Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has shown growth after announcing a record attendance in the first week of the season.
The game between Ottawa and Montreal on 2 January boasted an attendance of 8,318, which is the largest attendance of any game in professional women’s hockey across all leagues.
The previous record was set at the championship game of the 2021/22 Svenska Damhockeyligan (SDHL) season between Brynäs and Luleå that attracted a crowd of 7,765.
The previous record set in the regular season of PWHL was 5,938 established in 2016 when Les Canadiennes de Montreal hosted the Calgary Inferno at Bell Centre.
Amy Scheer, PWHL Senior Vice President of Business Operations, commented: “We are honoured by the welcome the people of Ottawa have shown PWHL Ottawa and our league.
“This record is a testament to the passion of our fans, reflecting a bond between our league and our community that we are committed to building even more strongly over time.”
Mike Hirshfeld, PWHL Ottawa General Manager, remarked: “We have been completely overwhelmed by the support Ottawa has shown us.
“This amazing turnout, for our very first game ever, is utterly unforgettable. The energy of our fans drives us forward, every minute of every day.”
The first game of the season between New York and Toronto reached 2.9 million viewers, which resulted in a 4-0 win for New York. Recent growth of the game comes after the PWHL secured a partnership with telecommunications company, Rogers.
Tony Staffieri, CEO, Rogers Communications, said: “We’re proud to support the PWHL and to help grow women’s hockey across the country.”
There were also a number of other regional deals including broadcasting partnerships in Canada with CBC, Sportsnet, TSN, RDS and Radio Canada.
