The Truth About The CWHL and The Boston Blades.
Toronto Furies v. Boston Blades
The word passion is described in the dictionary as a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something. This weekend I not only got to experience pure joy and passion in what I do but also witnessed others enjoying the same. On Saturday night I purchased a ticket to cover the Canadian Women’s Hockey League matchup between the visiting Toronto Furies and the hometown Boston Blades. Being from Boston I grew up loving hockey, and in a small town just outside of the city I learned how to play street hockey, fell in love with players like Ray Bourque and Martin Brodeur, and my best friends dad even got me a hockey jersey (My first ever) that I would sport around the neighborhood. My love for the game came early and grew, although the Bruins were the only team I would root for, the game of hockey was definitely something I enjoyed. I can go on about hockey being a constant theme throughout my life but what really got me thinking about my past, present and future were the games this weekend.
My name is Luis Sanchez, I am the founder of MyWSports.com, a women’s sports website were we look to promote and grow the media coverage given to women’s athletics and the athletes who play. Since officially launching in 2013 we have covered the WNBA, CWHL, NWSL, and much more of the other professional leagues in existence. When I first started there was only one hockey league to follow and that was the CWHL, a five-team league with four based out of Canada and one based out of the United States. I have always admired the league for providing a place for women hockey players to have a place to play. As a fan I was disappointed in how the league handled the Blades this year, but you also cant help but think maybe this was all they could do in order to not fold the team this season. This year, the newly formed NWHL, a four-team league in the Northeast, has taken the hockey community by storm. The NWHL pays its players, which is the biggest difference between the two leagues, but both provide a home for women to continue pursing a passion. Recently there have been a lot of opinions, speculation and criticism on the CWHL, NWHL and how things were handled by both leagues during the offseason. Well before I could actually feel confident writing this piece, I wanted to experience a game day in person. So this weekend I did, and here are a few things I took away from the weekend!
Tara Watchorn - Boston Blades
As I made my way to the New England Sports Center in Marlboro, Mass, with Rocco (A teddy bear) that I was ready to chuck for #TeddyBearToss night, my excitement grew. I thought back to last year, when I started to cover the Boston Blades in their run to a second Clarkson Cup Championship. It was a really fun team to watch, and former head coach Digit Murphy did a great job with a very talented group of players to finish atop the CWHL yet again. Any fan of the CWHL and the Blades can tell you this years team is not last years, nor is it close to being anything like a championship contender. The Blades are almost last in every statistical category and have only two points in 16 games this season, a shootout win over Toronto earlier in the year. The NESC is a great complex but the Blades were on a rink with a single bench atop the ice, and standing room below on ice level. On Saturday night, a bunch of high schools were playing in the center but out of all the games going on it seemed the Blades had the least amount of fans. Professional women’s hockey in an area that loves hockey should be able to draw more fans in and maybe it was the rink but this was a shock to me.
The 1st period began after a short delay: the Zamboni driver was a bit late. The Blades struggled in the frame managing only seven shots on net and giving up two goals on 15 shots by the Furies. Genevieve Lacasse has been the go to goaltender for Boston and she played well but the Furies took advantage of the lack of depth from the Blades, especially defensively. Head Coach Brian McCloskey, is in charge of the entire team and does not have assistants on the bench. On the opposite end, the Furies had a few coaches joining their head coach on the bench and providing feedback throughout the changes. Natalie Spooner and Kelly Terry had a great first, putting shots on net and both converted on scoring chances. Toronto handled puck possession for almost 16 minutes in the period, generating chances inside the attacking zone, dumping the puck to create opportunities in the slot, and even taking shots from the point. The Furies were executing plays and the offense definitely looked like a cohesive unit not only in the 1st but throughout the game as well.
Although the Blades struggled in the 1st they came out a different team in the 2nd period, and down 2-0 they needed to amass more shots on net to turn this game around. The Blades did just that, Tara Watchorn controlled possession at the point and tried to create chances for her teammates, as well as defensively she could be heard yelling to her line where to be. The crowd started to get into it and for most of the second it was back and forth action. I was seated next to Blades forward/defense Elizabeth Tremblay’s family and you could see and hear their excitement but also the frustration. The Blades would outshoot the Furies 13-7 in the 2nd but would end the period trailing 3-0, and yes we still had our bears!!
Coming into the 3rd period shots were almost tied, the Furies led the Blades 22-20 but the scoreboard had three goals for the Toronto and a goose egg for the Boston. Alyssa Baldin would get a one timer and make the score 4-0 just six minutes into the frame. On the play, the Furies would pepper shots on net and the defense struggled to clear it. Watchorn had a great chance to step in front of the shot by Baldin but fatigue set in and looked like she could barely move. Turned out she has been battling flu like symptoms and still managed to play the entire game, and Sunday too. Blades fans, including myself grew restless we wanted a goal, we wanted a competitive game, but what happened next was for me one of the greatest things I’ve seen. With under a minute left in the last period Boston still trailing 4-0. Megan Shea would break through and sneak one past Christina Kessler. Just 54.8 seconds left and the bears came flying, the smiles and cheers were the loudest all game and to my surprise who goes sliding into the teddy bears on the ice… Megan Shea! Talk about best celly.
Now the debate ranges on why the Boston Blades have struggled this season from losing players to the NWHL, cleaning house with the coaching staff and hiring a one-man coach for this year’s team. I know I am suppose to be unbiased in my industry but who doesn’t love twitter wars between the Blades and Furies, and my ever lasting love for Boston Sports will always make me a fan of anything Boston. However, this night I was just a fan of hockey, Teddy Bears going to charity, women taking pride in what they do just because they have a passion for it, I was reminded that what I’m doing is important. Yes the Blades are not the best team to watch but they put forth their best skate with what has been given to them. I got to witness a CWHL game and I got to see two teams full of women who play for passion, who play because of their love of the game, they arent paid... fans who come out and support the game, and family members that scream and yell for a goal no matter the deficit. What I’ve learned is that things take time, from the MLB to MLS these organizations weren’t built successfully until years of figuring things out. The Blades are in a down year, but if you are a fan of women’s hockey you cant help but think the future is bright. Collegiate talent has definitely grown over the years and this year’s class of players could be huge for the growth of the game.
Personally I hope the CWHL and NWHL can come to their senses and create a founding 8 or 10 in the next year. With four teams in Canada and Four teams in the USA it makes the most sense to grow the game together. I say 10 as well because Minnesota, Chicago, Wisconsin are all untapped hockey markets that really love and support women’s hockey. It would be a shame to see either league fail because the of the other, and I know how much passion is out there from the players to the fans and even from the people who cover the sport. At the end of the day we are all trying to grow the game, we are fighting for the same cause a successful and sustainable women’s hockey league. The real conversations are going to happen later when the year is over and both leagues will have to sit back and re-evaluate what makes the most sense. Both leagues have the capabilities to put women's hockey on the map, not only during the Olympics but during thier own season. NHL supports the NWHL, Canadian NHL teams support the CWHL...I am an optimist so we will see! Go CWHL Go NWHL Go Women’s Hockey! I am just a fan trying to make a difference!
