Sports

PWHL sets attendance record in Denver

Featured Image: PWHL

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has broken the record for attendance at a professional women’s ice hockey game in the United States.

Sunday (January 12) night’s crowd of 14,018 fans at Denver’s Ball Arena to watch the Minnesota Frost take on Montreal Victoire set the record.

The previous benchmark was set last season in a match between Ottawa Charge and Boston Fleet in front of 13,736 spectators at the Little Caesers Arena in Detroit.

Minnesota prevailed 4-2 in regulation time against the Canadian outfit to regain top spot in the league standings.

“When I was a kid I watched the NHL, but for those girls now to be able to watch the PWHL is really cool to create and have those role models that we didn’t have as a kid,” said Minnesota Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney.

“It’s super special and it’s great visibility for them to be in the stands.”

The PWHL launched in January 2024 and currently has teams in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, Minnesota, and New York.

The record-breaking fixture was held in Denver as part of the league’s nine-game “Takeover Tour” across North America.

The first leg of the tour, which also went to Seattle and Vancouver, drew a total of 45,664 fans in three games.

Chants of “We want a team!” were heard in the crowds suggesting that the league has much more potential to grow.

“The product we put out on the ice is what fans love to see,” said Victoire defender Cayla Barnes.

“We put a lot of work day in and day out. There are a lot of people behind the scenes that have done a lot of work to get to where we are. We also wouldn’t be where we are without the fans.

“It’s incredible to see that in every building that we’ve gone to, we’re seeing signs and hearing chants that they want a team all over the country, and I think that’s truly amazing. Hopefully, one day we’ll get to having teams all across the country.”