Team USA’s Taylor Heise, right, the No. 1 pick in PWHL’s inaugural draft, celebrates with teammate Hilary Knight after her goal in the Rivalry Series at Mullett Arena in Tempe on Nov. 8. (Photo by Mia Jones/Cronkite News)
Team USA The U. S. celebrates a 3-1 loss to Team Canada in Game 1 of the Rivalry Series at Mullett Arena in Tempe on Nov. 8 (Photo by Reece Andrews/Cronkite News).
TEMPE – Some of the world’s most productive players didn’t hear much more than loud chants of “USA. ” from enthusiasts in a nearly packed Mullett Arena last Wednesday, Team USA’s 3-1 victory over Team Canada. However, the victory was not the most important element of the match.
The national festival, and the Rivalry Series game between the two countries, is another step toward the progression of women’s hockey in Arizona ahead of the upcoming opening of the Women’s Professional Hockey League (PWHL) camps.
Globally, women’s hockey has seen a boom in recent years, especially in Arizona. In Mullentt’s short lifestyle since opening in October 2022, the stadium has hosted 4 women’s hockey events. In March, the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) held its championship between Minnesota and Minnesota. The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Arizona State women’s hockey team played Grand Canyon University in Mullet’s debut, and then played once again for senior night against Michigan State University last February.
ASU’s women’s hockey team won its convention championship last season and qualified for the national championship for the first time in club history. The Arizona U19 Kachinas (the official Tier 1 women’s hockey association of the Arizona Coyotes) competed in their league’s national tournament in 2022.
Preparation for the women’s ice festival culminated with all groups and athletes attending the Arizona Rivalry Series coming forward and showing their support, and for many players the game marked another turning point for women’s hockey in the valley.
Even Canadian forward Sarah Nurse, who, from a game standpoint, is excited to play in the state and hopes the desert is about to box with professional women’s hockey.
“This facility (Mullet Arena) is phenomenal. It’s great. Very well done,” the nurse said. I think it’s wonderful for the university. Hopefully they can have some women’s (professional) hockey here in the next few years. But I think it’s a wonderful facility. I’m very happy to be here.
Toward the end of the game, when it was clear that the U. S. was going to win, the crowd chanted “America, America, America. “Up front, Hilary Knight enjoyed the onslaught of bands and hopes they can play the Grand Canyon State again.
“I don’t even need to call it a non-traditional market, do I? But at most I’ll call it a non-traditional market,” Knight said after the game. “When we stop in other cities, it’s wonderful for us to be able to expand the game, tie up the skates and build our country. Just to have an effect on enthusiasts big and small.
“It’s a huge responsibility, but is it fun to be able to do it through sport? I’m encouraged by tonight’s turnout, so I hope we can return someday.
Arizona State senior Berkleigh Radcliffe, a defensive back who has played on the ASU women’s hockey team for more than 4 years, on the team when the Sun Devils were still looking to win the convention playoffs in 2021. Now your team is qualified. Number 7 nationally and a power plant in the West. She understands how vital the Rivalry series is to the Valley and the prospects it has for getting women to fall in love with the game.
“It’s amazing that the Rivalry Series is here,” Radcliffe said of the popular festival between the two countries that spans seven games and runs through North America through February.
“Arizona women’s hockey is something that’s grown a lot recently and I think it’s fantastic that all those women get to see competitive, high-level women’s hockey in their community. “
This is rarely the first time Team USA has been able to get the most out of the world. The U. S. game contributes to the progression of the game in Arizona. Lindsey Fry, who pitched the ceremonial discus before the game, is a Valley icon admired by many. Fry was born in Mesa and won an Olympic silver medal. medal with the U. S. He joined the U. S. in 2014 in Sochi before retiring from hockey shortly thereafter.
She highlighted the importance of the game in the state through the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes organization and discovered the Kachinas.
All-American forward Taylor Heise, who went first overall in this summer’s inaugural PWHL Draft, watched as her teammate Knight took the ceremonial faceoff in front of Fry. Like her older teammate, Heise needs to help grow the demographics and popularity of the sport. Even after scoring a goal in the game, she discovered that the number of women contributing was greater.
“I think the most vital thing for me today is to be able to have a lot of young women here looking at us, showing that we can do anything we need to do,” Heise said.
It wouldn’t be unexpected to see more professional women’s hockey events taking place at Mullett in the near future. With the start of the first season of the PWHL, Arizona is very likely to be in the race for a team. Until then, women’s hockey seems to continue to grow in the desert and become a staple game for Valley women.
Chase Beardsley expects to graduate in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in sports journalism. Beardsley has been a representative for groups and venues such as the ASU ACHA D1 women’s hockey team and The Hockey Writers.
Mia Jones hopes to graduate in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in sports journalism. Jones has worked out for the Arizona Coyotes, CBS Photo and Sun Devil Athletics.
Reece Andrews hopes to graduate in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in sports journalism. Andrews has worked for State Press as deputy director of multimedia and at WCSN. He’s been to Cronkite News Los Angeles.
Cronkite News is produced through Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Staff members are indexed here.
Learn more about what we do and how to publish our content on our broadcast, virtual and social media platforms.
Find out how your organization can use Cronkite News content.
Sign up for headlines.
555 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, Arizona, 85004
602. 496. 5050
[email protected]
Creative Commons Privacy Statement