No longer a far-fetched notion, the Professional WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League is approaching reality and Sarah Nurse canB次元官网网址檛 help but pinch herself.

On Monday, the 28-year-old Canadian national team forward will be on the ice in Toronto when her yet-to-be nicknamed team faces off against New York .

B次元官网网址淚t means so much to me. ItB次元官网网址檚 something that I had dreamed of and envisioned all those years ago, but I didnB次元官网网址檛 know it would actually come to fruition,B次元官网网址� Nurse said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard when you think of all the places that weB次元官网网址檝e been over the last four years. And to be able to get here, with my Toronto team, has blown my expectations out of the water.B次元官网网址�

It wasnB次元官网网址檛 easy. It took time and patience for the moment to arrive after past start-up leagues lurched from one crisis to another before ultimately folding because they lacked money, vision and foundational support.

Finally, the worldB次元官网网址檚 best players have one place to showcase their talents outside the four-year Olympic cycle and enjoying what itB次元官网网址檚 like to have their voices heard.

B次元官网网址淪een and heard,B次元官网网址� Minnesota general manager and .

B次元官网网址淪o often, it would be could we just get a seat at the table, right? And then, can we speak up at the table?B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd now, you feel good about the table, and how do we grow that table, is kind of the path weB次元官网网址檙e down.B次元官网网址�

Not lost on this generation of players is crediting those who preceded them, such as Darwitz and PWHL executive Jayna Hefford, never mind the help of one of womenB次元官网网址檚 sports most influential gender-breakers in former tennis star Billie Jean King, a PWHL board member.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a long time in coming, and weB次元官网网址檙e standing on the shoulders of players from past generations,B次元官网网址� OttawaB次元官网网址檚 Brianne Jenner said. B次元官网网址淏ut I think our generation that kind of carried that balance of being grateful for every opportunity, but also not being happy with the crumbs is the attitude thatB次元官网网址檚 got us here.B次元官网网址�

Ultimately, the PWHL would not have been possible without KingB次元官网网址檚 influence and connections, and the .

The Walters, who remain strictly behind the scenes, have committed to spending tens of millions of dollars to finance a centralized league that has a collective bargaining agreement with its players in place through 2031. And thereB次元官网网址檚 the heavy lifting thatB次元官网网址檚 already been done in six short months in which six markets have been established, (Boston, New York/Connecticut, St. Paul, Minnesota, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa), more than 150 employees hired, , and tens of thousands of tickets sold.

TorontoB次元官网网址檚 12 home games are essentially sold out, and Montreal was close. The lower bowl of St. PaulB次元官网网址檚 Xcel Energy Center is expected to be filled for MinnesotaB次元官网网址檚 opener, and for its opener.

This is but a start, said PWHL board member Stan Kasten. He has played an influential role in getting the league off the ground in such a short period rather than put it off until next year even if it meant going without logos, nicknames and with a hastily reached finally announced on Friday.

B次元官网网址淲e have a long time to get them to where they need to be,B次元官网网址� Kasten said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 cognizant weB次元官网网址檙e going to make mistakes. But every mistake you see, ask if weB次元官网网址檙e still at that mistake a year from now.B次元官网网址�

For all the iterations of womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey leagues past, be it the Canadian-based National WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League that launched in 1999 and eventually became the Canadian WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League that folded in 2019, or the U.S.-based NWHL that launched in 2015 and eventually became the Premier Hockey Federation before being bought out by Walter in June, the PWHL is regarded as having the best chance to succeed.

Boston forward Shiann Darkangelo has experienced nearly every step. Her stops included CWHL Toronto and Kunlun, China, and three NHWL/PHF teams ending with Toronto, where Darkangelo became the PHFB次元官网网址檚 last captain to raise the Isobel Cup .

B次元官网网址淎bsolutely, itB次元官网网址檚 totally been worth it. I get to do what I love and get paid to do that,B次元官网网址� the 30-year-old Darkangelo said.

Hours after coaching Canada to a gold medal at the 2022 Winter Games, in launching a pro womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey league because he believed it was viable.

ItB次元官网网址檚 now a reality for Ryan, who is coaching PWHL Toronto.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing and, to be honest, itB次元官网网址檚 a little bit surreal because itB次元官网网址檚 happened so quickly,B次元官网网址� Ryan said. B次元官网网址淎 lot of people took a little leap of faith to join this journey.B次元官网网址�

What impressed MinnesotaB次元官网网址檚 Darwitz was seeing and interacting with so many women in positions of power while attending the PWHLB次元官网网址檚 evaluation camp in Utica, New York, in early December. and, of the 34 board members and employees listed on the leagueB次元官网网址檚 website, 20 are women.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 emotional. ItB次元官网网址檚 long overdue,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e used to walking into a room and itB次元官网网址檚 usually one or two of us.B次元官网网址�

Darwitz spoke the same week the University of Delaware announced it was launching a womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey program B次元官网网址� another indication of the sportB次元官网网址檚 growth.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 amazing,B次元官网网址� she said, before adding, B次元官网网址渨e still donB次元官网网址檛 have MichiganB次元官网网址� in noting the Big Ten school lacks a program.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not there,B次元官网网址� Darwitz said. B次元官网网址淏ut hopefully, one day, we are there.B次元官网网址�

John Wawrow, The Associated Press