In what will be remembered as a year full of unexpected - and often unwanted - surprises, 2020 was a year for change and growth in a lot of social aspects.
The Black Lives Matter movement, systemic racism, and police brutality are the first things that come to mind when considering social injustices that were forced into plain sight this year. When the world hummed along at a pace that was fast enough for us to ignore these issues, many turned a blind eye. This year, when the world skidded to a halt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many were forced to look, consider, and empathize like never before. In the midst of all the darkness, an ache for change and an underlying certainty that we could no longer go on the way we had been before sparked a glimmer of hope.
One of the groups that plays a massive role in the Black Lives Matter movement, and have since long before the height of tensions in May and June, are the women of the WNBA. This social buzz paired with the high quality product they delivered in ‘Wubble’ made the women’s game impossible to ignore this year. In fact, 2020 will probably go down as one of the most significant seasons for growth in professional women’s sports in history.
Professional women’s sports have been simmering just below the boiling point of mainstream popularity for much too long, and this year, they proved it’s their time. The WNBA wasn’t alone in its wild success this year, and the NWSL had a staggeringly successful bubble season of its own. If you’ve been limiting yourself to only watching professional men’s sports, now’s the time to hop aboard.
After such an incredible year for exponential growth in all aspects of women’s sports, it’s finally hockey’s turn. The women of the NWHL are ready to wow you with what’s certain to be the action-packed season that hockey fans are dying to sink their teeth into.
It all kicks off on January 23 in Lake Placid, NY, where the league’s six teams will meet at the historic site of the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’, Herb Brooks Arena, and look to create some history of their own. It’s a two week sprint towards Isobel Cup glory, where each team will play one another before a playoff round, which will decide the four successful semifinalists, who will play single games for a chance to punch their ticket to the Isobel Cup Final on Friday, Feb. 5.
If you don’t yet have a horse in this race, it’s definitely time to choose one. To help you with that process if you’re unfamiliar with the league, here’s one player to watch from each NWHL club to get you started on picking a team to cheer for.
Boston Pride - Jillian Dempsey
If we’re the ones to break it to you, then we’re really sorry, but Boston is that team in the NWHL, too. The Pride won the inaugural Isobel Cup in 2016, and they’ve put together a competitive roster every year since. What is it with the Boston teams?! The Pride has boasted names like Brianna Decker and Hilary Knight, and Jillian Dempsey is another one that sits high on the list. After all, how could you not pay attention to the league’s leading scorer? Known for her speed, the Pride captain and Massachusetts native put up 40 points last season in just 24 contests, earning her league co-MVP, and is the first player in NWHL history to reach the 100 career point marker. Not only that, but she’s the current league record holder for games played, goals, assists, and points. Before her pro career, Dempsey also captained Harvard’s hockey team, which we’ve been told is *pretty good*.
Buffalo Beauts - Taylor Accursi
First of all, the Beauts should get some extra points in the favourite team consideration department for just how sweet their name is. Second of all, they probably don’t need a whole lot of extra points with Taylor Accursi buzzin’ around out there. The Ancaster, ON, native played college at Mercyhurst, and is gearing up for her fourth year with the Beauts. After donning an ‘A’ last year when she put up 23 points in 24 games, Accursi has been promoted to ‘C’ status for the upcoming season. Her 16 goals last season were fourth best in the NWHL, and she’s known league-wide for her offensive fire and her equally fiery cellys.
Connecticut Whale - Kayla Friesen
Though they’ve made it to the semifinals four different times, the Whale are the only NWHL team without an Isobel Cup in their trophy case (aside from the new kids on the block, the Toronto Six). Things are on the up and up in Connecticut, though, with new GM Amy Scheer and head coach Colton Orr at the helm, and second overall pick of the 2020 NWHL Draft Kayla Friesen should be a big part of that incline. The ’98-born forward from Winnipeg, MB, spent three years at St. Cloud State, where she wore the ‘C’ for her last season there. She laced up for Clarkson University in her senior year last season, where she put up 30 points in 28 games. This season should be a good ole’ TSN turning point for the Whale, and we’re looking forward to seeing them thrive.
Metropolitan Riveters - Madison Packer
The Riveters definitely boast the most epic logo in the league, and the team’s captain most definitely embodies all the badassery of Rosie the Riveter. She’s one of the longest standing players in the league, and power forward not only has a reputation of being a solid two way player, but also as one of the league’s most physical presences on the ice. Packer won the Isobel Cup with the Riveters back in 2018, and had her most productive career season last year with 34 points in 24 games. The Detroit native has all the qualities of the cornerstone leader that every successful team needs, and she should be a force to be reckoned with this season.
Minnesota Whitecaps - Allie Thunstrom
The Minnesota Whitecaps are the league’s reigning Champions, and a lot of their success last season was thanks to Allie Thunstrom’s heroics. The forward from Maplewood, MN, is last season’s NWHL co-MVP, and she set the league record for most goals in a single campaign last year when she notched 24 of them and 12 assists in just 24 games played. Thunstrom spent her college days in Boston, where she was a point per game player. She also scored the goal that sent the Whitecaps to the Isobel Cup Finals, and the upcoming bubble season will be her third in the NWHL. Based upon her massive season last year and the team that surrounds her, Whitecaps fans can expect a big one from Thunstrom and the squad for the 2021 campaign.
Toronto Six - Emily Fluke
Emily Fluke is the newest of the new kids on the block, but she’s also been around the block once or twice before. It’s the Toronto Six’s inaugural season, and as the lone Canadian team in the league, we imagine they'll will have some seriously die-hard fans by the end of the year. In fact, we think that they already do. Toronto was able to lure a whole bunch of quality players to the Six for their first campaign (including one from Thunder Bay, which is my hometown and therefore an advantage), and their most recent acquisition is especially exciting for the team. Emily Fluke was captain of the Connecticut Whale before spending last season with the Boston Pride, when she notched 27 points in just 23 games played, tying her for fifth in the league in points. This entire roster should be a lot of fun to watch, and if you’re a new coming Canadian NWHL fan, this is probably your squad to follow.
