Professional Women's Hockey League offers more opportunities, inspires players from Nova Scotia

Nova Scotian forward Jill Saulniercemented herself in hockey history Monday after scoring a goal for New York in theProfessional Women's Hockey League sold-out inaugural game against home team Toronto at theMattamy Athletic Centre.

But it's not only professional players like herwho are experiencing the impact of the new league.

Olivia Eustace, 21,is a fourth-year forward with the women's hockey team at Dalhousie University. Withher university career coming to an end, Eustace beganto consider exploring lines of workoutside of hockey. But now the formation of the PWHLhas changed how she thinks about her future.

"Growing up ... as a woman and a girl playing hockey, there's not that many opportunities," Eustace said. The PWHL "keeps doors open that I thought never would have been there to begin with."

Eustace is currently one of the top women's hockeyplayers in Atlantic University Sport, a body governing sports at eleven Atlantic Canadian universities. She has the second-highest number of goals out of all skaters so far this season.

The PWHL is alsoinspiring young hockey players in the province like Autumn Lewis, 13, who is a goaltender at the U15 level. The league "definitely opens doors for me and others that want to play at higher level hockey," she said. "It feels really good to have that door open."

Lewis, who's been playing hockey since she was four,said she's lookedup to players like Saulnier, who's from Halifax. "It was really cool to see her score [in Monday's game]," she said.

Autumn's mother, Angela Lewis,isalso the director of membership growth with the Metro West Force Female Hockey Association. Shesaid it's exciting to be able to watch players like Saulnierand PWHL Toronto forward Sarah Nurse finally get to live out their dreams.

"These women have invested so much in not only their own careers, but in the next generation," Lewis said.

Halifax resident Stasia Sianchukhosted more than a dozen people ata party to watchthe PWHL season opener. She plays the sport herself and is a big supporter of women's hockey. "It's definitely important to have a league and for it to be broadcasted," she said.

Sianchuk is excited to watch as many games as possible and hopes to see one in person soon.

"Hopefully [the PWHL] does well and this can be the league that they continue on for years to come," she said.

Nova Scotia talent on display at PWHL's first game

9 months ago

Duration 2:32

The Professional Women's Hockey League is now up and running. The league's first game was played in Toronto. And as Paul Palmeter reports, it had a strong Nova Scotia flavour to it.