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Is PWHL Officiating a Player Safety Problem? Sarah Nurse Weighs In

Hey Black Rosie Media Fam!


At Even Strength is back with all the latest from the world of women’s hockey—a week full of historic firsts, hot debates, and championship dreams.




Whether you’re a lifelong supporter or new to the PWHL and NCAA action, we’ve got you covered with all you need to know.


Officiating & Player Safety: Still a Mystery to All

This week’s episode tackled the ongoing chaos around officiating and discipline in the PWHL. With notable injuries (Taylor Girard’s among them) and fines as low as $250, both Rachel & me called out the league’s lack of clarity.


Even Sarah Nurse voiced her frustration post-game, saying players and refs alike “don’t really know what’s a penalty.”


The message?


Consistent rules are critical for safety and the on-ice product. The union is pushing for more separation between player discipline and game officiating—let’s hope we see major improvements soon.


Seattle Makes Franchise History

Theresa Schafzahl suits up for the Seattle Torrent for the first time in a 4-1 loss to Montreal. Photo Credit: PWHL
Theresa Schafzahl suits up for the Seattle Torrent for the first time in a 4-1 loss to Montreal. Photo Credit: PWHL

For the first time ever, the Seattle Torrent are on the trade board! This week, Jessie Eldridge heads to the Boston Fleet, with Theresa Schafzahl making her way to Seattle.


On this episode, we broke down what this one-for-one swap means: Boston gets precise scoring power for their playoff push, while Seattle brings in a talented, often-underestimated playmaker who was already feeding pucks to Alex Carpenter in her first appearance.


Could this be a long-term building block for both teams? Keep an eye out for how Schafzahl’s role expands on the Torrent’s top line.


ION Steps Up National PWHL Coverage

PWHL Final is coming to ION! This is the first time the Walter Cup will be available on a national broadcast in the United States. Image courtesy PWHL
PWHL Final is coming to ION! This is the first time the Walter Cup will be available on a national broadcast in the United States. Image courtesy PWHL

After speculation, it’s official: ION will broadcast the PWHL Finals in the U.S. This is a huge leap forward, I praise ION’s proven track record of providing context, storytelling, and studio shows from their WNBA and NWSL coverage.


There’s hope in the air for weekly studio shows and even more national visibility for women’s hockey—finally, a chance for fans to gather around appointment TV and for new followers to join the community.




NCAA Frozen Four: The Final is Set!

Frozen Four fever is on!


Rachel Donner is all in on the Penn State-Wisconsin semifinal, with Penn State having the advantage of home ice. The other side features Ohio State vs. under-appreciated Northeastern—two teams stacked with standout goaltending and offense.




Rachel was hoping PSU would have home ice advantage and make their way to the final, and they NEARLY DID! It took an OT thriller for Wisconsin to advance to their fourth straight National Championship game. The Ohio State University also advanced to their fourth consecutive championship game in a 5-0 win over Northeastern.


Our hosts laid out the matchups and debate whether Ohio State-Wisconsin is will once again be the matchup: it is!


Tune in to hear who Erica & Rchel have taking it all!


PWHL Standings Heating Up

Minnesota Frost have found their playoff switch again, sharing the top tier with Montreal and Boston, while Toronto and Ottawa are locked in a mad battle for fourth spot. Seattle, Vancouver, and New York are battling at the bottom, with the clock ticking on playoff hopes.


Daryl Watts is heating up for Toronto, and Boston needs Jessie Eldridge’s special teams expertise if they want to make noise in the playoffs.


Games to Watch This Week

Our can't-miss matchups:

  • Montreal at Ottawa: Huge playoff and rivalry stakes!

  • Vancouver at Boston: Can Boston lock in a statement win, or will Vancouver pull a surprise upset?

Let us know which games you’re watching, your thoughts on the new ION deal, and how you’d fix officiating in the league.


Stay Tuned

Don’t forget—visit Black Rosie Media for written recaps, and catch up on our streams and episodes for deeper breakdowns and fan conversation.



See you next week when we’ll recap the NCAA champion, new developments in the PWHL, and (probably) more officiating chatter. Tell us what you want to hear next!


Peace, love, and puck drops,The At Even Strength Team


P.S. Got a hockey hot take or burning question?

Hit reply or catch us on social—we love hearing from you!

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