NATICK, Mass. — The Boston Fleet enter 12 months 3 of the PWHL with their new title and brand, and the mission to perform “unfinished enterprise” whereas constructing their identification of being a bodily staff on the ice.
A number of Fleet gamers chimed in on the staff’s want to capitalize on that power whereas adhering to the league’s guidelines.
“That’s undoubtedly a manner that we prefer to play right here in Boston is be bodily, and we would like our presence recognized on the market,” defender Megan Keller mentioned. “I believe the sport occurs so quick, generally it will get away from you, and we’re nonetheless attempting to determine that a bit bit out.
“However, I believe, undoubtedly going into 12 months 2, I believe there’s extra of a consensus on reffing or gamers, and we type of determine it out a bit. However, I imply, hockey’s hockey and also you see it at each stage. There’s all the time going to be performs that occur quick and that’s simply one thing we must be ready for.”
Theresa Schafzahl performed collegiately on the College of Vermont and by no means understood why ladies’s hockey was totally different from males’s.
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“I prefer it. It’s fairly bodily, extra bodily than it was in school, and personally, I actually get pleasure from it,” Schafzahl mentioned. “I by no means actually understood why it was totally different than the boys’s sport in that regard. It nonetheless is a bit bit, however I actually like the purpose the place it’s at now. It permits us to probably not maintain again in conditions. You get to play onerous, and that’s a part of the sport for us. It’s pure instincts while you’re going right into a puck battle, and also you need to win it; use your physique and be a bit bodily.”
As they put together for sport motion in Season 2, the gamers will try and navigate round what will likely be deemed a clear examine reasonably than a penalty.
“I believe it’s going to raise so much this 12 months,” Fleet ahead Lexie Adzija mentioned. “Final 12 months was the primary 12 months we type of acquired into that physicality, type of acquired launched to it extra. I believe it’s simply going to raise this 12 months and I believe everyone’s working every little thing, all of the kinks out.
“I evaluate it to a traditional enterprise startup, and that’s what the league is. … And it takes a startup 5 years to actually perceive the basics and get every little thing proper. So, is our name going to be good this 12 months? No. However, it’s working with one another to develop that after which get to the purpose the place we totally perceive. However I believe this 12 months, the distinction is, we all know methods to be bodily and we all know methods to defend ourselves towards the physicality.”
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