u/CinemaPuck

My rink only has stick and puck at terrible times (midday on work days), so I can only really do public skate to practice skating. I want to practice edge work, which usually involves me falling occasionally, so I like to wear gear. That said, I got some ribbing for wearing gear at public skate the other day, and it got me wondering whether it’s obnoxious or a faux pas to be wearing gear / practicing edgework at public skate?

Assuming you’re not being a menace and sprinting around like a maniac, of course.

EDIT: to clarify, I’m not talking about a stick and puck, just pads and helmet.

I’m curious if anyone has tips on how to get sneakier and more deceptive when I’m carrying the puck and want to get around defenders?

I’ve gotten to be pretty fast and can get around people with just speed a lot of times. I’ll just move the puck to the side that’s away from the defender and try to blaze by. However, this doesn’t work if they have a second person on me, or if I’m playing up a level.

I’ve noticed some players are very sneaky and can mislead other players about where they are going, faking them out and sneaking by. I’d love to be able to do that and add some more finesse to my game. I’d also like to get sneakier with the goalie.

Any tips?

I know the team will likely shuffle around line combinations in the initial part of the season, but I’m curious what you all predict the primary line combinations will be?

Here’s my guess:

FORWARDS

Wheeler - O’Neill - Cherkowski

Mlynkova - Matthews - Della Rovere

Connors - Shannon - TBD

TBD - Van Gelder - Kirchmair

DEFENSE

Guilday - Edwards

Pejsova - Hartmetz

Keopple - TBD

GOALIES

Shroeder

Chan

Levy

Hi hockey players! I’m a female player, definitely on the light side of hockey players weight-wise, and having trouble translating stick flex into my wrist and snap shots when skating.

I can get good flex on the stick and a pretty powerful shot when shooting off ice, where I can lean into it more. However, in the heat of the moment in a game I rarely have time/stability to really lean into it and get the full weight shift.

I shoot with the Bauer Nexus E50 Pro stick, 65 flex.

Any tips for lighter players trying to get more flex in game context?

I’m curious what everyone’s predictions are on how Stenberg will shake the lineup for forwards next season?

Obviously Will and Mack seem pretty inseparable, but Stenberg is predicted to be a more elite winger than Smith. Smith is RW and Stenberg is LW, so they could hypothetically all play on the same line; however, Smith is one of their better players and could arguably do more as the stud winger on the second line for depth.

Alternatively, Stenberg could play on the second line with Misa for depth—but there may be fewer scoring opportunities because Misa (while good) isn’t on Mack’s level.

Either way, I assume Cherny will remain in top 6.

What are your thoughts?

If anyone is curious to check out how the new PWHL draftees played during their college careers, I was hungry for some more hockey and discovered that there are high quality recordings with commentary for the full NCAA Frozen Four games free on YouTube! Highly recommend:

- 2026 Championship, Wis v. Ohio: https://youtu.be/hzbTC706Ulw?is=-PxZs7izAhndA386

- 2026 Frozen Four Semi, Ohio v. Northeastern: https://youtu.be/g3kcFk90pE0?is=DJc\_EJyh3g04n7i0

- 2025 Championship, Ohio v. Wis: https://youtu.be/gUANkwgxgD0?is=9v2pBlR5BKvh03A6

- 2025 Frozen Four Semi, Minn v. Wis: https://youtu.be/NBI0-q-mpm8?is=iZo3Sf015Bgh91es

Hi all, I’m curious about off-ice exercises to improve strength and stability on the outside edge? I want to be able to dig deeper and get more power and stability on my outside edges, and my skating coach said that off-ice strength training would help.

I currently do the following exercises twice per week:

* Side steps with resistance band (4 sets of 25)
* Bulgarian split squats (4 sets of 10 with 60 lb weight vest)
* Single leg squats (halfway down, not fully to ground) (4 sets of 10 with 35 lb weight vest)
* Single leg calf raises (4 sets of 20 with 35 lb weight vest)
* Both leg calf raises with toes pointed in and then toes pointed out (4 sets of 20 each with 35 lb weight vest)
* Copenhagens (3 sets of 10)
* Squats from skating form (I.e. squats on one leg with other leg extended to the side) (4 sets of 20 with 35 lb weight vest)
* Standing with one leg on a balance pad, extending the other foot out front, behind, and to each side (4 sets of one minute on each side)

I sometimes also do box jumps, ladders, single leg hops, etc but am admittedly lazy about those.

What other exercises would be good for strengthening outside edges?

I am having trouble finding any clear list online of what players are still available. Does anyone know of such a list?

It seems like most of the teams have been signing players left and right in this phase, but San Jose hasn’t signed anyone. I’m curious where we’re going to draw another seven players from? At this point, will it be from camps or something?

Now that we have the draft order, it’s time for me to play armchair GM! Here are my draft predictions.

1OA - Vancouver: Caroline Harvey

Caroline Harvey is a star defender who put up 9 points in the 2026 Olympics and 64 points in her last year of NCAA with the Wisconsin badgers.

Not only is Caroline Harvey likely the best player available, she is a great pick for Vancouver generally. Vancouver has a pretty solid offensive core but, beyond Sophie Jaques, pretty weak defensively. Not only will Harvey bring defensive strength, she’s also an offensive defender and can help create plays and chances in a way that was lacking for this team last year.

2OA - Seattle: Laila Edwards

Following the expansion draft, Seattle is down to one defender, Wilgren. They desperately need some defensive prowess. Laila Edwards is a 6’2” defenseman with arguably the strongest shot in the league. She brings defensive strength and depth, but her experience as a forward for the Wisconsin Badgers gives her some offensive sauce that will go a long way with Seattle. She put up 8 points as a defender in the 2026 Olympics and 45 points as a forward with the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2025/2026 season.

Not only that, but Laila Edwards is very personable and already has made quite a lot of media appearances. Now that Seattle has lost Knight, they need a new charismatic super star to reinvigorate their fan base. Edwards has that star power and will go far there.

3OA - Las Vegas: Abbey Murphy

Abbey Murphy, a winger from the Minnesota Golden Gophers, is a top tier offenseman with 7 points in the 2026 Olympics and 66 points in the 2026/2027 NCAA season. She is the best player available for the third spot by a decent margin.

Vegas currently has a really nice looking D-core, but could use some more offensive power. Murphy would be a great fit to bring on the points for this defensively minded team.

4OA - San Jose: Kirsten Simms

Kirsten Simms, a Wisconsin Badger, is a forward known for her playmaking, dangling, and sniping abilities. She put up 1 goal in the 2026 Olympics and 59 points in the 2026/2027 NCAA season. This player has an absolutely nasty shot, particularly on shootout.

San Jose has decent defensive depth currently and several players who would be considered playmakers, but they don’t have any players currently who consistently stuff pucks in nets. San Jose needs a strong offensive player with a nasty shot for its first round pick

5OA - Las Vegas: Emma Peschel

My first instinct was to choose Tessa Janecke as 5OA, but because Vegas is likely getting Abbey Murphy as 3OA I think they would do well by drafting a strong, play-making defender to add depth to their currently strong D-core.

Emma Peschel was Ohio State’s top defender last year, notching 39 points in 34 games. She put up 34 points in 40 games the year before. She narrowly missed out on the 2026 Olympic roster due to an injury. She is tall, and emphasizes her playmaking passion. She utilizes her place on the blue line to spot plays that her teammates don’t, and create offensive chances. I think she’d be a great compliment to players like Ambrose and Batherson.

6OA - Hamilton: Tessa Janecke

Hamilton is probably the most well-rounded team so far. They don’t have a desperate need for offensive power or strong D, so I would choose for them a young player with strong playmaking ability and a 200 foot game to compliment and learn from their powerhouse of older players.

Janecke notched 48 goals in 31 games in the 2025/2026 NCAA season with Penn State, and she was a top 3 finalist for the Patti Kazmaier award. She also recorded five assists at the 2026 Olympics. She’s got a solid 200-foot game and is great at creating chances. I think she’d be a great player to develop under Hamilton’s superstar team.

7OA - New York Sirens: Andrea Brandli

This Swiss tendy recorded a 0.953 save percentage at the 2026 Olympics, and was fittingly named best goal tender. Brandli has a 0.94 5 save percentage in the SDHL for this past year. She is widely recognized as the most PWHL-ready goaltender in this year’s draft.

New York needs a goalie, and a strong one at that. Given their offensive powerhouse players, they need a trusted tendy holding down the goal so that the forwards can focus on offense. Andrea Brandli is a perfect fit.

8OA - Toronto: Lacy Eden

Lacy Eden is a forward who took home four national championship titles during her career with the Wisconsin Badgers. She put up a whopping 77 points on the 2025/2026 NCAA season. Eden missed out on the 2026 Olympics, leaving her slightly underrated, but she has a proven track record as a productive player at a top program. She is fast, well rounded, and a hard worker.

Toronto’s remaining players post-expansion are strong on the defensive side by lacking offense. Eden would thrive with players like Spooner and Gentry to help her grow as a player.

9OA - Minnesota Frost: Sydney Morrow

Sydney Morrow is a top 3 NCAA defender who played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, putting up 38 points in the 26/27 season. Morrow activates offensively in the rush, is capable of quarterbacking a power play, and is a great puck distributor.

The Frost have a stacked offensive unit, but have lost some key defensive plays. Morrow can bring some heat back to Minnesota’s defensive zone. She also has strong connection to Minnesota, having played as a Golden Gopher, and has expressed a strong fondness for living in Minnesota.

10OA - Boston Fleet: Petra Nieminen

Nieminen put up 24 goals and 45 points in the SDHL last season despite missing nine of the 36 games. Nieminen is a five-time champion in the Swedish league with team Lulea. She is also a two time Olympic bronze medalist with Team Finland and is a two-time Worlds all-star.

Though European-trained forwards tend to struggle more in the PWHL, Nieminen is still likely the top two pick for Center in this draft. The Boston Fleet have a good start for D with Winn and Keller, but need more good forwards with playmaking abilities. Nieminen would fit in well with the existing offensive core on the team, and her experience in the SDHL and Olympics likely make her more PWHL-ready than a lot of NCAA players.

11OA - Ottawa Charge: Sara Swiderski

Swiderski was a defender for Ohio State during her NCAA tenure, and she put up 27 points and a +40 rating in 33 games in the 2026 NCAA season. She is on Team Canada’s development roster, and she is one of the youngest players eligible for this draft. She’s a fantastic skater and a good defenseman as a result, though her puck skills aren’t the strongest. Given her youth, she has a lot of room to improve in the PWHL.

Ottawa currently only has two defenseman, Savolainen and Greco, but both are experienced and can provide the mentorship that Swiderski needs to reach her full potential.

12OA - Montreal Victoire: Nelli Laitinen

Nelli Laitinen is a defender from the Minnesota Golden Gophers. She put up 30 points in 33 games last season, and had a +32 rating. She is a solid, well-rounded defensive player with room to grow.

With the loss of Ambrose and Gosling, the Victoire could really use a good, young defenseman to develop. Nelli Laitinen is a great fit, as a player who has a proven track record as a solid defender for a productive team.

My hockey gloves developed a hole in the palm and, unfortunately, when I try to play with the hole it blisters up my hand.

Is there a good way to patch holes in gloves? Does sewing them actually work, or will it just rip open again right away?

I’m reluctant to buy a new pair because they’re almost $200 these days and I only had my current gloves for like 9 months.

Do you all have a routine or set of drills you like to do to practice skating at public skate? If so, what’s your typical routine/set of drills?

ETA: to be clear, I’m asking what specific techniques and drills are part of your practice routine. Not for generic “learn how to do a crossover” type answers lol

Hello women’s hockey players, I have a question about helmet sizing!

So when I first started hockey, I was in a bit of a rush to get all my gear before my first season started and I ended up getting a youth helmet because all the intermediate size helmets seemed too large based on head circumference. They didn’t have an area to try on helmets really at the store I went to, as they all came in boxes.

The youth helmet I got has been fine, but it’s a bit small. It hurts my head after about 30 mins and the cage is maybe a bit shorter than I would like it to be. I’m thinking of getting a new one.

How exactly should the helmet fit? What sizes do you female hockey players typically go for? Has anyone tried the women’s specific helmets, and are they worth it?

I am about 9 months into playing hockey. I played only right wing and center in my first season (women’s league). I’m now on my second season of women’s, and joined a coed and tournament team too. These days, I still play forward in women’s but I regularly get asked to play D in coed and at tourneys. My teammates on those teams have told me that they think I have an aptitude for D, which is why they’ve been playing me there.

I like both, but the teams are pushing me to pick one position so that they can have me play on a consistent line. So I need to decide!

How did you all pick your preferred position?