PWHL players may have to rein in physicality at world championship

UTICA, New York — Coaches and players in the Professional Women’s Hockey League don’t expect the new league’s brand of hard-hitting hockey to continue into the world championship.

The PWHL rule book released Jan. 1 and the International Ice Hockey Federation’s 2023-24 rule book carry identical language around body checking in women’s hockey, but similar to NHL players heading to the men’s world championship, an adjustment is expected.

“It’s definitely going to be refereed differently I think,” said Canadian forward Brianne Jenner, who suits up for Ottawa in the PWHL. “There’s going to be probably more of that kind of open-ice body contact being called for sure.”

Canada opens the world championship today against Finland, followed by Friday afternoon’s meeting with Switzerland at the Adirondack Bank Center.

“Body checking” was once a called minor penalty in international women’s hockey. Now, the term is “illegal hit.” In its first season, the PWHL has provided a lot of leeway when it comes to full-body checks.

“Nobody’s running around absolutely demolishing people out there in open ice,” said Canadian and Toronto PWHL forward Sarah Nurse. “It’s definitely a tough league and I think it’s prepared us for the level of compete that we need.

“We may have to hold back a little bit, but I don’t anticipate a big change.”

The Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL) introduced body checking for the 2022-23 season. Almost 90 players in the 2024 world championship in Utica, New York, play in either the PWHL or SDHL.

“The reality is, in our sport, all calls are sort of discretionary calls, right? It’s based on what people see and what they feel transpired,” said Czechia and PWHL Ottawa head coach Carla MacLeod. “You’re trying to black and white something that’s so immensely grey.

“I think we’ll learn quickly here.”

IIHF officiating has traditionally been stricter around checking in both the men’s and women’s game.

“The officials and how they’ll call it, they’re not going to call it the way the PWHL is called,” said Canadian and PWHL Toronto head coach Troy Ryan.

“An athlete that plays in the PWHL is going to be going into this world championship and the first question they’re going to say ‘is it going to be called the same way that it’s called in the PWHL?’ The answer is no for sure.”