The National Women’s Hockey League will bring the best of its sport to Pittsburgh this weekend. Twenty-eight players from the four-team league will compete in the NWHL All-Star Weekend at the Lemieux Sports Complex, beginning Saturday with an NWHL Skills Showdown at 4 p.m. and concluding at 3 p.m. Sunday with the NWHL All-Star Game that is already sold out.
The weekend isn’t just about showcasing the NWHL’s talent, though. It’s about gauging true interest in women’s hockey in Pittsburgh.
“Our goal has been to grow our footprint outside of our markets, so the elite athletes of the NWHL can demonstrate their amazing talents before new crowds,” NWHL commissioner Dani Rylan said in a release. “Since we started the league last year, we have received a lot of support from women’s hockey fans in Pittsburgh, so taking our All-Star Game there was a natural choice, and we’re thrilled about it.”
It helps, too, that the captains of the two all-star teams have ties to Pittsburgh. Amanda Kessel, whose brother Phil has become a fan favorite with the Penguins, will captain Team Kessel. Kelley Steadman, the Director of Operations for Robert Morris’ women’s hockey team, will captain Team Steadman.
“I’ve been lucky to experience first-hand what a great hockey town Pittsburgh is,” Kessel said in an earlier news release. “To be able to showcase the talented hockey players of the NWHL to the passionate fans of Pittsburgh is going to be a lot of fun and a great opportunity to expand our fan base.”
Team Kessel, coached by New York Riveters coach Chad Wiseman, will feature goaltenders Brittany Ott and Nicole Stock; defenders Kacey Bellamy, Megan Bozek, Courtney Burke and Gigi Marvin; and forwards Harrison Browne, Meghan Duggan, Zoe Hickel, Hilary Knight, Rebecca Russo, Kelli Stack, Dana Trivigno and Kessel.
Team Steadman, coached by Riveters’ assistant Sis Paulsen, will feature goaltenders Katie Fitzgerald and former Robert Morris netminder Brianne McLaughlin; defenders Blake Bolden, Kaleigh Franklin, Emily Pfalzer and Ashley Johnston; and forwards Kelly Babstock, Corinne Buie, Alex Carpenter, Shiann Darkangelo, Brianna Decker, Madison Packer, Haley Skarupa and Steadman.
Saturday’s Skills Showdown will feature a fastest skater challenge, a fastest goalie challenge, hardest shot contest, a shooting accuracy contest, a breakaway challenge and a rapid-fire shootout challenge. An autograph session will follow.
Doors will open at 2 p.m. Sunday for the All-Star Game. The game will consist of two 25-minute periods with an 18-minute intermission. An autograph session will follow.