The Sceptres’ defenseman Renata Fast recently reflected on her experience at the PWHL draft in June, noting the significant influx of young talent the Toronto team was adding to its roster. However, as she observed evolving dynamics within the league, she realized that the other five teams were enhancing their capabilities as well.
Fast’s remarks came as she evaluated the early impact of the highly regarded rookie class just two weeks into the second season of the PWHL. She acknowledged, “The level of play has noticeably increased. A lot of that can be attributed to the rookies who have come aboard; they’re exceeding expectations and making the league much more competitive.”
As the league resumed competitions on Tuesday following a nine-day international hiatus, New York Sirens’ rookie and top draft selection Sarah Fillier made headlines by leading the league in points with six, comprising two goals and four assists. Meanwhile, Dominique Petrie, a rookie with the Minnesota Frost, has netted three goals, tying her for the league lead in that category.
While the number of games played remains small, with three games completed for each team, the expectations for this rookie class have been substantial. Many of these players come with extensive international experience, and there has been a noticeable increase in European players transitioning from the Swedish women’s professional leagues.
A total of 29 out of the 42 drafted players have secured spots on their teams’ 23-player rosters, indicating a significant 21% turnover from the league’s inaugural season. This turnover emphasizes the strength of the rookie class, especially as the first ten picks had experience on national teams. Furthermore, the PWHL is already contemplating an expansion, potentially adding up to two teams next year to reflect the increasing talent available globally.
Given the prospect of expansion, Sceptres’ coach Troy Ryan believes this year will be among the most competitive for the PWHL, especially considering the spread of talent across the six teams. Ryan remarked, “While last year’s league was commendable, it’s clear that the recent draft has markedly enhanced the skill level and overall depth of talent on the ice.”
Ken Klee, coach of the reigning champs, the Frost, highlighted a strategic shift where Minnesota upgraded its roster by trading away its bottom forwards and defenseman to recruit top players like Petrie and Britta Curl-Salemme. He also pointed out that these rookies are joining teams with pre-established team cultures, which further facilitates their integration compared to last season’s uncertainties, where players had to adapt to various new facets of the league.
“Last year, there were countless unknowns faced by every player, whether they were veterans or rookies,” Klee added. “This season, teams already have built chemistry, making it easier for newcomers to understand their role.”
Petrie, a fifth-round draft pick, spoke highly of the support from her teammates and coaches in her transition to the league. She has had a resilient journey through her career, having spent three years at Harvard before experiencing a year-long recovery due to injuries, and she finished her college career at Clarkson.
Fillier’s smooth transition is no surprise, given her celebrated five-season tenure at Princeton and her gold-medal achievement with Canada at the 2022 Olympics. She benefits from playing alongside the U.S. national team veteran, Alex Carpenter, who was a standout last season.
Hilary Knight of the Boston Fleet remarked, “Both Fillier and Carpenter are phenomenal, and their collaboration is promising for their performance, but poses a challenge for the rest of us.” Fillier herself expected significant contributions from her rookie class. “Our draft class is exceptionally strong; teams are selecting top-tier players even in the later rounds, and they’re making immediate impacts,” she stated.
With heightened talent levels, Klee envisions an increase in scoring this season, particularly as teams averaged 2.4 goals per game last year. Boston’s goalie Aerin Frankel noted that the competition has intensified, but she has managed exceptionally well, currently ranking third with a 2.02 goals-against average and second with a .937 save percentage. “There’s no room for complacency. Every team has a potent scoring capability,” Frankel highlighted. “For me, it’s an enjoyable challenge facing the young players with such remarkable skills.”