CRANBERRY, Pa. -- The Professional Women's Hockey Players Association is making another stop in Pittsburgh this season.
The PWHPA on Wednesday announced its plans for the Pittsburgh Showcase, which will be held at the Lemieux Complex from Nov. 25-27. It's the third stop on the group's Dream Gap Tour, following stops in Montreal, Quebec and Truro, Nova Scotia.
The weekend opens with two girls hockey clinics on Friday, Nov. 25 in Cranberry, registration for which can be found here. The first clinic the will be for girls ages 8-11 from 5-6 p.m, followed by one for girls ages 12-15 from 6-7 p.m.
The showcase will include four games and will take place on Nov. 26 and 27 in Cranberry. Tickets are available now.
This will be the PWHPA's second time holding an event in Pittsburgh, after holding its U.S.-Canada Rivalry Rematch game at PPG Paints Arena last season. The event drew over 5,000 fans, despite there being just 11 days between the announcement for the game and the game taking place.
“The city of Pittsburgh, as well as the Penguins, have been great supporters of the PWHPA so we’re thrilled to be heading back in November,” said PWHPA Operations Consultant Jayna Hefford. “With the success of our Rivalry Rematch game earlier this year, we know there’s a huge appetite for elite women’s hockey in Pittsburgh so we know this will be a great weekend for both the fans and our athletes. We’re also excited to be involved with the ‘Burgh Girls Fest’ tournament throughout the weekend— by providing young players visibility and access to the best hockey players in the world, we’re continuing our goal of growing the game.”
Many of the women who played in that Rivalry Rematch -- including Hilary Knight, Marie-Philip Poulin, Megan Keller and NHL23 cover athlete Sarah Nurse -- will be playing in the games at the Lemieux Complex next month.
Penguins president of business operations Kevin Acklin told me in July that the Penguins have "ongoing" conversations internally and with the NHL about bringing a potential Penguins-backed professional women's team to Pittsburgh. The Penguins are among 10 teams who currently have a partnership with the PWHPA, the others being the Flyers, Capitals, Flames, Coyotes, Blackhawks, Blues, Rangers, Maple Leafs and Senators. The PWHPA isn't an actual league, just a players association that plays exhibition games. The PWHPA is looking to form a league, and the Penguins' continued support makes it seem likely that they could bring a team to Pittsburgh if the league is formed.
"There's no reason why women's sports, especially in hockey, shouldn't have all the privileges that a male sport does," Acklin said. "Men's hockey has had a head start on building the fan base and the economics and the structure that's led into the NHL. And I feel very strongly, as does our ownership, that we need to be supportive and use that privilege to advance the game for women's hockey. So we are constantly a supporter."
