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PWHL Ottawa Charge

Professional Women's Hockey League Sets Attendance Record

January 2, 2024 - Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)
Ottawa Charge News Release


OTTAWA, ON - The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) made history tonight when 8,318 fans, the most ever to watch a professional women's hockey game, attended PWHL Ottawa's home opener against PWHL Montreal at The Arena at TD Place. The crowd surpassed the 7,765 at the championship game of the 2021-22 Svenska Damhockeyligan (SDHL) season between Brynäs and Luleå.

The previous North American record for a regular-season professional women's hockey game was 5,938, established December 10, 2016, in the CWHL when Les Canadiennes de Montreal hosted the Calgary Inferno at Bell Centre. The 2017 CWHL All-Star Game in Toronto attracted a crowd of 8,122 fans at what then was called Air Canada Centre.

"We are honored by the welcome the people of Ottawa have shown PWHL Ottawa and our league," said Amy Scheer, PWHL Senior Vice President of Business Operations. "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."

"We have been completely overwhelmed by the support Ottawa has shown us," PWHL Ottawa General Manager Mike Hirshfeld said. "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 record crowd in Ottawa follows Monday's sold-out league launch at Toronto's Mattamy Athletic Centre where 2,537 fans watched PWHL New York earn a 4-0 victory over PWHL Toronto in the inaugural season opener.

Opening week action across the PWHL continues Wednesday with Boston hosting Minnesota at Tsongas Center in Lowell, MA. New York will host Toronto on Friday at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, CT, and Minnesota will play its home opener at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN, on Saturday. Montreal's home opener will be played on Saturday, January 13, at Verdun Auditorium. Ottawa returns to the nation's capital for games Jan. 17 against Minnesota, Jan. 23 against Toronto, and Jan. 24 against Boston.

Visit thepwhl.com to purchase tickets and merchandise, and subscribe to the PWHL e-newsletter to receive the latest league updates. Follow the league on all social media platforms @thepwhlofficial plus all six team accounts @pwhl_boston, @pwhl_minnesota, @pwhl_montreal, @pwhl_newyork, @pwhl_ottawa, and @pwhl_toronto.



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