Four PWHPA players to play in ECHL All-Star Classic

The PWHPA announced today that four of its players — all of whom are members of the United States women’s national team — will participate in the ECHL All-Star Classic on Jan. 22 in Wichita, Kansas. The ECHL is largely a developmental league, a tier below the AHL which is a tier below the NHL. Wichita is home to the Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers.

🚨We’re joining forces with the @ECHL to promote and grow the game of hockey!🚨

Four @PWHPA players will take part in the Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic on January 22!

Click here for more information: https://t.co/6Haq0CiRES pic.twitter.com/AWKcc9cxnV

— PWHPA (@PWHPA) December 13, 2019

Dani Cameranesi, Gigi Marvin, Kali Flanagan, and Annie Pankowski will be playing against each other on one of the four teams competing in the event. The All-Star Classic is a 3-on-3 tournament, with two teams consisting primarily of players from the host Wichita Thunder. Between each round of the tournament, a Skills Competition will be held that will go towards the cumulative score to determine a winner. All four members of the PWHPA will also be competing in the skills tournament.

“We are excited to join forces with the ECHL to promote and grow the game of hockey,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHPA Operations Consultant and Hockey Hall of Famer. “We truly appreciate the support of the ECHL. By having the women of the PWHPA compete in the ECHL All-Star Classic, the league is supporting the future of women’s professional hockey.”

This marks the second consecutive season where women have participated in a professional men’s league’s All-Star event. Last year, Kendall Coyne Schofield stole the show at the NHL All-Star Skills competition with her blazing speed.

The classic will air live, exclusively on the NHL Network on Jan. 22, 2020.