The Boston Fleet looked great coming into the Walter Cup Playoffs, at least on paper.
The team was the second overall seed in the Professional Women’s Hockey League postseason after a solid campaign. And after four games with the Ottawa Charge, the Fleet had 48 more shots on goal than Ottawa in the series.
Which makes their playoff exit after Sunday’s 4-3 double-overtime loss to Ottawa all the more stinging.
“We threw as much as we could at Ottawa over the last four games,” head coach Kris Sparre said. “We played physical, we blocked shots, we competed at a high level. Like I said, I’m so proud of this group.”
Game 4 was an epic in the sense of an ancient poem. Boston fell into a two-goal hole, hit three straight in the second period to take the lead before Ottawa tied and then held on in a marathon until Ottawa scored about a minute into the second extra period.
It’s not every day a team has a thrilling comeback and heartbreaking defeat in the same game.
Alternate captain Jamie Lee Rattray said after the game that it was a special squad.
“I mean, it stings right now obviously, but we gave it all,” she said. “I mean, you look at how many chances we had throughout four games this series, you don’t get much closer than that. So, just a special group. And honestly I think I’ll remember this team for a very long time.”
Now, with PWHL expansion on the horizon, change will most likely be coming to the Fleet’s roster along with the rest of the league. How the team responds from here could pave a way for the future as the league continues to grow.
The league moves forward
The PWHL expanded from six teams to eight when it added the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent last year. The league announced the addition of a franchise in Detroit last week and, according to the AP, could be adding up to four teams overall next season.
On Wednesday, the league announced it’s expanding to Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario
That means that Boston, along with the rest of the current eight teams, will be almost certainly lose players as part of the expansion process.
“You know, as a coach, I’m process driven, right? I’d love to have every player on our team back next year so that we can go at this again,” Sparre said. “But with the challenges of expansion — and it’s so great for the league, I’m not down on that at all. It’s amazing to see that they’re adding more teams and so exciting. But I’d certainly love to have all of our players back and be able to go at this, get a kick at the can again.”
There reportedly won’t be an expansion draft this time around, which will give players a bit more of a say in their careers. But existing teams will still only be able to protect a select number of players under the current plans, which are still subject to change.
For Fleet captain Megan Keller, the potential for larger-than-usual turnover is bittersweet.
“You know, it’s great for our league to be able to grow, but it’s sad for all of us, like you become so close over the year,” Keller said. “So, you know, normally, at the end of a season you’re only losing a couple of people. And who knows how many people we’re gonna get to keep or bring back.”
But whatever happens next, Keller is confident that the Fleet’s culture will keep them on course.
“Knowing now who we want to bring in to fit in and play the way that we want to play and be a part of this culture is huge. Because that standard is set,” she said. “And so bringing in the right people that want to buy in to what Boston is all about will be big. And I know whoever we’re able to bring in, the foundation is here for us and we’ll be OK.”
