By Jackson Scherger
The launch of the PWHL in Jan. 2024 officially kickstarted a new era in professional hockey, providing a next step for highly skilled women’s hockey players to showcase their skills for the world to see. The PWHL has provided an opportunity for women all over the world to take the next step in their careers, but it is so much more than that.
University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs star forward Clara Van Wieren believes the new league is a huge turning point for the sport.
“It creates great opportunities for women,” she said. “It’s really cool to see just the success that it’s had and how people are really grabbing onto the league; how many fans they’re getting is amazing.”
The PWHL has 138 active roster spots available right now with the ‘Original Six’ teams they have playing, but expansion could be on the horizon. Van Wieren believes the competition for any spots that come available will be stiff.
“There’s more than enough girls,” she stated.
The Bulldogs captain is especially excited by how many amazing players are out there that want to get their shot in the league. Among those players, Van Wieren is one of them.
“That’s my number one goal right now personally outside of winning a National Championship,” she said.
Van Wieren is like so many hockey players around the world, fighting for their chance to play under the brightest lights. She reminds the youngest of players in girls hockey to focus on being the best version of themselves, as this is something that has worked for her.
“Not everybody has to play the same way,” she says.
The PWHL, now in its second season of action, continues to gain traction across the world. As they continue to excite fans, they are slowly creating a large fanbase, but an even larger player pool.
Van Wieren put it best: “It would be a dream come true.”