PWHL match in Ottawa shatters women’s pro ice hockey attendance record
In a watershed moment for women’s ice hockey, the clash between Ottawa and Montreal in the fledgling Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has etched its name in the record books.
The early-season fixture, held at The Arena at TD Place in Ottawa on January 2, attracted 8,318 fans – setting a new benchmark for the most-watched professional women’s ice hockey game of all time – as Montreal prevailed 3-2 in overtime.
The PWHL’s event surpassed the previous record set at the championship game of the 2021/22 Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL) season between Brynäs and Luleå, which drew an impressive crowd of 7,765. The achievement further solidifies the league’s growing influence and the increasing popularity of women’s ice hockey on a global scale.
This record-breaking crowd follows the highly successful PWHL launch at Toronto’s Mattamy Athletic Centre, where 2,537 fans witnessed New York’s triumph over Toronto in the inaugural season opener. Beyond the confines of the PWHL, the Ottawa-Montreal clash outshines the previous North American record for a regular season professional women’s ice hockey game, which stood at 5,938 in December 2016, in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL).
We’re still feeling all the feels days after our home opener, and none of it would’ve been possible without all of you. 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/zgcVGHc4Y2
— PWHL Ottawa (@PWHL_Ottawa) January 4, 2024
Notably, the 2017 CWHL All-Star Game in Toronto drew a crowd of 8,122 at Scotiabank Arena.
Amy Scheer, PWHL Senior Vice President of Business Operations, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received in Ottawa.
“We are honoured by the welcome the people of Ottawa have shown PWHL Ottawa and our league,” Scheer said.
“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.”
In another big statement for the league, the season opener reached 2.9 million Canadian viewers on New Year’s Day across our three Canadian national broadcast partners: CBC, Sportsnet, and TSN.
As the momentum builds, the PWHL’s opening week action continued with New York going down to visiting Toronto on January 5 and Minnesota shutting out Montreal the following day.
The heightened anticipation surrounding upcoming matches suggests that the league’s success in Ottawa is not an isolated occurrence but rather a precursor to more remarkable achievements in the world of professional women’s ice hockey.
As the league embarks on its foundation season, the record-breaking spectacle in Ottawa serves as a beacon of inspiration for women athletes and sports enthusiasts worldwide, signalling a new era of recognition and appreciation for professional women’s ice hockey.
