Twenty-four PWHL players will be featured in a 3-on-3 showcase during the NHL’s All-Star festivities, and the rosters have been announced.
For Ottawa forward Emily Clark, it’ll be a second appearance on the NHL All-Star stage.
“I found out via email from [PWHL SVP of hockey operations] Jayna Hefford – just to see it in the subject of the email was super exciting,” Clark told Sportsnet of her selection, for the second year in a row.
The 28-year-old took part in the NHL all-star skills competition last year, and had Vegas Golden Knights goalie Logan Thompson beat during the Tendy Tandem event, but her shot rang off a post. This year, she and other PWHL players will be featured in a 20-minute showcase game on Thursday, Feb. 1 at Scotiabank Arena, part of the day’s NHL All-Star events, which extend into the weekend in Toronto.
“I was excited the PWHL would be involved this year in any capacity, let alone to be selected as one of the players, so it’s really exciting,” Clark said. “I’m happy for our league and of course for the opportunity.”
For Montreal forward Laura Stacey, it’ll be a first-ever appearance at the NHL’s all-star weekend. “It’s a pretty sweet moment and surreal for sure,” Stacey said. “I’m excited to be there with a great group of girls.”
All the usual suspects were named to the rosters, including Marie-Philip Poulin, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Hilary Knight, Renata Fast, Taylor Heise, Sarah Nurse, Alex Carpenter and Natalie Spooner. Teams are named after a pair of PWHL board members who have been life-long advocates for equality in sport: King, after the great Billie Jean King, and Kloss, after Ilana Kloss. Here are the full rosters, announced Monday by the NHL and PWHL:
TEAM KING
Kendall Coyne Schofield, Minnesota (F)
Hilary Knight, Boston (F)
Alina Müller, Boston (F)
Kelly Pannek, Minnesota (F)
Marie-Philip Poulin, Montreal (F)
Blayre Turnbull, Toronto (F)
Savannah Harmon, Ottawa (D)
Megan Keller, Boston (D)
Ella Shelton, New York (D)
Lee Stecklein, Minnesota (D)
Ann-Renée Desbiens, Montreal (G)
Aerin Frankel, Boston (G)
TEAM KLOSS
Alex Carpenter, New York (F)
Emily Clark, Ottawa (F)
Taylor Heise, Minnesota (F)
Brianne Jenner, Ottawa (F)
Sarah Nurse, Toronto (F)
Abby Roque, New York (F)
Laura Stacey, Montreal (F)
Erin Ambrose, Montreal (D)
Renata Fast, Toronto (D)
Jocelyne Larocque, Toronto (D)
Nicole Hensley, Minnesota (G)
Emerance Maschmeyer, Ottawa (G)
The players selected have won a combined 146 Olympic medals, 46 World Championship medals, and 17 NCAA Div. 1 titles.
Former Team Canada captain Cassie Campbell-Pascall, the PWHL’s Special Advisor, will coach Team King. Behind the bench for Team Kloss is former Team USA captain Meghan Duggan, an Olympic gold medallist and seven-time world champion who now works as the New Jersey Devils Director of Player Development.
The all-stars were selected by the PWHL, and include players from all six teams; 17 of the 18 inaugural PWHL free-agent signings (not Micah Zandee-Hart, because she’s injured) and all six first-round draft picks, plus Minnesota goalie Nicole Hensley, who was drafted 12th overall.
“It’ll be fun to see people’s best moves and honestly just play like a little kid out there,” Clark said. “A lot of amazing players that are fun to watch, and are not so fun to play against at times, so I’m happy to play alongside them.”
Clark has been on Team Canada nearly a decade, and she’s happy to be playing with Taylor Heise, instead of against her, as they do in the PWHL and internationally.
“She’s obviously an incredibly skilled player that is a threat every time she’s on the ice and has definitely made my life difficult at times, so I’m excited to be in the same jersey as her and have a chance to play with her,” said Clark.
Since it’s a showcase, the 2022 Olympic gold medallist may have some tricks up her sleeve on Feb. 1 at Scotiabank Arena.
“I might go to the drawing board for some practices between now and then. I’ll probably wax up my stick, so the puck wants to stick to it. Maybe I’ll leave it at that and see what comes out,” Clark said, with a laugh.
The PWHL showcase at NHL all-star weekend comes just one month after the league debuted on Jan. 1 in Toronto.
“The more people that can see us on the ice on the same screen as their favourite NHL players and have that exposure the better, and hopefully a few more fans get to see our game that wouldn’t otherwise see it and get to appreciate the skill that we have,” Clark said. “Hopefully we gain even more of a following.”
“From the very beginning of this league on January 1, it has been everything beyond our expectations, and I think this is just another step in that direction of pushing women’s sports and women’s hockey forward,” Stacey added.
“Having the PWHL, this one league, this force that has become one to be reckoned with at the NHL all-star weekend in Toronto, it’s another stepping stone for women’s hockey to keep growing, to keep pushing forward and for young girls to aspire to one day be there too.”
Stacey got wind of the full run-down of Team Kloss’ roster, and had an immediate prediction on the game’s outcome on Feb. 1.
“Might as well call it right now,” she said, with a laugh, “we’ll win for sure.”
