PWHL Preseason Day 1 Recap

PWHL hockey was in the air earlier today as the PWHL’s mini camps were underway in Toronto and Montréal. 

With the Montréal Victoire, Boston Fleet, and Ottawa Charge at Verdun Auditorium in Montréal, and the Toronto Sceptres, Minnesota Frost, and New York Sirens at the Ford Performance Centre in Toronto, each team will play in two scrimmages ahead of final roster cuts on Wednesday, Nov. 27th.

Boston Fleet vs Montréal Victoire

The first game of the day was between the Boston Fleet and the Montréal Victoire. We didn’t see the new team jerseys on display, but each team was fitted in new jerseys that had each team’s wordmark on them. 

Hilary Knight opened the scoring of the PWHL preseason off of a beautiful assist from Hannah Bilka. After a slow start to her season last year, it’s already evident how important the addition of Bilka will be to Hilary Knight’s 2024-25 campaign. 

With less than 6 minutes remaining in the first period, Maureen Murphy found the back of the net for the Victoire to even things up at 1. 

The Boston Fleet captain wasn’t done scoring as she buried her second of the game on an assist from camp invite, Jillian Dempsey and Susanna Tapani. In just one preseason game, Hilary Knight had scored a third of the amount of goals that she had in the regular season last year. 

Sixth round draft pick, Shay Maloney would score an empty netter for the Fleet, capping off a 3-1 victory in Montréal. 

Toronto Sceptres vs Minnesota Frost

The second game of the day was live from Toronto as the Sceptres went head-to-head with the 2024 Walter Cup Champions, the Minnesota Frost. Lee Stecklein opened the scoring in this one with Liz Schepers and Denisa Křížová picking up the helpers. 

Former Northeastern standout Katy Knoll would add to the Frost’s lead in the second period. Just 14 seconds later Britta Curl would give Minnesota a 3-0 lead. 

In the final two minutes of the second Kaitlin Willoughby would score Toronto’s first of the preseason with assists going to Hannah Miller and Lauren Bernard. The third period was scoreless for both sides as Minnesota held on to earn their first of the preseason. 

Both the Boston Fleet and Minnesota Frost are in action again tomorrow as Boston faces the Ottawa Charge and Minnesota has an afternoon date with the New York Sound.