CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — As Team Kessel skated past Team Steady, 11-10, at the Lemieux Sports Complex in black and gold uniforms for the 2017 NWHL All-Star Game, the sold-out crowd may have gotten a glimpse into the next professional sport to hit Pittsburgh.
The sport of women’s hockey is certainly growing in Pittsburgh, from the many youth teams up to Robert Morris’ nationally-ranked program. And now, after bringing the best of the NWHL to Pittsburgh for a weekend, the professional league has taken note.
“Pittsburgh is a hockey area, obviously. They’ve had success at the NHL level as of late and in the past, so it’s great that they’re supporting the women’s game,” Boston Pride forward Meghan Duggan said before Saturday’s game. “I’ve been to Pittsburgh a few times, and they love sports. It’s awesome to play in a place like this.”
“As a player, playing here right now is phenomenal. I’d love to see a team here,” New York Riveters’ defenseman Ashley Johnston added. “There’s a nice flicker of hope in this area for potential growth.”
That, of course, was part of the reason NWHL commissioner Dani Rylan wanted to bring the game to Pittsburgh, home of the 2016 Stanley Cup Champions.
“Our goal has been to grow our footprint outside of our markets, so the elite athletes of the NWHL can demonstrate their amazing talents before new crowds,” Rylan said in a release about the game. “Since we started the league last year, we have received a lot of support from women’s hockey fans in Pittsburgh, so taking our All-Star Game there was a natural choice, and we’re thrilled about it.”
Kelley Steadman, who not only serves as a forward for the Buffalo Beauts but as Robert Morris’ director of hockey operations, knows that a future team could find wings in the Steel City.
“It’s just a great sports city. Regardless of what the sport is, people are just really passionate here,” she said after the game. “I think any sort of support that we can get from them is great and moving forward we can see how much they support women’s hockey.”
Part of that support begins with the youth programs around the area, including Pens Elite. Being involved in the area, Steadman knows that’s where the excitement is generated the most.
“I think they’ve kind of been the biggest component of this weekend and most of the attention that we’ve gotten has come from the kids,” said Steadman, who scored the game’s final goal Saturday. “There’s just such a following here with Pens Elite being such a great program and all the other great programs around this area. I think they just get excited when they can share that with us that are here living in Pittsburgh and then when we can bring these really talented players here for them.”
The capacity crowd was filled with young and old fans alike, but many of the younger hockey nuts filled the space by the glass to post their signs for their favorite players out there on the ice. Amanda Kessel, sister of the Penguins’ Phil Kessel, battled Steadman for the title of crowd favorite throughout the day in the midst of posting the game’s lone hat trick.
“It’s awesome,” Kessel said of the attention from the young fans. “I take a lot of pride in that in keeping the game going so when they’re older they can do the same thing, too.”
While the plan certainly is for the NWHL to grow, no one can say for certain whether Pittsburgh will be a part of that plan. The formula for success, though, is clear moving forward.
“The biggest thing is commitment and love for the game. All of us here love the game a ton and we want the game to grow and we want to inspire future generations like we were inspired,” Johnston said. “As long as that core value is at the heart, I think it could succeed anywhere.”
