PODCAST: Boston and Montreal DOMINATING in the PWHL
- Erica L. Ayala
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Hello WoHo Fans!
At Even Strength is back with your latest dose of women’s hockey insights, hosted by Erica L. Ayala and featuring special guest Rachel Donner!
This week’s episode is a can't-miss for anyone tracking PWHL action, Olympic roster drama, and the cultural moment sweeping hockey fandom.
Want a summary of the latest episode? Scroll down for a summary!
🏒 PWHL Standings & Key Storylines
The league is sizzling coming off the international break. Boston and Montreal continue to set the pace at the top, but Vancouver and Seattle are making noise—proving on-ice chemistry is brewing! As Rachel Donner put it: “On paper this was a good team, but Vancouver is finally putting it all together.” Keep your eye on these expansion squads ready to shake up the standings.
🔥 Boston’s Defense is Unstoppable
The Boston Fleet have set a new PWHL record with five straight wins and a jaw-dropping 2 goals against this season! Aaron Frankel is setting the net on fire—with a .985 save percentage and a 0.40 GAA in five games. Rachel Donner says, “Absolute insanity. One of the most dominant performances I’ve ever seen.” Can anyone break their wall?
🥅 Special Teams Watch
Seattle claims the best power play in the league (30.8%), but Boston flexes a perfect 100% penalty kill. The Sirens still haven’t found twine on the PP, though encouraging sparks are showing.
⚡️ Rivalry Series & Olympic Talk
The USA swept Canada in the recent Rivalry Series, outscoring them 24-7. But, as both Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner note: what happens in December doesn’t always predict Olympic gold. The big question—does Hockey Canada need to overhaul its plan? And will Troy Ryan’s struggles at both PWHL and international level push them to make changes before Milano Cortina 2026?
🌟 Young Stars Watch
Abby Murphy and Layla Edwards stood out for Team USA, balancing veteran magic with new energy. Goaltending is the hot topic: Frankel and Phillips are locks for USA, while Canada’s third spot is up in the air.
📚 Pop Culture Crossover: Heated Rivalry
Heated Rivalry isn’t just a book series—it’s a full-blown hockey phenomenon. From the Montreal Canadiens spotlighting its trailer to author Rachel Reid reading the Victoire’s lineup, it’s taking hockey land by storm.
As Erica L. Ayala shared, “Hockey fans deserve good storytelling, and this is it.”
📅 Games to Watch
Mark your calendars for these can’t-miss matchups this week:
DEC. 20 - Vancouver vs. Montreal
DEC. 21 - New York Sirens host Toronto Scepters (Rachel's game to cover!)
DEC. 21 - Seattle battles Boston—will Boston’s streak finally snap?
DEC. 21 - Takeover Tour neutral-site action from Chicago & more
Your Homework:
Which matchup are YOU circling this week? Let us know!
Are you on the Heated Rivalry bandwagon? Share your thoughts or recs.
Stay tuned for special holiday content, fresh analysis, and countdowns to the 2026 Olympics! For more, follow us on TikTok and Instagram (@BlackRosieMedia and @atevenstrength). You won’t want to miss the next episode!
P.S. Catch Rachel Donner's work at Hockey Hot Stove, and follow Erica L. Ayala as she covers ALL the Seattle women’s sports action on Black Rosie Media.
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If you missed today’s in-depth analysis, check out the pod for all the details from your favorite duo!
Let’s keep the conversation going—happy holidays! 🏒🎉
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