In a remarkable event for women’s hockey, the Minnesota Frost and New York Sirens battled it out in front of a record-setting 14,288 spectators on Sunday night, marking a historic moment for professional women’s hockey in the United States. The game, held at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, is part of the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Takeover Tour, eyeing potential expansion locations.
Kendall Coyne Schofield, a forward for the Frost, expressed the significance of this milestone, particularly acknowledging Detroit’s contribution: “It’s another extremely, big win for the sport globally,” she said following the Sirens’ 4-1 victory. This game surpassed a previous U.S. record set two months earlier in Denver, where 14,018 fans gathered for a game between the Frost and Montreal Victoire.
Globally, the women’s hockey attendance record stands at 21,105, set nearly a year ago during a game between Montreal and Toronto in the NHL Canadiens arena. Within the U.S, the most significant national turnout for a women’s hockey game was in 2017, when 15,359 attendees watched St. Cloud State’s face-off against Wisconsin. Meanwhile, 14,551 fans attended a game in Seattle in 2022, marking a notable clash between the U.S. women’s national team and Canada.
This recent game was not just about competition; it was a celebration of the growing support for women’s hockey. During the first period, the PWHL proudly announced that over 1 million fans have attended games since the league’s inception last season. In honor of this milestone, players distributed commemorative pucks to the enthusiastic audience.
The league, now comprising six teams, has seen a notable rise in popularity, averaging over 7,000 fans per game this season, up from 5,500 the previous season. The Takeover Tour is scheduled to conclude in St. Louis on March 29, showcasing a matchup between the Ottawa Charge and the Boston Fleet, as the regular season edges towards its culmination.
