AfterThoughts: Dallas Hosts PWHL Takeover Tour in a Great Game that Meant More than Most
And it was a pretty great hockey game, too
Perhaps the best way to summarize what the PWHL is as a league was what Hilary Knight said on Sunday night, after the Seattle Torrent fell to the New York Sirens by a score of 4 to 3.
“The momentum [in women’s hockey] definitely feels like it’s bigger than it’s ever been,” Knight said. “I have a sort of urge to say I played semi-pro before. This is really, truly the first professional structure that we’ve had. Nothing against previous structures; it’s just, to be able to earn a living wage and to have the support that we have, the support of the team behind the team that supports us individually, as players, is just incredible. What the league’s doing for growth is phenomenal.”
For far too long, the most talented players in women’s hockey simply didn’t have a league that was anywhere close to what their skills deserved. Multiple leagues came along with promises that weren’t always kept, followed by rebrands, financial questions, and bickering between competing leagues.
So when a legend like Hilary Knight says things are finally starting to get to where they ought to be, it carries a ton of weight, as it should.
But for a local perspective, how about Coppell native Hannah Bilka, on whether playing a professional women’s hockey game in Texas ever felt possible when she was growing up?
“Not really,” Bilka said, candidly. “There weren’t a lot of girls teams, and there weren’t a lot of local players making it to a high level, so me and Ally didn’t really have anyone to look up to. I think probably our favorite players were men’s hockey players, and not a lot from Texas.”
So for Bilka, you can understand how a game like Sunday night’s means so much.
“I really try to give back to the Dallas girls and kind of hope they can have a dream to be here one day,” Bilka said. “And the league makes it possible for them to watch it on TV and stuff, so not only a girl from Texas, but I think they can watch all the teams, and hope to be on them one day.”
The health of the PWHL was quite apparent in Dallas on Sunday night, when over 8,500 fans came to the American Airlines Center to watch two professional women’s hockey teams play in what turned out to be a dramatic 4-3 finish.
“The game sells itself,” said Steve O’Rourke, Seattle’s head coach. “This is an example of it again. There’s scoring chances, there’s good plays, good defensive plays, physical play. You see everything every night.”
The game indeed had everything, starting with a major penalty and an ejection and ending with a hat trick and a rarely seen penalty for an ineligble player participating in the play. No team ever had more than a one-goal lead, and it was a thoroughly captivating game right up to the final buzzer.
In other words, it was a great hockey game, and that’s exactly what the PWHL Takeover Tour is all about.
Before the Stars game Saturday night, Allyson Simpson and Hannah Bilka dropped the puck. It was a cool moment for both of them, and while neither of them ended up factoring into the scoring on Sunday, the mere fact that two women who grew up in Frisco and Coppell could end up returning to play professionally on this sheet of ice meant far more than the result of one game—even a game as good as this one.
Glen Gulutzan said as much Saturday morning, when asked about the significance of Bilka and Simpson’s return.
“It’s so good for the game,” Gulutzan said. “Young girls having something to go for— not only just college now, but pro, being able to make money..I think it’s a wonderful thing. […] I think it’s just such a tremendous thing for the game. And to see it in Texas, now you can see the next stage of the evolution, right? Lots of good hockey players here.”
“The (PWHL) has done a tremendous job,” Gulutzan added Sunday after practice. “It’s actually incredible what they’ve done. I just think, for all of us, there is a responsibility [to partner with them]. Because if you want to grow the game, that’s the game.”
As for the game itself, New York tested the opposing goaltender first, as Kristýna Kaltounková fired a good shot that required a pad save from the right circle. But it was New York who would get the first power play of the game, upon which only 21 seconds went by before an interference penalty of their own ended New York’s chance and brought 4-on-4.
And the player who brought it on 4-on-4 was Danielle Serdachny, who sped down the right side and fired a shot over the pad and inside the far post for the game’s first goal.
Things ramped up in intensity halfway through the first period, when Sarah Fillier got hit in neutral ice by Aneta Tejralová, the latter of whom was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a check delivered to the head. This is a dangerous hit in any league, and smarter PWHL folks than I say that a suspension is probably on its way for this hit:
Fillier would, thankfully, avoid any serious injury on the play, returning late in the ensuing major. And Sirens head coach Greg Fargo said after the game that he was surprised Fillier was able to come back.
“I think the officials got the call right,” Fargo said. “It’s great that they got the opportunity to review it and see what happened. In real time, the play happens fast, and depending on where you’re at, you don’t get a chance to review that play, but I thought the officials did a great job in that moment.”
Seattle goaltender Hannah Murphy was called upon to make multiple high-grade saves during the next five minutes, but her counterpart in the other net had to make a shorthanded stop of her own, when Brooke Bryant grabbed a loose puck at the blue line (ice gophers will get ya) for a clean breakaway on Kayle Osborne, whose blocker was equal to the task. A shorthanded goal there would have been close to devastating, so that save was as big as they get, in the first period.
Somehow, after all that, the game was still 1-0. But the intensity was rising, with post-whistle scrums and shoving growing more and more frequent. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t room for skill, however, as Casey O’Brien tied things up with her first career PWHL goal on a wicked shot from the wing:
That tie would barely last for a minute, however, as Mikyla Grant-Mentis got it right back on a classic rebound goal in the final minute of the first period:
Shots on goal were 21-11 after only one period of play, and goals held the same ratio: 2-1.
The second period was a calmer one in its first half, and even a Sirens tripping minor didn’t change the scoreline. But Seattle kept pressing, and you kind of got the feeling that New York was going to seriously reget not getting anything out of their five-minute power play in the first period.
But they got another chance to convert on the power play after Seattle was forced to take a slashing minor to stop Kristin O’Neill in the slot off the rush. And it would be a similarly punctuated player who ensured they did just that, as Casey O’Brien got her second goal of the game on a gorgeous setup from Paetyn Levis to leave Murphy utterly helpless:
Things picked up later in the period, and New York tested Murphy a few more times off the rush and in tight. But the score stayed tied thanks to the Seattle goaltender.
Hannah Bilka got a chance of her own late in the middle frame when she broke down the left side on a 2-on-1. I don’t think anyone in the building wanted her to pass that puck, and she obliged—but unfortunately, she fired it over the net. Any hometown heroics would have to wait for the third period.
Murphy began the third period much as she had ended it, stopping Taylor Girard on a breakaway. And the same rule applies in the PWHL as every other league: A big save at one end means a goal at the other.
Seattle’s goal came from Lexie Adzija, who deposited a behind-the-net feed from Grant-Mentis with ease:
It could have been worse for New York, if not for a series of great saves from Kayle Osborne on Hilary Knight and company during Seattle’s burst of momentum. Osborne’s job only got harder when Seattle drew a power play, but once again, New York managed to keep the game within reach.
In fact, the Sirens looked to have sprung Maddi Wheeler as she exited the penalty box, only for her to play the puck with her stick before stepping back onto the ice—in other words, playing the puck as an ineligible player.
Thus, Wheeler had to hop right back in the penalty box for another two minutes. That’s gotta be one of the most discouraging things for any penalty kill—other than giving up a goal, of course.
Afterwards, Wheeler said she felt pretty bad after the second penalty, as you might imagine.
“First of all, it was more like, I was apologizing to the team, because that’s on me to know the rules and everything. But I think I’m always just thinking about the next play. Not gonna get too down.”
And Wheeler was true to her word, because when she exited the penalty box a second time, she once again got fed for a breakaway—this time, legally. And boy did she ever make it count, beating Murphy over the blocker to tie the game:
Seattle compounded their troubles when Anna Wilgren got tagged for tripping shortly afterward, sending the Sirens back onto the power play with a chance to take their first lead of the game.
But Hannah Murphy decided enough was enough, shutting down multiple looks as the game crept towards the final five minutes of regulation. And for a moment, it looked like Seattle was once again going to turn a big save of its own into another lead, only for Osborne to match Murphy with a breakaway save of her own, stopping Alex Carpenter shortly after the penalty ended.
Danielle Serdachny took another penalty for Seattle with 4:34 to go, and this one would cost the Torrent, as Casey O’Brien completed her hat trick by whipping a turnaround shot to beat Murphy after the Seattle goaltender:
Seattle would pull Murphy with less than two minutes to go, but New York’s defense bowed up, and Osborne wasn’t seriously tested at first. But after an icing, Seattle was able to push at last, and Hannah Bilka sent a couple of dangerous shots on net that would have probably blown the roof of the place, had they gone in.
But they did not, and the Sirens held on for a 4-3 victory that you could tell meant a whole lot to them, from the way they mobbed Osborne at the final buzzer.
What a game.
Song of the Game
Lineups
Seattle (the so-called home team for today) lined up like this:
Bilka - Serdachny - Eldridge
Gosling - Carpenter - Knight
Snodgrass - Grant-Mentis - Adzija
Wagner - Delianedis - Bryant
Wilgren - Barnes
Keopple - Brown
Carter - Tejralová
Lobdell
Murphy in net
New York lined up like that:
Levis - Fillier - Cherkowski
Wheeler - O’Neill - Girard
Kaltounková - O’Brien - Hartje
Fecteau - Vespa - Bargman
Norcross
Zandee-Hart - Nylén Persson
Roese - Simpson
Bernard - Bourbonnais
Osborne
AfterThoughts
Lines to get into the AAC (doors opened an hour before the 5pm game time) were pretty decent. The lower bowl ended up being mostly full by game time, with some scattered folks in the Platinum Level. (The 300 level was closed for this event.)
One of the cool things about seeing a different hockey league in action is getting to notice all the different variations on routines. In this one, for instance, all the players took off their helmets after finishing warmups, leaving them on the benches as they left the ice. It made for a cool look during the final resurfacing before the game began, with all the helmets lined up in a row:
Allyson Simpson and Hannah Bilka have been friends since around 13 years old, when they were two of only three or four girls playing hockey in the DFW area. They were never on the same team, but they’ve stayed in touch, and this game was a big moment for both of them, for a lot of reasons.
More on Bilka and Simpson:
Bilka had a lot of jump in this one, and you could see why she’s a player that has been talked about as a possible Team USA selection for February.
Simpson is more of a defensive blueliner, and while she and Bilka were occasionally on the ice facing one another, I didn’t see either play grab any major bragging rights from this one.
Both Bilka and Simpson were also in their respective team’s starting lineup, and both received a rousing cheer during introductions, as you‘d expect.
Simpson: “I went to so many Stars games. I started going when I was like eight or nine, so I have a picture with Trevor Daley when he was still here. My family is a super big hockey family, so we’ve gone to as many Stars games as we can. It’s super full-circle to be able to play there now as a professional.”
Seeing young hockey players playing for a few minutes during the second intermission of tonight’s game, you couldn’t help but wonder if any of them would end up having their own story to tell a few years from now. Simpson herself was one of those kids over a decade ago, when she got to do a figure skating routine during an intermission at American Airline Center. In 2025, an intermission featured two teams of girls playing hockey. The growth of hockey in Texas is a very cool thing indeed.
More Simpson, on playing at AAC: “It’s so hard to describe.
Like, it gives me chills just talking about it. When I found out that the game was gonna be here…so much joy in my heart that I could be able to be at home with my family and friends in the building, and a lot of people who haven’t seen me play, either ever, or at least in the past, like, 10-plus years. Just so much joy and I’m excited to just enjoy the moment.”
Bilka also said yesterday that she still eats a few sour gummy worms during intermissions, and that her teammates often partake as well. (If you listened to her interview with Gavin Spittle a year or ago, you already knew this.)
Bilka is also friends with DFW native Cross Hanas, who plays for the Texas Stars in the AHL. Bilka said she and Hanas work out together in the summer. And, like Hanas, Bilka said she also played a house league game at American Airlines Center many years back.
Kristýna Kaltounková was also noticeable every time she was on the ice. She was the first-overall draft pick in 2025, and her shot and puck protection were both forces to be reckoned with in this game. Some players just have that “it” factor, and she demonstrated it multiple times, including on this nice move:
Among the many Very Good Rules of the PWHL: No trapezoid behind the net restricting goaltender puckhandling in the corners below the goal line. This is the way it ought to be.
Another one: The “No Escape” rule, which requires players on the ice when taking a penalty to stay on it for the ensuing (shorthanded) faceoff, rather than changing for the optimal PK unit right off the bat.
And of course, they have a 3-2-1-0 points system and Gold Plan draft selecting, too. Just a whole slew of little changes that make the game better, more fun.
Jason Robertson and Mavrik Bourque were both in attendance at today’s game. They drew a whole lot of cheers during a stoppage, when each was shown on the video board.
Wyatt Johnston also had some good quotes about the PWHL after practice today, which Michael has for you all:
Casey O’Brien: “I’m so happy for Wheels [Maddi Wheeler], getting her first goal. I think I was more happy for that one than any of the other ones.”
Coming from someone who scored a hat trick, that probably means something.
Steve O’Rourke on Hannah Murphy’s performance in goal for Seattle:
“She made some big saves again for us. I can’t believe she didn’t make that superman save for us on that other one. She was amazing tonight.”
(For context, I took him to mean that Murphy was so outstanding that he almost expected her to miraculously stop O’Brien’s second goal, which no mortal human being would ever be expected to do.)
Attendance for this game was 8,514. Initial estimates I’d heard were around 7,000, so this felt like a good one. The lower bowl was loud and mostly full, and the building came alive in big moments, including a “We want a team!” chant later in the contest.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥