New Hampshire hub to play first PWHPA games

The first PWHPA games of the 2020-21 season are set.

The organization tweeted that New Hampshire hub will play two different USPHL teams. On Friday at 6:20 p.m eastern, they’ll play the Islanders Hockey Club who are based out of North Andover, Mass. On Saturday at 2:40 p.m. eastern, they’ll play the Boston Junior Bruins who are based out of Marlborough, Mass.

The games will be streamed for free on Hockey TV.

The PWHPA confirmed to The Ice Garden that rosters for the weekend’s games will be available on Thursday.

The USPHL is a men’s junior hockey league with a range of levels. The New Hampshire PWHPA hub will be playing against teams in the NCDC tier, which the USPHL describes as “a unique, tuition-free, Junior hockey division geared toward Division I collegiate development placement and beyond.”

The PWHPA underwent a major change after its first season. Based on feedback from players, the organization consolidated its training hubs from eight to five - New Hampshire, Minnesota, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreál. The organization also has plans to expand its regional game schedule.

Any players can register for their intention to play in the PWHPA, but each hub will hold tryouts for their 25-players roster for showcases. In May, The Athletic reported that regions can have more than 25 players, and the extra players can practice or play in the regional games.

Each region will “aim to provide players with improved access to resources such as full-time dressing rooms, access to strength and conditioning facilities, support staff and coaches,” according to their May press release.

Related

PWHPA Player Roundup: September 12
2020-21 PWHPA Tracker

Update on Sept. 17 at 10:45 a.m.: The PWHPA tweeted the rosters for the two games.

Goalies: Katie Burt, Brittany Ott and Kimberly Sass
Defense: Kali Flanagan, Megan Keller, Codie Cross, Lillian Ribeirinha-Braga, Jacquie Greco and Breanna Scarpaci
Forwards: Haley Skarupa, Hayley Scamurra, Makenna Newkirk, Delaney Belinskas, Lacey Eden, Alex Carpenter, Chelsey Goldberg, Alexa Gruschow, Cassidy Vinkle, Meghan Turner, Courtney Turner, Dana Trivigno, Emily Field and Amanda Kessel

Kessel will only play on Saturday, they noted.

Most interesting on this roster is Alex Carpenter. The American forward spent the last few seasons playing in China for the KRS Red Stars in the CWHL and now the ZhHL. She recently re-signed for the upcoming season, which is set to begin on Sept. 19. Quite obviously, she is not in Russia, where KRS was going to start their season due to the pandemic. A different ZhHL team recently lost their sponsor, leaving their season in the lurch. The Russian league’s schedule was announced previously, but in recent days was removed from the website.

Most of these players were announced as PWHPA members previous. New to the fold is Codie Cross, a Boston College alum and a 2020 NWHL Draft pick, and Lillian Ribeirinha-Braga, who finished her NCAA career at Boston University in 2016.

Official roster releases for the season are still to come.