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2023–24 PWHL Toronto season

Professional Women's Hockey League season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2023–24 PWHL Toronto season was the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They played the majority of their home games at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, hosting one game at Scotiabank Arena and their playoff games at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

2023–24 record13–4–0–7 (1st)
Home record8–1–0–3
Road record5–3–0–4
Goals for69
Quick facts PWHL Toronto, Home record ...
2023–24 PWHL Toronto
2023–24 record13–4–0–7 (1st)
Home record8–1–0–3
Road record5–3–0–4
Goals for69
Goals against50
Team information
General managerGina Kingsbury[1]
CoachTroy Ryan[1]
Assistant coachRachel Flanagan[1]
CaptainBlayre Turnbull
Alternate captainsRenata Fast
Jocelyne Larocque
ArenaMattamy Athletic Centre
Scotiabank Arena
Coca-Cola Coliseum
Average attendance3,912
Team leaders
GoalsNatalie Spooner (20)[2]
AssistsEmma Maltais (15)[2]
PointsNatalie Spooner (27)[2]
Penalty minutesJesse Compher (23)[2]
Plus/minusNatalie Spooner (+11)[2]
WinsKristen Campbell (16)[3]
Goals against averageErica Howe (1.89)
← None
2024–25 →
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Toronto topped the regular season standings, becoming the first team to clinch a playoff spot on April 22, 2024.[4] On May 1, the team clinched first overall.[5] Natalie Spooner led the team and the league in goals, with 20, and points, with 27.[6] By virtue of finishing first, Toronto had the option to select its semifinal opponent, and Toronto chose PWHL Minnesota.[7] Toronto was upset by eventual Walter Cup champion Minnesota, losing three straight after winning the first two.[8] After the season, Spooner was named the winner of the league's inaugural Billie Jean King MVP Award as most valuable player; she was also named the league's top forward, while Kristen Campbell was named the top goaltender and Troy Ryan the coach of the year.[9]

Offseason

On September 1, 2023, PWHL Toronto hired Gina Kingsbury as its first general manager.[10][11] Troy Ryan was named as Toronto's first head coach on September 15, and Rachel Flanagan was hired as assistant coach on October 6.[12][13] On November 28, it was revealed that Toronto would play their home games at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.[14]

On September 6, Toronto announced the signings of their first three players, Canadian national team members Sarah Nurse, Renata Fast, and Blayre Turnbull.[15] On December 29, Turnbull was named captain, with Fast and second overall draft pick Jocelyne Larocque named assistant captains.[16]

Standings

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team
 Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Toronto (Y) 24 13 4 0 7 69 50 +19 47 Playoffs
2 Montreal (X) 24 10 3 5 6 60 57 +3 41
3 Boston (X) 24 8 4 3 9 50 57 −7 35[a]
4 Minnesota (X) 24 8 4 3 9 54 54 0 35[a]
5 Ottawa (E) 24 8 1 6 9 62 63 −1 32
6 New York (E) 24 5 4 3 12 53 67 −14 26
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Updated to match(es) played on May 5, 2024. Source: PWHL
(E) Eliminated; (X) Clinched playoff berth; (Y) Clinched first place
Notes:
  1. [a]
    Greater number of games won, excluding games won by Shootout: Boston 11 wins, Minnesota 10 wins

Schedule and results

Regular season

Toronto hosted the first ever PWHL game at a sold-out Mattamy Athletic Centre on January 1, 2024. PWHL New York won the game by a score of 4–0.[17] Toronto won its first game in a re-match against New York on January 5, winning by a score of 3–2.[18]

On January 25, it was announced that Toronto would host its February 16 match against PWHL Montreal at Scotiabank Arena, in a game dubbed by the league as "The Battle on Bay Street".[19] The game set a league and women’s hockey attendance record with a sellout crowd of 19,285, beating the previous record of 18,013 set at the 2013 IIHF Women's World Championship.[20]

Despite losing four of its first five games and sitting last overall two weeks into the season, Toronto became the first team to clinch a playoff spot on April 22 after an 11-game win streak.[4] The team went on to clinch first overall in the league standings.[5]

Regular season schedule

The regular season schedule was published on November 30, 2023.[21]

More information Regular season schedule (Home: 8–1–0–3; Road: 5–3–0–4), Game ...
Regular season schedule (Home: 8–1–0–3; Road: 5–3–0–4)
January: 2–1–0–5, 8 points (Home: 1–0–0–3; Road: 1–1–0–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
1January 1PWHL New York0–4Campbell Mattamy Athletic Centre2,5370–0–0–10[Recap 1]
2January 5@ PWHL New York3–2CampbellTotal Mortgage Arena2,1521–0–0–13[Recap 2]
3January 10@ PWHL Minnesota1–3CampbellXcel Energy Center4,7071–0–0–23[Recap 3]
4January 13PWHL Ottawa1–5CampbellMattamy Athletic Centre2,4171–0–0–33[Recap 4]
5January 17PWHL Boston2–3CampbellMattamy Athletic Centre2,4911–0–0–43[Recap 5]
6January 20@ PWHL Montreal4–3SOCampbellVerdun Auditorium3,2321–1–0–45[Recap 6]
7January 23@ PWHL Ottawa1–3HoweTD Place Arena6,3161–1–0–55[Recap 7]
8January 26PWHL New York2–0CampbellMattamy Athletic Centre2,5062–1–0–58[Recap 8]
February: 3–2–0–0, 13 points (Home: 2–1–0–0; Road: 1–1–0–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
9February 3PWHL Minnesota4–1CampbellMattamy Athletic Centre2,4703–1–0–511[Recap 9]
10February 14@ PWHL Boston5–3CampbellTsongas Center1,7914–1–0–514[Recap 10]
11February 16PWHL Montreal3–0CampbellScotiabank Arena19,2855–1–0–517[Recap 11]
12February 23PWHL New York2–1SOCampbellMattamy Athletic Centre2,4945–2–0–519[Recap 12]
13February 27@ PWHL Minnesota4–3OTCampbell3M Arena at Mariucci2,7185–3–0–521[Recap 13]
March: 5–0–0–1, 15 points (Home: 3–0–0–0; Road: 2–0–0–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
14March 2@ PWHL Ottawa5–2CampbellTD Place Arena8,4476–3–0–524[Recap 14]
15March 6PWHL Boston3–1CampbellMattamy Athletic Centre2,4797–3–0–527[Recap 15]
16March 8PWHL Montreal3–0CampbellMattamy Athletic Centre2,5548–3–0–530[Recap 16]
17March 17@ PWHL Montreal2–1CampbellPPG Paints Arena8,8509–3–0–533[Recap 17]
18March 20PWHL Boston2–1HoweMattamy Athletic Centre2,52510–3–0–536[Recap 18]
19March 23@ PWHL Ottawa3–5CampbellTD Place Arena8,44810–3–0–636[Recap 19]
April: 1–1–0–1, 5 points (Home: 0–0–0–0; Road: 1–1–0–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
20April 18@ PWHL Boston1–2CampbellTsongas Center4,08410–3–0–736[Recap 20]
21April 20@ PWHL Montreal3–2OTCampbellBell Centre21,10510–4–0–738[Recap 21]
22April 28@ PWHL New York6–2CampbellUBS Arena1,66811–4–0–741[Recap 22]
May: 2–0–0–0, 6 points (Home: 2–0–0–0; Road: 0–0–0–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
23May 1PWHL Minnesota4–1CampbellMattamy Athletic Centre2,57112–4–0–744[Recap 23]
24May 5PWHL Ottawa5–2CampbellMattamy Athletic Centre2,62013–4–0–747[Recap 24]

  Regulation Win (3 points)   Overtime/Shootout win (2 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)   Regulation Loss (0 points)

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Playoffs

Main article: 2023–24 PWHL season § Playoffs

On May 6, 2024, Toronto elected to play PWHL Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs.[7] Toronto announced that it would play its post-season home games at Coca-Cola Coliseum, which offers more seating than Mattamy Athletic Centre.[22]

Toronto won the first two games of the series, both at home, without allowing a single goal against.[23] However, leading scorer Natalie Spooner was injured in Game 3, and she would not return for the rest of the series.[24] Toronto failed to score a goal in back-to-back losses in Minnesota, including a double-overtime defeat in Game 4.[25] Minnesota completed its comeback and upset in Game 5, securing a 4–1 victory and eliminating Toronto from the playoffs.[8]

More information 2024 PWHL Playoffs, Game ...
2024 PWHL Playoffs
First round vs. PWHL Minnesota: Minnesota won 3–2
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 8Minnesota4–0CampbellCoca-Cola Coliseum8,4731–0[Recap 25]
2May 10Minnesota2–0CampbellCoca-Cola Coliseum8,5812–0[Recap 26]
3May 13@ Minnesota0–2CampbellXcel Energy Center3,3442–1[Recap 27]
4May 15@ Minnesota0–12OTCampbellXcel Energy Center2,7662–2[Recap 28]
5May 17Minnesota1–4CampbellCoca-Cola Coliseum8,5012–3[Recap 29]
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Player statistics

= Indicates team leader
= Indicates league leader
As of May 17, 2024[2]

Skaters

More information Player, GP ...
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  • Tied with Alex Carpenter (NY)

Goaltenders

More information Player, GP ...
Regular season[3]
PlayerGPTOIWLOTGAGAASASV%SOGAPIM
Kristen Campbell221293:571660431.995870.9273010
Erica Howe3158:2411051.89630.9210000
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More information Player, GP ...
Playoffs[3]
PlayerGPTOIWLOTGAGAASASV%SOGAPIM
Kristen Campbell5321:0322150.931310.9622000
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Awards and honours

Milestones

More information Date, Player ...
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League awards

More information Award, Recipient ...
Award winners
Award Recipient
Billie Jean King MVP Award

Most valuable player, regular season

 Natalie Spooner
Forward of the Year Natalie Spooner
Goaltender of the Year Kristen Campbell
Coach of the Year Troy Ryan
Points Leader

Regular season

 Natalie Spooner – 27
Goals Leader

Regular season

 Natalie Spooner – 20
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Transactions

Signings

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerPositionTermPrevious TeamRef
September 6, 2023Sarah NurseF3 yearsTeam Adidas[26][27]
September 6, 2023Renata FastD3 yearsTeam Adidas[26][27]
September 6, 2023Blayre TurnbullF3 yearsTeam Scotiabank[26][27]
October 31, 2023Maggie ConnorsF2 yearsPrinceton Tigers[26][27]
November 2, 2023Rebecca LeslieF1 yearTeam Sonnet[26][27]
November 3, 2023Emma MaltaisF3 yearsOhio State Buckeyes[26][27]
November 7, 2023Jesse CompherF2 yearsWisconsin Badgers[26][27]
November 8, 2023Jocelyne LarocqueD3 yearsTeam Adidas[26][27]
November 8, 2023Kristen CampbellG3 yearsTeam Scotiabank[26][27]
November 9, 2023Brittany HowardF1 yearToronto Six[26][27]
November 9, 2023Allie MunroeD1 yearConnecticut Whale[26][27]
November 10, 2023Kali FlanaganD2 yearsBoston Pride[26][27]
November 10, 2023Erica HoweG1 yearTeam Sonnet[26][27]
November 14, 2023Natalie SpoonerF2 yearsTeam Scotiabank[26][27]
November 15, 2023Hannah MillerF1 yearShenzhen KRS[26][27]
November 29, 2023Alexa VaskoF1 yearTeam Sonnet[26]
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Draft picks

See also: List of PWHL Toronto draft picks

Below are the PWHL Toronto's selections at the 2023 PWHL draft held on September 18, 2023.[28]

More information Round, Pick ...
Round Pick Player Nationality Position Previous team
1 2 Jocelyne Larocque  Canada Defence Team Adidas (PWHPA)
2 11 Emma Maltais  Canada Forward Ohio State Buckeyes (WCHA)
3 14 Kristen Campbell  Canada Goaltender Team Scotiabank (PWHPA)
4 23 Natalie Spooner  Canada Forward Team Scotiabank (PWHPA)
5 26 Jesse Compher  United States Forward Wisconsin Badgers (WCHA)
6 35 Kali Flanagan  United States Defence Boston Pride (PHF)
7 38 Victoria Bach  Canada Forward Team Scotiabank (PWHPA)
8 47 Brittany Howard  Canada Forward Toronto Six (PHF)
9 50 Allie Munroe  Canada Defence Connecticut Whale (PHF)
10 59 Mellissa Channell  Canada Defence Team Harvey's (PWHPA)
11 62 Maggie Connors  Canada Forward Princeton Tigers (ECAC)
12 71 Rebecca Leslie  Canada Forward Team Sonnet (PWHPA)
13 74 Hannah Miller  Canada Forward Shenzhen Kunlun Red Star (ZhHL)
14 83 Alexa Vasko  Canada Forward Team Sonnet (PWHPA)
15 86 Olivia Knowles  Canada Defence Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF)
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References

External links

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