've got to finish it in Boston.
01:05:02The message is to learn from it
01:05:06and turn the page.
01:05:07You know, do what you need to do.
01:05:12Here we go.
01:05:16Let's go, Boston!
01:05:18Woo!
01:05:19Well, it won't take much
01:05:20to get fired up for Game 5
01:05:21here in Boston.
01:05:23The Walter Cup's in the house,
01:05:24and one of these two teams
01:05:26is going to hoist it.
01:05:28This is going to be an emotional one,
01:05:29and I believe that this might be
01:05:31the most impactful game
01:05:32that these women have ever played.
01:05:34Taylor Heisey and Company
01:05:35in Minnesota have a sour taste
01:05:38in their mouth after Game 4
01:05:40and are going to want to turn things around.
01:05:50Tonight, the story ends, okay?
01:05:53No pencil, no eraser.
01:05:55Can't rip the page out and make a new one.
01:05:58Tonight, you write the end of the story, all right?
01:06:00Here we go.
01:06:01I know this is a big night for you.
01:06:04I just want to wish you all the best of luck,
01:06:05and I hope you all the best of luck.
01:06:10Mark, Kimbrough, Samantha,
01:06:11on behalf of all the players,
01:06:13not just the ones in this room,
01:06:15the ones in that room,
01:06:16the four other teams that aren't here,
01:06:17thank you.
01:06:18You know, we're not living this dream
01:06:20without you guys.
01:06:23I just want to say thank you.
01:06:25You're welcome.
01:06:27Good luck.
01:06:31Starting at left wing,
01:06:34number 26, Kendall Coyne-Skolleroy.
01:06:39Starting at center,
01:06:41number 27, Taylor Heisey.
01:06:46Starting at right wing,
01:06:48number 86, Kaila Kaba.
01:06:52Starting at left wing,
01:06:54number 2, Lee Steckman.
01:06:58Starting at right wing,
01:07:00number 22, Natalie Brookbinder.
01:07:04And starting between the right,
01:07:08number 29, Nicole Hensley.
01:07:21Oh my gosh, it's finally here.
01:07:24I'm really excited to be in the tunnel
01:07:26with my teammates and take the ice with them.
01:07:29We want to win a championship here
01:07:32with a crowd filled with Boston fans.
01:07:51Welcome inside the Songa Center.
01:07:53A sold out crowd gathers to witness history in the making.
01:08:00It is so fitting to have two pillars of the game
01:08:04that have made this moment possible
01:08:05and Hillary Knight with Boston
01:08:07and Kendall Coyne-Skolleroy.
01:08:08Hillary Knight, she is an athlete who has done it all.
01:08:11She has won at every level.
01:08:13And on the other side,
01:08:14it's Kendall Coyne-Skolleroy.
01:08:15When she sets foot on the ice,
01:08:17she leads by example.
01:08:18She has been a foundational builder
01:08:20to have this united vision.
01:08:25There's been these moments in life
01:08:27where I've kind of had to pause
01:08:28and just think about, like, where I'm at,
01:08:32how I've gotten here.
01:08:35And I thought to myself,
01:08:37well, heck, let's finish this.
01:08:39Let's win a championship.
01:08:44We've seen many firsts, goals, wins, record crowds.
01:08:48Now a final, a first to award
01:08:51the Walter Cup champion, Minnesota-Boston.
01:08:54Who lets their name in history?
01:08:59Go get them! Go get them!
01:09:04Some action going on
01:09:06and both wins.
01:09:08And Flaherty are having a goal at it right here.
01:09:11The temperatures, they are aflaring it.
01:09:13Well, what I love about what Boston's doing here
01:09:14in this game five
01:09:15is they're bringing the speed and the physicality.
01:09:17They're throwing him.
01:09:19They're playing hard.
01:09:19They're not letting up.
01:09:21This crowd is loving the effort early
01:09:22from this Boston team.
01:09:27Well, it's certainly been a physical game.
01:09:28We can go back to game four.
01:09:31Shepard is getting squished out on the blue line.
01:09:33It's a sandwich.
01:09:35It's a sandwich in the neutral zone.
01:09:37And the result to Shepard goes down.
01:09:39Janel back up for Shepard.
01:09:41Centering pass, Sidney Broad all alone.
01:09:43Trying to get the shot open.
01:09:43Taking a chance.
01:09:44She'll delay in front.
01:09:45Brangle.
01:09:46And she scores.
01:09:47Tipped in front.
01:09:48And Minnesota opens the scoring.
01:09:52Now Kava.
01:09:53She'll take a look.
01:09:54She wants a crack at it on the backhand.
01:09:56In control.
01:09:57Wrapp around play.
01:09:57Brangle.
01:10:00And she scores.
01:10:03Mikayla Kava.
01:10:04A wrap-around play here in the third period.
01:10:12Okay, we're going.
01:10:13Tap, shift.
01:10:14One more shift.
01:10:15And then we're pulling the goal.
01:10:17And we've got to get two goals here.
01:10:19Keep putting it the right way.
01:10:20They might pull their goal here.
01:10:21Everything we've got here, Green.
01:10:23Everything.
01:10:24Everything.
01:10:24Get them out, Taylor.
01:10:24Get them out, Taylor.
01:10:27Back, Kendall.
01:10:27Back, Kendall.
01:10:29It's 2-0.
01:10:30Boston pulls their goalie for a six-on-five.
01:10:33Obviously, they need to do anything they can to get one on the board with a few minutes left.
01:10:37Minnesota.
01:10:382.24 to go.
01:10:40On the clock.
01:10:43Looking to reach a milestone here in the inaugural season.
01:10:48Team, that was the lowest ring heading into the playoffs.
01:10:51They were able to do the unthinkable.
01:10:53It's a trial for us.
01:10:54Go for it.
01:10:55I do not.
01:10:55The captain.
01:10:57Zayl is the deer.
01:11:01Minnesota.
01:11:023-0 here.
01:11:05Final minute to go in the third period.
01:11:06Hillary Knight.
01:11:07Boone on.
01:11:08Back down.
01:11:08The stakes are so high.
01:11:11I see Boston fighting to the very end.
01:11:27Minnesota has won the first ever Walter Cup.
01:11:37Three.
01:11:44That's so easy.
01:11:46No!
01:11:49No!
01:11:51No!
01:12:06There was something very poetic about having that moment with Hillary Knights there, knowing
01:12:12how hard she worked for this league as well. Meeting after meeting, defeat after defeat,
01:12:18just so many doors, feeling like they've been closed. And then we are finally here together.
01:12:32It's really hard to put into words. To close out a season with a win is the goal.
01:12:38But I think just being able to be in the finals, it's been quite a year for every single team,
01:12:45every single player. You know, it just brings tears to my eyes.
01:12:50There were days when all I wanted to do was get to the rink because I didn't want to let
01:12:54people down because I knew how fucking special this was. It sucks that we don't have that Walter
01:12:59Cup to memorialize this team and this group because everyone is so special in what we
01:13:05brought this year and I can't be more proud of a group.
01:13:09Look, these women across all six teams in the PWHL did nothing but inspire the masses and night
01:13:17in and night out, game in and game out, prove that everyone watches women's sports.
01:13:27All right, hockey fans, entering the ice for the very first time in history, please welcome
01:13:34the Walter Cup.
01:13:44I think in order to make history, you have to understand history. And I recognize that the
01:13:51reason I have this opportunity is because of Billie Jean.
01:13:54I think Alana and I are really thrilled we said yes to Kendall Coyne because it worked out.
01:14:00Ah, yes, it was worth it. And I could not be more proud to present the Walter Cup to PWHL
01:14:11Minnesota
01:14:11captain Kendall Coyne Schofield.
01:14:14Oh, my God!
01:14:15Oh, my God!
01:14:21Oh!
01:14:22Oh, my God.
01:14:52Woo!
01:14:57Kendall, not only did you come back to hockey after giving birth to your son, Drew,
01:15:02but you also just won a PWHL championship.
01:15:05What does that mean to you?
01:15:06It means a lot.
01:15:09It took every single player and every single person you see on the Assice right now to make it happen.
01:15:16There's a lot of people that counted us out, you know, when we had that seven-game slide
01:15:21coming into the playoffs, and we got in, and we never looked back.
01:15:25This is the new pinnacle of women's hockey, and to be on top is the best feeling in the world.
01:15:34It is the reality that one team is going to hoist the trophy,
01:15:37but I can't help but to think of all of the people who have come before me
01:15:42who live the grueling days of women's hockey for us to get to this point.
01:15:47They are a part of this, too.
01:15:49Drew!
01:15:56Take your knee time. Take your knees like you did.
01:15:59Drew!
01:16:01Late night for baby Drew!
01:16:04His mom's a champion as he sits in the Walter Cup.
01:16:08Husband Michael having a good chuckle here tonight.
01:16:14And this is only year one.
01:16:17Makes me excited for the future.
01:16:29Women's sports is really hard, and you can't take anything for granted.
01:16:33And so now that we've got this wonderful fan base, right, you can't let them down.
01:16:36Like, we have to be better next year.
01:16:39For next year, to get the chance to do it again in front of, hopefully, an even bigger fan base,
01:16:45more support, more coverage, and just to allow that game to grow even further.
01:16:54We knew that we would be this successful. It was just a matter of the right people at the right
01:17:00time.
01:17:01It's a matter of time.
01:17:07Billie Jean always says, you need to see it to be it. They can finally see us.
01:17:14It sounds crazy to say, but I feel like we changed the world.
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