PWHL New York makes UBS Arena debut with plenty of star power: ‘Dream come true’
Pascal Daoust spoke with a thick French-Canadian accent, but his message echoed the sentiment of his new stomping grounds in New York.
I know the song says it well, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, PWHL New Yorks general manager said Wednesday night with a smile before the teams 5-2 loss to PWHL Montreal at UBS Arena. We have 19 thousand seats to fill, why not New York?
Daoust and New Yorks journey to making it here is just beginning.
They cetainly have their work cut out for them.
Wednesday nights clash was New Yorks third-ever game as the PWHL kicks off its inaugural season as the new top professional womens hockey league.
It was the teams first at UBS Arena in Elmont, which, while primarily the Islanders home arena, will serve as one of its two home venues, along with Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn., this season.
4PWHL New York forward Jessie Eldridge (9) leaps into he pile when teammate Ella Shelton (17) scored during the third period during PWHL New York’s 5-2 loss to PWHL Montreal. Robert Sabo for NY PostBut New York is stitched across the teams teal jerseys, not Connecticut.
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While Bridgeport is certainly close enough, the 2,201 fans in attendance Wednesday more closely resemble the fan base this team is trying to win over than the ones that were present last Friday for the teams 3-2 loss to Toronto at Total Mortgage Arena.
Islanders legend Bryan Trottier dropped the ceremonial first puck.
Amy Rivard, singing among the fans instead of on the ice, belted out both the Canadian and American national anthems.
Female tennis legend Billie Jean King was shown on the jumbotron.
The Posts Jenna Lemoncelli, serving as the arenas emcee for the night, got the crowd pumped up.
And finally, New York began competing for the first time in front of its new home fan base.
4Tennis Legend Billie Jean King watches the game during the second period when the PWHL New York played PWHL Montreal. Robert Sabo for NY PostDefinitely a dream come true, Daoust said. A dream starts with a plan. Until you get a plan its always a dream. Now we have a great, great plan that comes from the league. And they have the opportunity today to showcase to the fans and to New York. Its a great dream coming true.
Were expecting fans that will identify themselves to the team. A team that is working hard 60 minutes, competing, is gritty, is fair.
New York has heavy local competition for fans attention two professional football, baseball, basketball, soccer and mens hockey teams as well as myriad college teams.
4PWHL New York forward Emma Woods (67) celebrates after teammate Ella Shelton (not pictured) scored. Robert Sabo for NY PostCan the team and more broadly the league, which is beginning with six teams carve out its own niche?
The biggest thing for this sport is finding those places where these women can go and make an impact in the community, get more girls into hockey in general, and show them that theres a place to go, one fan, Christian Skawski, told The Post. At the end, theres an end goal. A lot of girls quit hockey at an early age. Now they can see themselves doing what the other professional athletes do.
The game had most of the feels of a professional game, except one detail.
Fans chanted, particularly after Jessie Eldridges first-period goal and Ella Sheltons third-period goal, Lets go New York throughout the night, which made you wonder why New York instead of the team name.
4PWHL Montreal forward Catherine Dubois (28) scores a go-ahead goal on PWHL New York goaltender Corinne Schroeder. Robert Sabo for NY PostWell, there is no team nickname yet.
None of the teams in the league have one yet, nor a logo.
Its a reminder of just how new the league is.
But some of the early signs are optimistic.
Last Saturdays game between Minnesota and Montreal at Xcel Energy Center broke the record for the highest attendance at a professional womens hockey game with 13,316 fans.
No, New York hasnt come close to matching that, but again, the competition for attention in this area is fierce.
You just had to look around a few times and pinch ourselves because it really is a beautiful facility, head coach Howie Draper said of UBS Arena.. The ice is fast, the fans were grea. We could hear them behind us, giving us everything they could give us. Giving the refs a rough time when they thought maybe we didnt deserve a few calls. We need that. It was a lot of fun playing here.
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