PWHL Boston’s Taylor Wenczkowski suspended one game for illegal hit

The PWHL announced its first disciplinary act in league history on Saturday as Boston forward Taylor Wenczkowski will be suspended one game for an illegal hit delivered on Ottawa defender Amanda Boulier.

The incident occurred in the third period of the Jan. 24 matchup between Boston and Ottawa. After Boulier dumped the puck into the Boston zone, Wenczkokwski delivered a hit that made direct contact to Boulier’s head. The Boston forward was assessed a two-minute minor for roughing.

“Player safety is a top priority for the PWHL,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL SVP of Hockey Operations, and Chair of the PWHL Player Safety Committee in a league statement. “We all recognize that our game is played at a fast pace and there is a high level of physicality. Overall, this style of play will continue to be encouraged in a safe way, within the rules of the game.

“Our Player Safety Committee, in regular consultation with the PWHLPA, is dedicated to ensuring that there is consistent enforcement of the rules and constant vigilance to deliver supplemental discipline when warranted,” she continued.

The Player Safety Committee also includes Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Katie Guay, Mike Murphy and Matt McMahon.

Wenczkowski, 26, is scoreless through four games, while Boulier, 30, has two assists through five games.

Boston is 2-1-2-0 with eight points through five games, third in the league, while Ottawa is 2-0-0-2 with eight points, fourth in the standings. Both teams play on Saturday as Ottawa travels to Montreal while Boston hosts first-place Minnesota.

You can watch both games and all PWHL games this season on the league’s official YouTube channel.