#pwhldraft

[tiredbutkindgraywolf16]

Some of you may not be aware since I've never posted about it on here, but I'm also a PWHL fan, Seattle Torrent specifically. My girlfriend got me into hockey and I've started watching after the Olympics ended and now I'm hooked. So with the expansions announced and the draft under way...how are we feeling, guys?

[tiredbutkindgraywolf16]

Okay, with the third phase of the draft underway, I wanna give my two cents on this whole thing. Now, I wanna make things clear that this is MY OPINION and MY INTERPRETATION of what had transpired so far. I won't have all the information because that's not the point of me posting this. I just need a place to vent my thoughts into a void. If you don't like what you see, feel free to scroll away. Now, onto the fun stuff: as a Seattle fan, it is disheartening to see so many players leaving for the new expansion teams, but I'm sure you guys saw the same thing happen when Seattle and Vancouver joined the league last year. It's all a part of the PWHL establishing itself as a league; players will shuffle around teams all the time, it's a part of the process. However, that does not mean we are not allowed to feel our feelings about it. As fans, we get attached to these players, so when they leave for a new team, it's sad to see. Seeing strong players like Schroeder and Knight leave Seattle for Vegas and Detroit respectively is hard to swallow. I'm a goalie lover and Schroeder was such a strong goaltender for the Torrent, even with them being at the bottom of the leadsrboard. She was amazing to watch on the ice and I'm sad to see her leave. And Knight is a strong forward and always did her best for the team. She's an Olympic gold medalist for a reason. She was a strong captain and a team player. However, she does lose a bit of cred with me because she chose to leave Seattle for Detroit, knowing that Britta Curl is there. I know the players don't have many options and there are already three former Seattle players contracted there, but with Curl being an outspoken transphobe, I expect fellow members of the LGBTQIA+ like Knight to hold her accountable and not be on a team with her. I know Knight chose Detroit in order to player with her fellow Olympians and it's closer to her hometown, but still, in the world we're living in, you can't compromise on your morals anymore. People may think hockey shouldn't be "political", but the whole concept of a women's hockey league is political in itself. The fact a separate league for women/afab people has to exist is political and this league has to include their trans sisters. I guess what I'm trying to say is while I'm not mad at the players who have left for making the moves they did, I hope they understand the consequences of their choices. Us fans will remember.