Three neutral site stops down and six to go, the Professional WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League is quickly discovering how popular it has become at a time when the second-year six-team league is considering .

The PWHLB次元官网网址檚 first three stops over the past two weeks generated a combined turnout of 45,664 fans, including a crowd of 14,018 in Denver that spent a portion of the game chanting: B次元官网网址淲e want a team! We want a team!.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 think pleasantly surprised but not shocked by any means,B次元官网网址� PWHL senior vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford told The Associated Press.

B次元官网网址淚 think thereB次元官网网址檚 a demand for the womenB次元官网网址檚 game that weB次元官网网址檝e proven, and to see it in other markets is pretty awesome. I wasnB次元官网网址檛 in Denver, but I heard from many the chants of we want a team,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 exciting to be in these venues where I think people feel like theyB次元官网网址檙e auditioning for a team. ItB次元官网网址檚 a neat feeling.B次元官网网址�

The initial response was enough for Hefford to jokingly suggest that perhaps the PWHL should consider expanding on its expansion plans.

B次元官网网址淵eah, weB次元官网网址檒l see what happens,B次元官网网址� she said with a laugh.

the PWHLB次元官网网址檚 series of neutral site games opened with BostonB次元官网网址檚 3-2 shootout win over Montreal before a crowd of 12,608 at SeattleB次元官网网址檚 Climate Pledge Arena on Jan. 5. Three days later, the B次元官网网址� the PWHLB次元官网网址檚 third-largest crowd B次元官网网址� in VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Rogers Arena.

And the turnout in Denver for was a PWHL U.S. attendance record, breaking the previous mark of 13,736 set in Detroit last season during one of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 two neutral-site games.

B次元官网网址淚t was amazing to be in that rink and hearing they want a team. It gives you hope for the future to keep growing the league,B次元官网网址� MontrealB次元官网网址檚 Marie-Philip Poulin said about playing in Denver, during a Zoom call Thursday. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e the lucky ones to be there, but thereB次元官网网址檚 more games of the tour. And IB次元官网网址檓 very excited to be able to be part of one more.B次元官网网址�

The Victoire will have taken part in the PWHLB次元官网网址檚 first four neutral site games with Montreal to play Ottawa in Quebec City on Sunday. The game has limited tickets available for the 18,000-plus seat B次元官网网址tron Centre, which opened in 2021 in the cityB次元官网网址檚 bid to lure back an NHL franchise after the Nordiques left for Denver following the 1994-95 season.

Quebec City officials have made no secret of their desire to land a PWHL team in launching a campaign well before the league announced it was considering expansion in October.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not at all surprised that tickets sold like hotcakes,B次元官网网址� said Quebec City councillor Jackie Smith, who has been spearheading the expansion bid. B次元官网网址淚t is out of the question that Quebec City will not receive the first expansion team in this league.B次元官网网址�

PWHL officials have been guarded discussing expansion plans in saying the decision has yet to be made whether they intend on adding one or two teams. The league identified more than 20 potential markets which are being rated by size, access to facilities, economic partnership opportunities and fan base potential.

The Takeover Tour rounds out with stops in Edmonton, Buffalo, New York, Raleigh, North Carolina, Detroit and St. Louis over the next two months.

Ottawa goalie Emerance Maschmeyer is looking forward to travelling to Quebec City for the ChargeB次元官网网址檚 first neutral site game of the season.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been really exciting to watch from afar. I think thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of passion and energy in the rink. You can hear it over the TV screen,B次元官网网址� Maschmeyer said. B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 not the same as being there in person. I think itB次元官网网址檚 been electric and weB次元官网网址檙e excited that weB次元官网网址檙e going to be a part of it here shortly.B次元官网网址�