r/bostonfleet

Fleet captain Megan Keller and second overall pick Haley Winn have both been nominated for Defender of the Year, along with former member of the Fleet and current Vancouver Goldeneye Sophie Jaques.

Keller led all defenders in points with 22 (7G, 15A), including four power play goals, three power play assists, and a shorthanded jailbreak goal, with a +10 rating, to go along with 50 hits, 23 blocks, and a staggering 799:32 minutes played, averaging 26:39 per game.

Winn finished the season with 19 points (5G, 14A), with one power play goal and five power play assists, and a +10 rating, as well as 32 hits and 45 blocks. What stands out most about Winn's incredible rookie season is her TOI, a whopping 802:42, and an average of 26:45 per game.

Jaques' season appeared to be just beyond the scope of Defender of the Year numbers until she went on a tear at the end of the season, notching six points in the final three games, finishing second behind Keller with 20 (9G, 11A). With a -1 rating, 17 hits, 32 blocks, 741:05 TOI and 24:42 TOI/GP, the odds might not be in her favor to receive the award in favor of Keller or Winn; nonetheless, it's still an incredible season she can be proud of, and she did beat Keller and Winn on the ice to break up Aerin Frankel's incredible shutout streak, which is certainly something she can brag about.

If I were someone who bet on things, my money would be on Keller to win this one, but Winn will absolutely take home Rookie of the Year. Something tells me the Fleet are going to rack up a bunch of awards this season.

Congratulations to the nominees!

i crocheted a blanket to represent the 25/26 season! the pattern is dancing dandelions by hooked on sunshine and i used loops & threads bulky twist yarn with a 7mm hook. the pattern had 31 rounds but we made playoffs, so i did the first 30 rounds (1 round = one game) and then freehanded the last 5 rounds, using dark blue to delineate the end of regular season. it doesn’t lay completely flat bc of the freehand but i think as i use it and it stretches it won’t be as ruffly.

the blanket is about 46 inches in diameter and i used around 1200 yards of yarn!

i also used some leather scraps to make a tag with the color key! the inscription on the tag isn’t that perfect so i might try again once i refine my leather skills but i’m overall really happy with how it came out 💚⚓️

Many happy returns to Fleet forward Abby Newhook! Drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 entry draft (34th overall), Newhook put together a stellar rookie campaign, notching 14 points (7G, 7A) in 29 regular season games, becoming a fan favorite in short order. She has been a net front fixture on the power play, and by season's end, she established brilliant chemistry on the top line alongside Alina Müller and Jessie Eldridge, which we here on Reddit have affectionately referred to as the Pink Scrunchie Club. She also added one assist in four playoff games.

She scored her first goal in the second game of the season, tying the game that the Fleet would go on to win 3-1, and proceeded to score in each of the next two games, as well. Her +17 rating includes a flawless 17-0 of 5-on-5 ice time, and in all situations that Newhook was on the ice, the Fleet were ahead 28-3.

At Boston College, where she was a co-captain in her senior year, she scored 99 points (51G, 48A) in 130 games. In 2021-22 she received Hockey East Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Year honors, and was a unanimous selection to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. Her brother is Alex Newhook of the NHL's Montreal Candiens, who when tasked with writing a fun fact about himself on his draft questionnaire wrote, "I have a sister who is better than me hockey."

Happy Birthday, Abby!

I come from a big sports family but never myself felt very attached to a particular team. I've gone to many NHL games, a few MLB games, a few NFL games, and always loved the idea of the community around a specific sport/team but just never felt it.

Enter the PWHL.

I came out a few years ago and left my marriage to a man at 33. So that's definitely part of my story and originally why i felt drawn to the players (i meaaaan 💅🏻) but honestly it became so much more than that.

This is a sports community i finally felt comfortable in, felt safe in, and felt welcomed in. Zero gatekeeping, warm welcomes, hilarious and smart signs, good vibes etc. The first game i went to was a walter cup finals game in 2024, i saw someone hold up a towel sign that said "I love lesbians" and honestly I was sold from there.

I made it to 9 regular season games and 2 playoff games, was a STH at agganis and made a plan to (and accomplished!!) seeing every team in the league at least once. As a rhode island girly with an anchor anf wave tattoo, the theme just suits me.

I love all the fan designed "merch" in bracelets etc. I even made some "Let's Go LesBians" stickers to give out at games! (Gave some to Rattray and Zoe after the TD garden game!)

Anyway, I'm super proud of these girls, the fans, and just grateful i finally found my team.

See you next season, crew.

It's so hard to believe we've come point, but here we are. This team fought hard and battled back, not just in their last game, but in every game this season. They played 34 games of competitive hockey, and won 23 of them, holding the record for the fewest regulation losses in the regular season. Including the playoffs, each of their losses was decided by one goal, minus just three games where teams were able to increase the deficit with the empty net (12/19, 3/17, 5/2). Every game they played was winnable. If they were behind, they clawed their way to get within one goal, to tie, or go ahead (ask Montreal how being up 3-0 worked out for them on 3/15). They were also the fastest team to clinch a playoff berth in league history, tied for the most points ever in PWHL history and only ended up with second place after the second tiebreaker of overtime wins. That the journey ends here seems unfathomable.

Despite the projected lineup for this game, Coach Sparre had the lines "in a blender," as Cheryl Pounder said, and the starting lineup gave us the second new look version of the Pink Scrunchie Club, with Susanna Tapani subbed in for Abby Newhook. Finnish Scrunchie Club? I dunno. The Fleet are aggressive at the outset and get some good looks early, This period felt a bit more stressful, maybe in part because of the stakes involved, but the Fleet held steady and kept to their gameplan. Aggressive forecheck, shot first mentality.

Daniela Pejšová was called for a very weak boarding call, with Rebecca Leslie basically just falling down into the boards next to her. It's hard to believe, but this was the only penalty called against the Fleet, vs. five for the Charge (that number should be higher, but I digress). It didn't take long for them to take advantage, as Fanuza Kadirova hit a shot from the point after a bit of tic tac toe, with the puck deflecting off of Sarah Wozniewicz to get past Frankel just six minutes in. The Fleet would get a power play opportunity later in the first, but were unable to execute.

The second period would open with Newhook and Ella Huber (roommate line?) connecting on a play right off the bat, but Gwyneth Philips came out to challenge and deny Huber in front. Frankel would return the favor to deny Gabby Hughes on a 2-on-1, and a subsequent shot from Kadirova. The Fleet fought to get the puck back in and Hadley Hartmetz got off a shot in front. Brianne Jenner would crash Frankel's net, pulling her out of position; Jenner was able to send the puck back across behind Frankel's outstretched pad, across the goal, where it was kicked in by Leslie. On commentary, they said that she was just skidding into it, but her foot clearly moves to the puck as she's coming to a stop. Nevertheless, it's called a good goal.

At this point, the Fleet have had enough, and off an offensive zone faceoff, Haley Winn skates around the dot to the net and puts one into Philips' pads. Shay Maloney is right there to whack it in for the Fleet's first goal (Huber secondary). Cut to Coach Sparre on the bench, and he's got a huge smile and a couple of expletives. God, I love that guy. But wait, we're not done! Eldridge gets knocked down and the refs call interference on Gabbie Hughes. Just twelve seconds of puck movement, Winn to Alina Müller, on to Megan Keller for her patented one-timer, and it finds the net with Newhook creating a screen in front. But hang on--Winn with a stretch pass to Jill Saulnier, who fires from along the boards. It hits Philips' pads and bounces off, but Sophie Shirley, using her blazing speed, is crashing the net and there for the rebound to put the Fleet ahead 3-2 in a span of just 93 seconds.

The fun would be short lived, however, as Ottawa would tie the game just a few minutes later. Kadirova rushed in on Frankel, took a shot, and Frankel made the save, but it ends up to her left. Brooke Hobson continued her path to the net to go after the puck, took a swipe and missed. Rylind MacKinnon had her stick on it and was holding it along the post, but Hobson's foot, reaching around the post, pushed the puck across the line. They didn't even bother to give this one a proper review, and this was even more of an egregious kick in than the last one. I don't know about you, but I sure would love the coaches' challenge to come back.

After the play, MacKinnon is randomly shoved into frame of the goal celebration by Jocelyn Laroque, where Katerina Mrazova takes her by the head and pushes her to the ice. Four Ottawa players then stand over her and won't let her get up. Absolutely no idea what started this, as there was nothing in a replay and no context given. No penalties, either. Speaking of which, Müller takes a bad open ice hit and has difficulty getting up for a good while. I feel like someone forgot to tell this ref crew that open ice hits aren't allowed in the PWHL, because there were several in this game, and none were punished. The refs let this one get out of control, and it's a wonder no one was seriously hurt. I specifically say "seriously" because players remained in the game who were clearly in pain or discomfort. Tapani would get blatantly tripped by Mrázová later in the period, her leg fully hooked out and upwards, and came down on her knee. She labored off the bench but did return.

The period ended with a high stick by Jenner and they actually did call that one, so the Fleet went to the power play. They had a couple of opportunities, with Keller teeing up but being blocked, ultimately getting two shots but nothing stuck. Ottawa committed a tripping penalty almost immediately afterwards, so the Fleet had another chance with the advantage, but were once again unsuccessful. Saulnier brought the puck all the way to the net, but was taken down by a double team. Defensively, they had good stick play to break up plays on the back check and kept their game aggressive. Bizarre strategy by Ottawa to check players into Philips and then get angry about the contact with Philips. She loses her blocker for a whistle here and earlier when under duress "lost" her glove. New goalie strategy: if you don't like the pressure, drop some equipment.

The game would go to overtime after no additional scoring in the third, and there was immediate gut-wrenching regret as Müller positioned herself behind Philips and had an opportunity to shoot into an empty net, but put the shot wide and across the crease. I know she's going to be thinking about that for a long time. Saulnier would generate another chance when she leapt on the puck behind the net when Philips came out to clear and sent it quickly to Mobley in front, but Philips was able to return to deflect the shot before it could get through.

Saulnier would have another chance of her own when she came in all alone, but was tripped up from behind by Jenner. It's called holding, and the Fleet go on the power play for the final time, and are unsuccessful. Realistically, this should have been a penalty shot. I could go on about the refs setting the tone by not calling dirty play in this game and every game of the series, but I feel like I'd be beating a dead horse since it's been a topic of discussion in every game.

The Fleet outshot the Charge in every period so far this game. Then, it went to second overtime. Right out the gate, Ottawa was aggressive, controlled the game, and got pucks on net, with three shots in the first minute. The third was, really, a perfect setup with Mrázová poised for a shot, which Frankel had to respect, only for her to pass to Michela Cava beside the net, who ended the Fleet's season.

They played well enough to win this game. They played well enough to win all of them. That they're not playing at Tsongas on Tuesday or already gearing up for the finals just feels like we got the playoffs from an alternate universe. Nevertheless, here we are. It hurts. It sucks. I have never believed in anything more than I believed in this team. I never quit on them, and they certainly never quit on us. Thank you, Boston Fleet, for one hell of a ride.

Three Stars: 1. Michela Cava, 2. Fanuza Kadirova, 3. Haley Winn

Shoutouts: The whole team, really, but individually...

Aerin Frankel: It's unbelievable the bad luck she had. I've seen people say her performance was "disappointing," or that she was "off her game," despite only allowing two more goals than Philips throughout the series. I guess that's what happens when you set the regular season record for shutouts and only allow two goals through five Olympic starts; positioning your team to win by allowing nine goals in across four games is "disappointing." Credit to Philips for making the saves she did, and there were a ton of them, but it's still baffling to me how many pucks stopped short of the line, hit posts and crossbars, the side of the net, or just barely missed wide, while Ottawa always seemed to have physics on their side with every bounce or deflection, off a stick, a skate, a helmet, the boards... or, y'know, just kicked in, in two cases, but I digress. Frankel saved 29/33 in a double overtime game. The Fleet wouldn't have made it this far or had the season they did without her. Give her her flowers.

Alina Müller: One assist, led the team with six shots, two hits, 30:40 TOI, and just nearly missed having the game winner. She finishes tied for second in playoff points, with a goal and three assists, and has been indispensable to this team. She also finished the regular season second in assists with 17. The non-PWHL internet is sharing clips of her missing the net in OT, and it breaks my heart. I'm sure she's losing sleep over that, and although it really, really sucks that it didn't go in, no one should be angry at her. She worked her ass off to get the team where they got, and to try to win every game. She's the Fleet's all-time leading scorer. Don't let one shot color your opinion of one of the best players in the league.

Megan Keller: Led the team with 43:34 TOI, the game tying goal, and provided indispensable leadership. She captained the Fleet to their best season ever, and you could visibly see how she tried to lift the team up when they were down. She still has the best celly in the league, throwing her arms out and calling everyone in for a hug. Coach Sparre says there is a "0% chance" of her leaving in expansion, so we can count on her being here next year, despite whatever rumors people might like to throw around.

Haley Winn: Two assists, two shots, two hits, 40:06 TOI. What an amazing season from the soon-to-be Rookie of the Year. One of the most dependable players in the league, as well as the most well-rounded, and clearly so dedicated to her craft. If there's one thing you should have learned about hockey from watching Haley Winn this year, it's that defense is just as exciting to watch as offense. Oh, and she can provide that, too.

Jessie Eldridge: One assist, five shots, 30:58 TOI. Also had a hit, and a few nice defensive plays. She fought hard to find the net, just as hard in the other end, and took some big hits for her efforts, as well. She was such a great pickup, and pink scrunchies became all the rage in Boston since she arrived. I really hope there is a way we can re-sign her.

Sophie Shirley: Just 6:32 of ice time, and she made it count, putting the Fleet ahead 3-2 in the second. Heading into the season, she hadn't scored a goal since March of 2024, but when I met her in November I told her this would be her year, and asked her to score one for me. She scored four. She had a great series, and is so underrated for what she brings to the team.

Hannah Brandt: Hard to believe that this was her last game with the Fleet. For those who don't know, she is retiring from hockey after this season to be a physician's assistant. In this game, she had 15:09 TOI and was an awesome 12/17 from the faceoff dot. She will absolutely be missed.

What's Next: Well, we tune in tonight for game five of the other series, see who wins the finals, then the expansion draft begins to unfold beginning May 28th when signings and protections begin to happen and we start to learn the direction of the 2026-27 Boston Fleet. The team will be different. Going into this season, it seemed like we took a huge hit and all of the pundits said we would finish last. We may very well lose some favorites, but before we know it, we'll have new ones. Remember how exciting this season was with this group of players cobbled together with zero expectations.

The offseason will likely be difficult, as it was last year. Think about how much more of a popular free agent destination Boston is going to be with the team, the locker room, and the coaching staff people just witnessed this year. Have faith in Danielle Marmer's ability to build a team, and Kris Sparre's ability to take them where they need to go. Come November, we'll all be on board chanting, "Let's go Boston," and I can't wait.

Devastated about the game last night but at least my cat looked cute in team swag 🥲 Hope sharing this helps lighten some spirits!

(The pattern on the side shown is clearly meant for dogs but the other side is more pet-neutral.)

EDIT: I should say IF your cat tolerates bandanas! My boy loves them so I forget most cats don’t 😅

See you next year

Coach Sparre was asked about the possibility of Keller playing for Detroit and was very clear, it's not happening.

So Boston folks, you can breathe. (Sorry, Detroit fans!)