PWHL Power Rankings: Frost leads the pack, Goldeneyes fall
We’ve had a full week of PWHL action in the books this year, and we have seen a number of thrilling games. Only one team is still undefeated, and some of the preseason favorites have looked rather mediocre.
This week, Hunter Crowther, Tyler Kuehl and Scott Maxwell rank the eight teams and what has made them successful, or disappointing, so far.
1. Minnesota Frost
Record: 1-0-0-1, +2
Last Week: 6th (+4)
Hunter’s Rank: 2nd
Tyler’s Rank: 2nd
Scott’s Rank: 1st
Tyler: I was pretty hard on the Frost after losing their home opener, but I have to admit this team picked things up when they went and played in front of a record crowd, beating the Seattle Torrent on the road last Friday. Kelly Pannek was exceptional, and seeing Grace Zumwinkle score early is crucial to building her confidence after a tough sophomore season. Speaking of confidence, Hensley’s performance has to be a breath of fresh air after a topsy-turvy 2024-25 campaign as well.
Hunter: The Frost took care of business against an expansion team in the Torrent and at no point felt intimidated in an environment of more than 16,000 fans at the Seattle home opener. Kelly Pannek scored twice this week, which could kickstart another season of reliable depth production up front for Minnesota. Last season, she recorded three goals and eight assists, and was one of 10 Frost players to reach double digits in points.
Minnesota is back on the road on Tuesday night against the Ottawa Charge.
2. Boston Fleet
Record: 2-0-0-0, +4
Last Week: 3rd
Hunter’s Rank: 1st
Tyler’s Rank: 3rd
Scott’s Rank: 2nd
Hunter: Let me put on my tinfoil hat for a minute: It was the Fleet’s lack of chances that earned them a win against the Sceptres. With just 12 shots through the first 50 minutes of the game, Toronto’s Raygen Kirk was cold and not ready for the odd-skater rushes on Boston’s behalf, leading to goals from Abby Newhook and Susanna Tapani. It helps when your own goalie stands tall, as Aerin Frankel stopped 24 of 25 shots. Remember kids: think smarter, not harder!
Tyler: I will say, the only thing that was impressive about the Fleet’s win over the Sceptres last Saturday was Aerin Frankel, period. I said it before, and I’ll say it again, the Fleet will live and die with the American netminder’s play. That said, Boston took advantage of its opportunities, regardless of how few. Seeing Abby Newhook score her first PWHL goal shows how important she’ll be for this team’s offense, which will certainly have to come by committee.
The Fleet is at Agganis Arena on Wednesday to face the Goldeneyes.
3. New York Sirens
Record: 2-0-0-1, +4
Last Week: 1st
Hunter’s Rank: 4th
Tyler’s Rank: 1st
Scott’s Rank: 3rd
Tyler: Based on how the team has played, you kind of have to keep the Sirens at the top of the list. Sure, they were humbled during the Montreal Victoire’s home opener on Tuesday, but they only responded by beating up the Vancouver Goldeneyes, a team I had finishing first, in their first game in Newark. There’s so much working for them right now. Kayle Osborne is looking great between the pipes. The scoring isn’t coming from one or two players either, which takes a huge load off Sarah Fillier.
That said, we have to remember how New York always seems to start off strong, but hasn’t stayed consistent…let’s see how long the good times last.
Hunter: I audibly said “Oh my!” when I saw the Sirens ranked first in last week’s power rankings, although after a one-game sample, that was the correct and fun choice. The team had a setback following a 4-0 drubbing against the Victoire, but they responded with a youthful performance against the Goldeneyes, winning 5-1. New York fans must be ecstatic seeing both 2024 and 2025 No. 1 overall picks Sarah Fillier and Kristyna Kaltounkova, respectively, score in the win.
The Sirens are in action on Wednesday night against the Seattle Torrent.
4. Montreal Victoire
Record: 1-0-0-1, +2
Last Week: 7th (+3)
Hunter’s Rank: 3rd
Tyler’s Rank: 4th
Scott’s Rank: 4th
Hunter: The best cure for a shutout loss is giving another team their own, and that’s what we saw from a Victoire squad reeling from a 2-0 defeat from the Fleet on opening weekend. Montreal started slow in their home opener against the Sirens, but goals within the first and last minutes of the second frame gave them a 2-0 lead, with new addition Abby Roque sealing the win in the third. Speaking of Roque, she has looked relentless in her first two games, hounding pucks and making an impact on the game in a number of ways.
Tyler: There seems to be little interest in my optimism after Montreal dropped its first game of the season. However, Marie-Philip Poulin and Abby Roque led the team to a convincing win over the Sirens. The 4-0 win saw the Victoire play with confidence. The only thing I would like to see more of is consistent pressure from the team, as they seemed to let New York take the game over in the second half last Tuesday.
You have to wonder if a long layoff will knock Montreal out of any rhythm, as the Victoire is off until next Sunday when they host the Sceptres in Laval.
5. Ottawa Charge
Record: 1-0-0-1, 0
Last Week: 8th
Hunter’s Rank: 5th
Tyler’s Rank: 6th
Scott’s Rank: 5th
Hunter: The Charge must have seen how the Victoire responded to a shutout loss and thought, “Hey, that’s not a bad idea,” because they too came out with a dominant performance, winning 5-1 over the Goldeneyes. Both Ben and I waxed poetic about Brianne Jenner in our columns this week, but credit to Gwyneth Philips, who responded with a four-goal effort, stopping 18 of 19 shots and looking confident throughout the night.
Tyler: I’m not ready to eat my crow yet, but the Charge made me look pretty dumb with how they ran Vancouver’s show last Wednesday. Ottawa doesn’t have nearly the same star power as the Goldeneyes, but that didn’t stop them from playing like the better team. Brianne Jenner had a big game, scoring twice and totaling three points, while youngsters like Rory Guilday and Gwyneth Philips stepped up. It might just be one win, but it was an effort that looked far from a last-place club.
The Charge get set to host the Frost on Tuesday night.
6. Toronto Sceptres
Record: 1-0-0-1, -1
Last Week: 4th (-1)
Hunter’s Rank: 6th
Tyler’s Rank: 5th
Scott’s Rank: 6th
Hunter: Watching the Sceptres’ game against the Fleet, it felt like it would be one of those games in Toronto’s favour. The team was all over Boston’s defense and generating plenty of grade-A scoring chances. But they were unable to capitalize beyond Blayre Turnbull’s early first-period marker, and the Fleet took advantage of zone breakdowns, leading to goals of their own. You can tell Natalie Spooner looks re-energized, look for her to break out production-wise.
Tyler: If the Sceptres are unable to finish, regardless of who’s between the pipes, this could be a tough opening stretch for the team. Also, losing Daryl Watts for the foreseeable future doesn’t help the team’s cause. I know this team has another level, and I can feel that things are going to fall in place in the near future. Emma Maltais is primed to break out, as is Natalie Spooner. There are a few games on the horizon where the Sceptres can find their offensive groove, but that’s only if the team rises to the occasion.
The Sceptres get for the first edition of the Battle of Ontario on Thursday, hosting the Ottawa Charge on Thursday night.
7. Vancouver Goldeneyes
Record: 0-1-0-2, -7
Last Week: 7th (2nd)
Hunter’s Rank: 7th
Tyler’s Rank: 7th
Scott’s Rank: 8th
Hunter: Ooof, well, that was tough. A pair of 5-1 losses on the road stung for a Goldeneyes team that’s still getting acclimated to the league. Some of the results can be attributed to the club being without Sarah Nurse, out with a lower-body injury for both games last week. Keep an eye on both Emerance Maschmeyer and Kristen Campbell, both all-world netminders who had bad performances last week. Eventually, one of them will take the starting job.
Tyler: Well…the Goldeneyes surely didn’t have the best of times to start their road trip. Two goals in two games, looking like an inferior opponent for stretches against the Charge and Sirens, teams that a lot of us expected to finish well below Vancouver. The team just never really seemed in sync in the two losses, and it didn’t help that Emerance Maschmeyer and Kristen Campbell weren’t up to snuff.
The Goldeneyes finish up their road trip on Wednesday against the Fleet.
8. Seattle Torrent
Record: 0-0-1-1, -4
Last Week: 8th
Hunter’s Rank: 8th
Tyler’s Rank: 8th
Scott’s Rank: 7th
Tyler: After a spirited overtime loss, the Torrent didn’t do much in their historic home opener last Friday. Sure, they got chances and looked like they had an opportunity to please the home faithful, but they weren’t able to convert. It’s one thing that will be a growing pain with these expansion teams, and the lack of camaraderie compared to the cores of the Original Six is showing, despite having talent like Hilary Knight, Alex Carpenter and Cayla Barnes.
Hunter: Only one game this week, a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Frost. The Torrent threw everything they could at Minnesota goalie Nicole Hensley, but none of their 30 shots could get past her. Julia Gosling finished the game with five shots, giving her 11 total on the season. The 2024 first-round pick was not retained by the Sceptres but is emerging as a strong power forward.
Seattle looks for its first win on Wednesday night against the Sirens.