1- Canada released their Four Nations roster yesterday, with one star name missing: Meghan Agosta. As reported in the Globe and Mail, Agosta is not retiring, and has ambitions to play in the 2022 Olympics. She is expecting her first child in December, and will miss the Four Nations and 2019 World Championships, before making her return. Firstly, that's really happy news and congrats to Agosta. She will be missed though, as the 31 year old played on a top line with Poulin and Daoust at the Olympics, scoring two goals and three assists in that tournament. It's been a long time since we've seen a Team Canada without Agosta, who has been a fixture on the team since the 2006 Olympics.
2- Pension Plan Puppets wrote about the players that are on the Canada Four Nations roster. The best piece of news in that article? TSN will be broadcasting the medal games live. Hopefully NHL Network (or anyone) does the same in the United States. The tournament takes place November 6-10, in Saskatoon.
3- In reading an Ice Garden post about the Champions Cup a few weeks back, a line from new Riveters Head Coach Randy Velischek, caught my eye. Mike Murphy wrote, "After the game Velischek admitted that he was still learning many of his players’ names, including the last name of reigning NWHL MVP Alexa Gruschow." As soon as I read it I thought, that's not going to go over well, and sure enough it got a bit of a negative reaction.
One the one hand, I could see that comment getting made by any new coach. Learning the players' names is a process, sure. It's a comment that would go across better at a post practice media scrum though, than after a much anticipated game of two league champions from different countries. It raises the question of why it took the Riveters so long to hire a new coach, considering former coach Chad Wiseman gave his notice months ago. This is a topic I'd like to hear from Dani Rylan, NWHL commissioner on.
Without anyone addressing it we have to draw our own conclusions. Myself, I get the impression it's not easy to find people to coach these teams, if the league is still filling a coaching role weeks before the season starts. Presumably the jobs don't pay too much, but it's odd that the NWHL can find 120 or so women to play hockey for a small stipend, but can't find coaches to also coach for a presumably small stipend. Like a lot of people, I'd like to see more female coaches behind the benches of women's hockey teams. If Dani is not getting applications from female coaches, that's something she could start a conversation about. If women are applying and not getting the jobs - 4 out of 5 teams coached by men; 3 out of 5 teams coached by ex-NHLers - that's also worth talking about. As it stands, people draw their own conclusions, which is probably not fair to anyone.
4- The Athletic's Nate Wells wrote about the Whitecaps coach, Ronda Curtin Engelhardt last week.
To me, seeing Engelhardt coaching and Winny Brodt Brown still playing is amazing. Engelhardt co-coaches with Jack Brodt, founder of the Whitecaps, and father to Winny. Engelhardt has three young kids, works as a high school counselor, and has coached Breck's girls hockey team to a state championship. It's quite inspiring to see her behind the bench of a women's pro team, especially given how apparent it is that she has a lot of additional responsibilities. To see the co-head coach title shared with Jack Brodt hints at the kind of collaboration and support that may make the role possible for someone as busy as Engelhardt. The coaching staff is a beautiful part of the Whitecaps story. Here's a quote from that Athletic story, from Engelhardt:
“I was on the fence for a while and then finally I was like, ‘I’m very passionate about growing the game and giving girls more opportunities.’ I looked at all the other teams and saw there was no female head coach,” she said. “That’s what I fought for. We’re trying to grow the women’s game. Let’s get a woman in that position. I pushed a little back and said, ‘Give me this opportunity.’ That’s how it went.”
Enter Engelhardt, the lone female head coach among the league’s five teams.
“I think it’s a good example of how important it is for people to see people in different positions,” said Engelhardt. “The business world, seeing leaders in the business world. On the ice, role models as players, but also seeing they can be led by a female as well.”
5- The Whitecaps played their first series at home to sold out crowds. The crowd noise! I hope they can sustain this atmosphere; it looks great.
When your weekend looks like this, you earn NWHL Player of the Week presented by @EcnVeda honors! 🚨— NWHL (@NWHL) October 8, 2018
Congratulations to @hannahbrandt16 of @WhitecapsHockey on taking home the first award of the year! pic.twitter.com/CLod1O2Osv
6- In USCHO's weekly Wednesday Women feature, Nicole Haase and Candace Horgan debate what kind of immediate impact the 2018 Olympics will have on the popularity of the college game. From my own perspective, college hockey engagement appears to have increased, just in terms of online engagement during the games. Also, the level of engagement has been low enough that a single change - like the Ice Garden going in on women's college hockey, can make a big change. These are changes that impact the fan base, not the programs themselves. If the programs are looking for a bump in attention or attendance? I think the recipe's always the same: just win.
7- Speaking of attendance, tomorrow I will be watching my first ever NWHL game live, in person! I am so excited. My husband and I and our two kids are driving to Buffalo to watch the Beauts take on the Whale. I fear it will be a lopsided game, but I am excited to see Szabados (hope she starts but I would be happy to see Hensley or DiTondo, two CHA alums as well), Bolden, Cameranesi, Pfalzer, Chesson, Harmon, Janiga, Accursi, Iafallo, Raisanen....seriously the list goes on and on. I am looking forward to seeing Habor Center for the first time (home of the CHA Tournament), getting some Beauts swag, and exposing my kids to a bit of hockey.
As is the case every weekend, let's go Lakers! And this weekend, let's go Beauts, as well.
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