WHL
Journeyman puckster brings enthusiasm and experience to Winnipeg Blues bench
6 minute read Monday, Sep. 9, 2024Josh Gratton’s hockey resume reads more like a globe-trotting adventure novel. From starting out with the St. Mary’s Lincolns of the now-defunct Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League to making it to the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers and Phoenix Coyotes, the 42-year-old Gratton has pretty much been there and done that when it comes to levels and locations. There was a brief trip to the Mid-Western Junior Hockey League, four different clubs in the Ontario Hockey League, three separate stints in the ECHL, seven squads in the AHL, two Russian teams, two more in Kazakhstan, one in Denmark, one […]
Advertisement
Weather
Winnipeg MB
19°C, Cloudy with wind
PWHL names and logos receive mixed reactions: ‘You will never please everyone’
5 minute read Preview Monday, Sep. 9, 2024PWHL unveils team nicknames and logos entering women’s hockey league’s 2nd season
6 minute read Preview Monday, Sep. 9, 2024PWHL reveals names, logos for all six franchises ahead of second season
6 minute read Preview Monday, Sep. 9, 2024New PWHL Minnesota GM Melissa Caruso focuses on the future rather than offseason concerns
4 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 4, 2024New PWHL Minnesota GM Melissa Caruso focused on addressing the future on Wednesday, rather than the past and the offseason troubles the franchise encountered after winning the women’s hockey league’s inaugural championship.
Speaking on a Zoom video call a day after being hired, the former American Hockey League executive paid tribute to her predecessor, U.S. Olympian Natalie Darwitz, for building a championship roster. She failed to mention that Darwitz was ousted by the PWHL in June following a monthslong league review after winning the Walter Cup.
And Caruso looked forward to working with coach Ken Klee, who drew criticism for drafting Wisconsin captain Britta Curl, who later apologized for supporting transphobic messaging on social media. Klee was also investigated by the PWHL this summer for allegations of bullying team staff.
“I have definitely been made aware of everything that’s been going on here over the past number of months,” Caruso said. “Moving forward, like I said I just started yesterday so I’m going to evaluate where we’re at from a team perspective and move forward to look ahead to Season 2.”
Coca-Cola Coliseum to be primary venue for PWHL Toronto in 2024-25 season
2 minute read Preview Tuesday, Sep. 3, 2024PWHL hires AHL executive Melissa Caruso to replace Darwitz as GM of defending champion Minnesota
5 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 3, 2024The Professional Women's Hockey League on Tuesday announced the hiring of AHL executive Melissa Caruso to take over as general manager of its Minnesota franchise and shore up a team that dealt with several crises in the weeks after winning the league’s inaugural championship.
Caruso, who is from St. Paul, Minnesota, spent 15 years with the American Hockey League, including the past six as vice president of hockey operations and governance. She was responsible for overseeing the league's schedule, player registry and bylaws, while working with the board of governors.
“Her strong background in operations and governance, combined with her extensive hockey knowledge and leadership experience, make her a great fit for the role,” PWHL vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford said in a news release. “Melissa's passion for the game along with her ties to the local community, positions her perfectly to lead the team both on and off the ice.”
The long-awaited hiring comes as the PWHL prepares to open its second season in December.
Trying to make sense of chaos ahead of NCAA Hockey Summit
5 minute read Preview Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024Kettles named to Team Canada
1 minute read Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024Winnipegger Peyton Kettles is the lone Manitoban to be named to Canada’s 22-man roster for the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which will be played in Edmonton Aug. 5-10. Kettles, a 16-year-old defenceman who recently completed his rookie season with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos. He had two goals, 13 points and 44 penalty minutes in 61 regular-season games and added two assists in eight playoff games with the Broncos.
MacGillivray joins Patrick behind bench of WHL’s Victoria Royals
3 minute read Preview Friday, Jul. 12, 2024Hockey Canada introduces new junior-level rules in western pilot project
3 minute read Preview Thursday, Jul. 11, 2024PWHL Montreal signs Boulier, Keopple and Chuli to contract extensions
2 minute read Preview Monday, Jun. 17, 2024Toronto’s Spooner wins PWHL’s MVP and Forward of the Year awards after leading league in scoring
3 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 11, 2024SAINT PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Toronto’s Natalie Spooner was named the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player and Forward of the Year on Tuesday.
The member of the Canadian national team was the PWHL scoring leader with 20 goals and seven assists in the league's inaugural season. She was chosen over New York’s Alex Carpenter and Montreal’s Marie-Philip Poulin.
Spooner had a son in late 2022 and did not skate for six months leading up to the season, so she wasn't sure how she would perform.
“I probably wouldn’t have thought that it would have gone this way," she said. “I think I was just super grateful to be playing again, to be back on the team. I think I was just really excited to get back out there with the girls, but I never thought that I’d be able to have, I guess, as big of an impact as I was able to have with the team.”
Toronto forward Natalie Spooner named MVP of inaugural PWHL season
3 minute read Preview Tuesday, Jun. 11, 2024New York selects Princeton, Canadian national team forward Sarah Fillier with 1st pick in PWHL draft
6 minute read Preview Tuesday, Jun. 11, 2024Canada’s Sarah Fillier projected to be first pick in Professional Women’s Hockey League draft
5 minute read Preview Sunday, Jun. 9, 2024LOAD MORE