NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan noted the league already has had a "few discussions" with the NHL about forming some kind of partnership and said, "I can say that they support women's hockey from the grassroots level all the way to the pros." Appearing on this week's episode of "We Need To Talk" on CBS Sports Network, Rylan said, "We're definitely working on a relationship that will be mutually beneficial." The NWHL is "kind of figuring out what that looks like still." Rylan said her league has "planted the seed in a few of our cities" to possibly have current NHL owners invest in franchises. Rylan: "Right now, we're making such a big splash not only in the hockey world but in women's sports, and I think it's going to come to the point where a lot of people will circle back with them and it’s going to be all yesses and they're going to want to jump in" (“We Need To Talk,” CBSSN, 10/20).
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: ESPNW's Kate Fagan wrote of the N.Y. Riveters' home opener against the Boston Pride on Sunday, "I could feel the excitement as I walked toward the ice, turning the corner to see the stands, nearly filled, dozens of young girls in hockey jerseys pressed to the glass, enthralled." The parking lot "was jammed," and people showed up and "packed the stands." The puck dropped at 8:20pm ET, 80 minutes later than scheduled, because the Pride's bus was "on the wrong street," having missed at least one turn. This was "not a great look for the league." The game itself "was decent, not great, kind of chippy." However, the larger takeaway is that people "were into this" and women's hockey "has a market." Fagan: "Expected, no. Cool, yes." Now, the NWHL "must keep this opportunity from slipping through the newly exposed cracks" (ESPNW.com, 10/21).
