This was a monumental day for girls, past, present and future, across the state of Colorado.
Women’s professional hockey arrived in the Centennial State this weekend. The culmination of the PWHL Takeover celebration was a 4-2 victory Sunday for the Minnesota Frost against the Montreal Victoire at Ball Arena.
The 14,018 fans set an American attendance record for a women’s professional game.
“It’s amazing, so cool to see how many people are here just enjoying it, supporting females, and the whole big push for female athletics,” said Katie Davis, a lifelong Coloradan who grew up in Littleton. “I grew up playing hockey, so it’s really cool to see women hockey players have made it this far and have gotten to be at the pro level.
“And it’s really special to see all the little girls who are so excited to be here because I remember the day that I was in their shoes.”
The concourses and seats were filled with fans sporting PWHL merchandise, USA hockey jerseys and even a few reminders of the previous women’s leagues from a time before there was one unified entity.
But there were also so many fans, young and old, wearing their own jerseys. Davis was wearing her rec league jersey, with No. 45 and her name in Russian on the back (her team’s sweaters are based on the old Russian Penguins from the International Hockey League). The Denver Women’s Hockey League was also well represented.
Youth hockey teams from all over Colorado were in Ball Arena, from Steamboat Springs to Vail to Colorado Springs and the girls’ teams based in and around Denver, proudly showing off their team pride.
“That’s what it is all about,” Montreal defender Cayla Barnes said. “We love to see all the fans, but the next generation is kind of what it’s all about and who we’re trying to inspire the most. If they see us out there, they believe they can do it. Just having them all around the glass in their jerseys, in our jerseys, it’s inspiring for them but also a huge win for us and inspiring for us as well.”
This is the second season for the PWHL. The league debuted on New Year’s Day last season, with the Force, backed by Lakewood native Nicole Hensley in net, winning the inaugural Walter Cup.
Because of Hensley, this felt a little like a home game for the Force. She was unable to play because of injury, but took part in the ceremonial puck drop and received a huge ovation.
Minnesota coach Ken Klee is also familiar with the area, having spent a year playing for the Avalanche, coaching youth teams here and briefly working for Altitude TV.
“It was awesome,” Klee said. “It was incredible to showcase these ladies’ talents — that’s what it’s all about today. It’s about growing the game. Women’s hockey, how far it’s come even since I first got involved in 2014, is remarkable.”
Rebecca Turin grew up on Long Island and on skates, both of the ice and roller hockey varieties. She was part of a hockey family. She went to a hockey school and played on multiple travel teams.
There wasn’t a professional league at the time, so the impact of this day was not lost on her.
“Last year, New Year’s Day (when the league debuted), I was bawling my eyes out,” Turin said. “I never thought this was a possibility. If I did know I could make money doing this, I probably would have stuck with it.
“(Playing hockey) was one of the best times of my life. Seeing all these girls give hope to the future generations is amazing.”
Kristin D’Strana also grew up playing hockey. Her spouse, Rebecca, did not. She’s been a fast learner, in large part from watching Dallas Stars games together because they’re from the DFW.
The D’Stranas live in Thornton now, and they’ve been looking forward to this day since the game was announced.
“Women’s sports are so important to AFAB people all over the place,” Rebecca D’Strana said. “Being able to see women play is incredible and they’re playing amazingly. They’re crushing it.
“I would love to have a team here. It would be incredible.”
The D’Stranas were not alone with their enthusiasm about bringing a women’s hockey team to Denver. When the record-setting attendance number was announced in the arena during the third period, a “we want a team” chant followed.
As the final minute of the Frost victory ticked away, another, louder “we want a team” chant echoed through Ball Arena. Other cities during the PWHL Takeover Tour have made a similar declaration.
The league has already announced it will expand from six to eight teams as early as the 2025-26 season, but not which cities will be next. Setting a new American standard for attendance certainly can’t hurt Denver’s case.
All of those young girls wearing their own jerseys and PWHL foam fingers Sunday afternoon want to dream about playing pro hockey, and like Hensley, to experience it in their home state.
“I said when they were announcing the players, that if Denver got a pro women’s team, I am buying season tickets,” Davis said. “That will be in the budget.”
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