Maya Smith and Alyssa Turner are back for another hockey episode of The IX Sports Podcast to preview the final week of the PWHL season. There is only one more playoff spot up for grabs, but the league’s Gold Plan has added another set of storylines to follow as eliminated teams battle for draft positioning.
Smith and Turner started their discussion with an update on the standings. As of Thursday, the Montréal Victoire hold a narrow one-point lead at the top. The Boston Fleet are in second and the Minnesota Frost are in third. Three points separate the Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres as they battle for the final spot.
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That leaves three teams, the New York Sirens, Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent, in contention for the Gold Plan or “KK Harvey Bowl.” And, as they point out, there is a lot more on the line for individual players as well.
“It’s gonna be one of those things that gets better and better as they add more teams, and as it becomes a bigger league with more roster spots,” Turner said.
“Because right now… they’re playing for their job. They’re playing for their livelihood, right now for a roster spot next year for, you know, some players are probably playing for like, a reserve spot or a spot over, like a roster spot overseas, or, like whatever that might look like.”
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The hosts also reminisced about the league’s record-setting attendance and growth through this season’s takeover tour, discussing what that might mean for the future of expansion.
“They sold out Madison frickin Square Garden, are you kidding me,” Turner said. “I would have never in all my years of working in women’s hockey… so I think I’m really excited for that season when it’s like, Okay, we got 12 teams. We’re solid.”
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