The blow of Wednesday’s brutal 5–0 Rivalry Series loss to Canada was softened by yesterday’s news that the top Americans have teamed up with their biggest rivals to create an official PWHPA league, with reports that players organized a formal union and are negotiating a collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

Seems like a clear message that hockey is, in fact, not for everyone.

The weekend showcase has evolved into an opportunity for the league’s top talent to display their skill and show off their personalities through some friendly competition.

While the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) was known for its quality of play, the PHF (then National Women’s Hockey League) offered to do what no women’s league had done before: pay its players.

With only two and a half months until college hockey’s national tourney, the fellas have been bringing bedlam to the ice.

On Monday, the women’s hockey union teamed up with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning for an upcoming PWHPA Dream Gap Tour event, marking the latest collab between North American women’s and men’s hockey organizations.

The PHF announced plans to double its salary cap for the 2023–24 season on Wednesday, and didn’t stop there, announcing a splashy All-Star weekend yesterday — two major steps towards luring top talent from the PWHPA and solidifying itself as a power player in the budding women’s hockey space.

Today may mark the first-ever PWHPA All-Star event, but it’s far from the first time women’s hockey players have showcased their skills on the big stage.

Cleveland Browns quarterback (QB) Deshaun Watson is set to return to play today after serving a measly 11-game suspension for at least 24 accusations of sexual misconduct.