Of all the locations where Hilary Knight has participated in competitive hockey during her 17 seasons with the U.S. national team, she has a special fondness for Seattle, which is close to her home in Sun Valley, Idaho. Two years on, the four-time Olympian still fondly reminisces about the exhilarating atmosphere created by a record crowd of 14,551 during the U.S.-Canada Rivalry Series at the NHL Kraken’s arena.
“To be honest, I haven’t experienced another crowd like that,” Knight expressed about her game at Climate Pledge Arena, where she scored twice and assisted in a 4-2 victory. “Seattle holds a special place in my heart, and that’s why I’m incredibly excited to share that experience with teammates, whether on the Fleet or with the Montreal team.”
Knight will return to the Pacific Northwest this Sunday as the Boston team takes on the Montreal Victoire to launch the PWHL’s expanded series of neutral-site games. Known as “The Takeover Tour,” this Seattle event marks the first of nine out-of-market games in cities like Raleigh, North Carolina, St. Louis, and Vancouver, British Columbia.
This touring series aims to fulfill two significant objectives for the six-team league, which is a month into its second season. Besides expanding the sport’s presence across North America, it serves as a testing ground for potential market expansions, as the PWHL contemplates adding up to two new franchises for the next season.
“I believe any opportunity to conduct outreach through out-of-market games is crucial for the game’s development and the growth of our league,” Knight stated, referencing a league whose farthest west team is based in Minnesota.
“Would I like to see teams on the western side? Absolutely. I see it as a prime market for hockey,” she further noted. “There’s really no limit to where this league could go.”
The list of neutral sites also includes Denver, Detroit, Buffalo, New York, as well as Canadian cities Edmonton and Quebec City. Detroit stands out as a strong candidate for expansion, having previously drawn 13,736 fans for one of its two neutral-site games last year, with Pittsburgh hosting the other.
Minnesota goalie Nicole Hensley is eager for her homecoming in Denver on January 12, when the Frost face off against Montreal at the Avalanche’s Ball Arena. “I think the last time I played in Denver was during high school,” she remarked.
“It was a much smaller rink back then, so this will be a change,” she noted, recalling the many Avalanche games she attended. “I’m not going to lie, I’ve been excited about this for a long time.”
The forthcoming tour is also garnering excitement from former players. Cammi Granato, who led the U.S. to gold at the inaugural Winter Games featuring women’s hockey in Nagano in 1998, views the tour as a significant advancement for the sport, particularly with Montreal squaring off against Toronto in her adopted city of Vancouver on January 8.
“It’s something I never thought could happen,” Granato shared in a text. “Growing up, I had the same dream of playing in the NHL as my brothers. As I matured, it was challenging to accept the lack of professional opportunities for women,” added Granato, who now serves as an assistant general manager with the NHL’s Canucks. “It’s incredible to see that dreams are becoming a reality for this generation.”
Montreal rookie Jennifer Gardiner, hailing from suburban Vancouver, has often felt disconnected from women’s hockey due to much of it being concentrated in the eastern region. She is thrilled by the sell-out of the Victoire’s game against Toronto, especially since local youth girls’ hockey associations have postponed games that day to attend.
“This illustrates how vital it is to continue expanding this league and bringing games to various areas in North America since there’s a desire to watch,” said Gardiner, who played at Ohio State. “I can’t stop smiling since I learned about these western games.”
The Kraken had actively campaigned to secure one of the PWHL’s inaugural franchises last year. Seattle’s management includes assistant GM Alexandra Mandrycky, and it became the NHL’s first team to employ a full-time women’s assistant coach, Jessica Campbell.
“We are dedicated to fostering the growth of hockey for both boys and girls in the Pacific Northwest,” said Kraken GM Ron Francis. “It’s inspiring for young women in our area to see female achievements in hockey, both on and off the ice. This is a significant moment for our community and a vital step forward for women’s hockey.”