The PWHPA and the NHL’s New York Rangers announced a partnership today in which the Rangers will host and help market the first game of the 2021 Secret Dream Gap Tour. Chase is also a presenting sponsor of the game.
The New Hampshire and Minnesota hubs, the two squads based in the US, will face off on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at Madison Square Garden. It will be the first time professional women’s hockey is played there.
“This is a major milestone for women’s hockey and young girls who aspire to play professional hockey but don’t have the option to make it a career today,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHPA operations consultant, in the release. “NHL teams are uniquely positioned to elevate women’s hockey to the next level. They bring major brand strength, corporate relationships and access to a fan base. I want to thank the New York Rangers and Bauer Hockey for helping us reach this achievement. We’re even more excited to celebrate this milestone on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.”
This game will kick off the 2021 edition of the Dream Gap Tour, which is being sponsored by Secret after their $1 million corporate commitment. The release said more showcases will be added in the US and Canada.
This is the second event for the PWHPA in 2021. In early January a team of 24 players from the New Hampshire and Minnesota hubs played a series of exhibition games in Florida against USPHL teams.