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2020–21 PWHPA season

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2020–21 PWHPA season
LeagueProfessional Women's Hockey Players Association
SportIce hockey
Duration
  • September 2020 – May 2021
Secret Cup
USA Secret Cup championsTeam Adidas (Minnesota)
Canadian Secret Cup championsTeam Bauer (Montreal)
PWHPA seasons

The 2020–21 PWHPA season was the second season organized by the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA).

Formed after the collapse of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) in 2019, the PWHPA consists of over 150 women's ice hockey players boycotting the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) and working towards the establishment of a new, unified women's professional league. For the 2020–21 season, the PWHPA organized into five different training hubs, each of which fielded a roster that competing in exhibition games across North America and in the Dream Gap Tour tournament.[1]

Business

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On September 2, 2020, the PWHPA released a statement condemning police brutality and racial injustice.[2] The same day, Liz Knox resigned from the PWHPA board in order to cede her seat to Sarah Nurse, one of the few Black players in the organization.[3]

In August 2020, the PWHPA partnered with Elites Optimization Services to help players find individual sponsorships.[4] After sponsoring a showcase the previous season, deodorant brand Secret agreed to a $1 million sponsorship deal with the PWHPA on October 22, 2020, marking the largest corporate commitment in North American women's hockey history.[5][6] The sponsorship deal included prize money for the Dream Gap Tour, which was planned to start in early 2021. The PWHPA also added partnerships with Noble Estates Wines & Spirits, Canadian Tire, and Sportlogiq.[7][8][9]

The PWHPA decided to reduce its number of training hubs from eight to five, maintaining hubs in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, New Hampshire and Minnesota.[6]

On February 23, 2021, the PWHPA announced the February 28 game of the 2021 Dream Gap Tour, played at Madison Square Garden, would be aired live on the NHL Network in the United States and Sportsnet in Canada.[10]

Teams

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Of the five regional hubs, three were in Canada in Montréal, Toronto, and Calgary; and two were in the United States in New Hampshire and Minnesota. PWHPA players competed in try-outs for 25 spots on the official rosters for each hub. In late October, the PWHPA announced the full rosters for each hub as well as coaching staffs.[11] Players who did not make the rosters continued to be members of the PWHPA as independents.

In the 2019–20 season, teams were formed throughout the season and named after players acting as captains for each series. For this season, the regional hubs made sponsorship agreements for team names. The Toronto hub made a sponsorship deal with insurance company Sonnet and was branded as Team Sonnet, with the hub's jerseys featuring turquoise and white.[12] The Calgary hub was branded Team Scotiabank, with red and white jerseys, in a partnership with Scotiabank that includes a mentorship program for young female players.[13] On February 25, 2021, before the tour's first games, the Minnesota and New Hampshire-based teams announced their sponsored names as Team Adidas and Team WSF (Women's Sports Foundation), respectively.[14] The Montréal team was announced as Team Bauer on March 3.[15]

Team Region Head coach
Team Adidas Minnesota Matt Leitner[16]
Team Bauer Montréal  Stephanie Poirier
Danièle Sauvageau
Phillippe Trahan[17]
Team Scotiabank Calgary Dean Seymour[18]
Team Sonnet Toronto Laura McIntosh[19]
Team WSF New Hampshire Bill Flanagan[20]

Exhibition games

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The first exhibition games of the season took place in late September, as PWHPA teams faced off against teams from the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL).[21] One week after tryouts, the New Hampshire team faced the Islanders Hockey Club's National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) team and the Boston Junior Bruins' NCDC team, losing to both 5–0 and 5–1, respectively.[22] The Minnesota PWHPA team faced the USPHL's Premier Division team, the Minnesota Mullets, on September 19 and 20, winning both games by scores of 8–1 and 9–3.[22]

A PWHPA All-Star team of 24 players from the Minnesota and New Hampshire hubs participated in six games at the USPHL's Hub City Tampa from January 7 to 15, 2021.[23][24] The USPHL teams in Hub City Tampa were from the organization's top-level NCDC and second-level Premier Division. The PWHPA team earned a 2–3–1 record[25][26] with wins over the Tampa Bay Juniors' Premier team[27] and the Boston Junior Bruins' NCDC team.[28][29] The PWHPA All-Star team played another five games against USPHL NCDC and Premier teams in Tampa from February 10 to 17, going 1–4 with a win over the Islanders Hockey Club's Premier team.[30][31][32][33][34]

Dream Gap Tour

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The 2021 Dream Gap Tour, named after the gap in between professional men's and women's hockey opportunities, consisted of matches between the five regional hubs with the entire tour sponsored by deodorant brand Secret. In a change from the previous season, the league planned to have the season culminate in the Secret Cup championship. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was ultimately split up, with the two American-based teams, Adidas and WSF, playing games in New York, Chicago, and St. Louis, and the three Canadian-based teams, Bauer, Scotiabank, and Sonnet, playing games in Calgary. Teams were awarded 2 points for a regulation win, 1.5 points for an overtime win, 1 point for a shootout win, 0.5 points for an overtime or shootout loss, and zero points for a regulation loss. In addition, one team point could be earned by a player scoring a hat-trick or a short-handed goal, a goaltender earning a shutout, or a team scoring five or more goals in a match.[35]

The first showcase took place in the New York City metropolitan area at Protec Ponds Training Center in Somerset, New Jersey, on February 27, and at Madison Square Garden on February 28, in partnership with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) and JPMorgan Chase as the presenting sponsor.[36] The Chicago Blackhawks partnered with the PWHPA for a second year, adding Dream Gap Tour stops to the Blackhawks' home arena, the United Center, on March 6 and their practice facility, Fifth Third Arena, on March 7.[37] The third showcase was announced for St. Louis, Missouri, partnering with the St. Louis Blues on April 11 and 12;[38] this showcase was postponed to May 16 and 17 due to outbreaks of COVID-19.[39] The three Canadian teams were scheduled to play a round-robin tournament in Calgary in partnership with the Calgary Flames from May 24 through 30 to determine the Canadian champion.[40] The association also continued its partnership with the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs; a Toronto leg of the Dream Gap Tour never materialized due to pandemic-related public health measures in Ontario.[41][40]

Schedule and results

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Showcase Arena Date Team Score Team Notes
New York City Protec Ponds Training Center[42] February 27 Team WSF 2–5 Team Adidas Team Adidas earned an additional team point for scoring five or more goals.[43]
Madison Square Garden February 28 Team WSF 4–3 Team Adidas No additional team points were earned.[43]
Chicago United Center March 6 Team Adidas 4–1 Team WSF No additional team points were earned.[44]
Fifth Third Arena March 7 Team Adidas 6–2 Team WSF Team Adidas earned an additional team point for scoring five or more goals.[44]
St. Louis Centene Community Ice Center April 11[a]
May 16		 Team Adidas 3–1 Team WSF Team Adidas earned an additional team point for a short-handed goal scored by Dani Cameranesi.[46]
Enterprise Center April 12[a]
May 17		 Team Adidas 4–2 Team WSF No additional team points were earned.[46] Team Adidas was crowned US Secret Cup champions.[47]
Calgary[48] Seven Chiefs Sportsplex[49] May 24 Team Sonnet 2–3 Team Bauer Team Bauer earned an additional team point for a short-handed goal scored by Marie-Philip Poulin.[50]
May 25 Team Bauer 6–1 Team Scotiabank Team Bauer earned an additional team point for scoring five or more goals.[51]
May 26 Team Scotiabank 3–8 Team Sonnet Team Sonnet earned two additional team points for scoring five or more goals and a hat-trick by Brittany Howard.[52][53]
May 27 Team Bauer 3–4 Team Sonnet Team Bauer earned an additional team point for a short-handed goal scored by Laura Stacey.[54][55]
Scotiabank Saddledome[49] May 28 Team Scotiabank 3–4 Team Bauer No additional team points were earned.[56]
May 29 Team Sonnet 2–3 Team Scotiabank No additional team points were earned.[57]
May 30 Team Sonnet 2–4 Team Bauer Canadian championship game.[58] Team Bauer was crowned Canadian Secret Cup champions.[59]
  1. ^ a b Original schedule postponed due to positive cases of COVID-19 before showcase.[45]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Spencer, Donna (May 13, 2020). "Women's pro hockey players to get more ice time under 5-city regional plan". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  2. ^ Tokarski, Anne (September 2, 2020). "PWHPA publishes statement on racial injustice". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  3. ^ Kaplan, Emily (September 2, 2020). "PWHPA adds Nurse to board to fix 'blind spot'". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  4. ^ Jay, Michelle (August 26, 2020). "PWHPA announces partnership with EOS, Parity". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  5. ^ Spencer, Donna (October 22, 2020). "Milestone sponsorship keeps pro women's hockey association's goals in sight". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Kaplan, Emily (October 28, 2020). "Inside the $1 million commitment that will elevate the Professional Women's Hockey Player Association Dream Gap Tour". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  7. ^ "Introducing the Official Prosecco of the PWHPA - Bottega Gold". PWHPA (Press release). November 11, 2020. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  8. ^ "PWHPA announces new partnership with Canadian Tire". Women's Hockey Life. November 21, 2020. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  9. ^ "PWHPA Announces Partnership with Sportlogiq". Women's Hockey Life. December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  10. ^ "PWHPA'S FIRST SECRET® DREAM GAP TOUR GAME AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN TO BE BROADCAST LIVE ON NHL NETWORK AND SPORTSNET". PWHPA. February 23, 2021. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  11. ^ Jay, Michelle (October 22, 2020). "PWHPA releases 2020-21 regional rosters". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  12. ^ "Toronto women's pro hockey gains corporate sponsor". CBC.ca. November 25, 2020. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  13. ^ "SCOTIABANK ANNOUNCES PWHPA SPONSORSHIP". PWHPA. December 10, 2020. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  14. ^ "ADIDAS AND WOMEN'S SPORTS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED AS TEAM SPONSORS FOR THE SECRET® DREAM GAP TOUR PLUS CBC SPORTS ADDED AS STREAMING PARTNER". PWPHA. February 25, 2021. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  15. ^ "Montréal PWHPA hub to be named Team Bauer". SB Nation. March 3, 2021. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  16. ^ "Team Adidas". PWHPA. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  17. ^ "Calgary Flames Showcase 2021". PWHPA. Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  18. ^ "Team Scotiabank". PWHPA. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  19. ^ "Team Sonnet". PWHPA. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  20. ^ "Team Women's Sports Foundation". PWHPA. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  21. ^ Thomas, Alex (June 26, 2020). "Breaking: PWHPA, NCDC to Play Series of Exhibition Games". Women's Hockey Tribune. Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Burgess, Melissa (September 22, 2020). "PWHPA Opens Exhibition Schedule". The Victory Press. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  23. ^ "24 PWHPA players to play in USPHL's "Hub City Tampa"". The Ice garden. December 21, 2020. Archived from the original on December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  24. ^ "PWHPA schedule for Tampa USPHL games released". The Ice Garden. January 4, 2021. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  25. ^ "USPHL 2021 PWHPA Florida All-Star Series schedule - January". USPHL. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  26. ^ @WIH_Tribune (January 15, 2021). "FINAL: Alex Rivet snipes home the OT winner 2:53 into the extra frame and the Thunder take it 3-2. The PWHPA ends the #HubCityTampa trip 2-3-1. Thanks to everyone who has followed along the last two weeks!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ @USPHL (January 7, 2021). "#HubCityTampa: Hear from Haley Scamurra from the @PWHPA All-Stars just after their 5-3 win over the @TampaJuniorsGM, after the PWHPA squad was down 2-0 early on" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ^ @USPHL (January 12, 2021). "#HubCityTampa: The @juniorbruins and @PWHPA All-Stars get underway at 9:10 a.m. this morning live and FREE on @MyHockeyTV!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  29. ^ @WIH_Tribune (January 12, 2021). "No need to Pannek when Kelly is around! Kelly Pannek got the offense started for the @PWHPA 'All-Stars' in #HubCityTampa this morning, scoring her first goal of the trip at 7:34 of the second period to even the game at 1-1! The PWHPA would go on to win it 2-1 over the Junior B's" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  30. ^ "PWHPA ALL-STARS TO PLAY IN HUB-CITY AHEAD OF FIRST DREAM GAP TOUR SHOWCASE". PWHPA. February 5, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  31. ^ "USPHL 2021 PWHPA Florida All-Star Series schedule - February". USPHL. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  32. ^ @WIH_Tribune (February 13, 2021). "FINAL: Jack Umphrey and Nick Amaya (ENG) put this game always as @HitmenPremier hold off a strong @PWHPA push in the final period and win this game 4-1 in #HubCityTampa. The PWHPA returns to game action Monday at 11:00 when they take on the NCDC's @TwinCityThunder" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ @WIH_Tribune (February 15, 2021). "FINAL: Megan Keller (PPG) and Haley Skarupa both score to even the game at 4-4, but Colton Friesen scores at 14:38 to break the tie and Timur Alishlalov hits the empty net as the Thunder win this #HubCityTampa exhibition 6-4 of the @PWHPA All-Stars" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  34. ^ @WIH_Tribune (February 17, 2021). "It wasn't the result the @PWHPA All-Stars were looking for today, but Kelly Pannek (@KPan19) did light the lamp twice in a 5-2 defeat against the Utica Junior Comets. She finished the #HubCityTampa trip with three goals and a team-high seven points!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  35. ^ "Scoring". PWHPA. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  36. ^ "NEW YORK RANGERS PARTNER WITH PWHPA AND BAUER HOCKEY TO ADVANCE WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY". PWHPA. February 3, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  37. ^ "CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS PARTNER WITH PWHPA AND BAUER TO HOST SECRET® DREAM GAP TOUR GAMES AT UNITED CENTER AND FIFTH THIRD ARENA". PWHPA. February 16, 2021. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  38. ^ "ST. LOUIS BLUES PARTNER WITH PWHPA TO HOST 2021 SECRET® DREAM GAP TOUR SHOWCASE PRESENTED LOCALLY BY CENTENE CORPORATION". PWHPA. March 18, 2021. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  39. ^ "PWHPA's Dream Gap Tour in St. Louis rescheduled for May 16 and 17". SB Nation. May 4, 2021. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  40. ^ a b "FLAMES PARTNER WITH PWHPA". Calgary Flames. May 6, 2021. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  41. ^ "PWHPA announces partnership with Maple Leafs". Sportsnet. February 6, 2021. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  42. ^ "2021 PWHPA Secret Dream Gap Tour preview: New York City". SB Nation. February 26, 2021. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  43. ^ a b "2021 Secret Dream Gap Tour recap: New York City". SB Nation. March 1, 2021. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  44. ^ a b "2021 PWHPA Dream Gap Tour recap: Chicago". SB Nation. March 8, 2021. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  45. ^ "PWHPA's St. Louis Dream Gap Tour Showcase postponed due to COVID exposure". SB Nation. April 10, 2021. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  46. ^ a b "2021 PWHPA Dream Gap Tour recap: St. Louis". SB Nation. May 18, 2021. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  47. ^ "Minnesota defeats New Hampshire to claim U.S. Secret Cup in St. Louis". CBC Sports. May 17, 2021. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  48. ^ "PWHPA announces schedule, rosters for Calgary tour stop". SB Nation. May 17, 2021. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  49. ^ a b "PWHPA ANNOUNCES ROSTERS, NEW PARTNERS AND ADDITIONAL EVENT DETAILS FOR CANADIAN LEG OF THE SECRET® DREAM GAP TOUR". PWHPA. May 13, 2021. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  50. ^ "Goal by Goal: Game 1 of the Calgary Secret Dream Gap Tour". SB Nation. May 25, 2021. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  51. ^ @PWHPA (May 25, 2021). "That'll do it for Game 2 in Calgary! Team @BauerHockey tops Team @scotiahockey 6-1" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  52. ^ @PWHPA (May 26, 2021). "Team @SonnetInsurance comes away with 4 points tonight vs. Team @scotiahockey with a win, a hattrick and 5+ goals!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  53. ^ @PWHPA (May 26, 2021). "HATTTYYYYYYYY ALERT! @britthoward3 pots her 3rd of the night with an assist from @veebach21. In case you forgot, that's also an extra point for Team @SonnetInsurance" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  54. ^ @PWHPA (May 27, 2021). "That'll do it for Game 4 in Calgary! Team @SonnetInsurance takes this one 4-3 over Team @BauerHockey. Despite the loss, Team Bauer walks away with 1 point on a SH goal, while Team Sonnet closes the gap in the standings with 2 more points for a win" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  55. ^ @PWHPA (May 27, 2021). "A @LauraStacey7 shorty puts Team @BauerHockey on the board!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  56. ^ @PWHPA (May 28, 2021). "That's all she wrote! Game 5 of the @SecretDeodorant Dream Gap Tour Showcase in Calgary goes to Team @BauerHockey with a 4-3 win vs. Team @scotiahockey!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  57. ^ @PWHPA (May 29, 2021). "Your final score of the #SDGT round robin: Team @SonnetInsurance - 2 Team @scotiahockey - 3 Team @SonnetInsurance will be moving on to face Team @BauerHockey in the Secret Cup tomorrow at 4:30pm ET on @Sportsnet!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  58. ^ "Team Bauer topples Team Sonnet to win the Canadian leg of the Dream Gap Tour". SB Nation. May 30, 2021. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  59. ^ Gilbertson, Wes (May 30, 2021). "Superstar centre Poulin leads Team Bauer to tournament title at PWHPA showcase in Calgary". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
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