2025-26 PWHL Power Rankings: Week 10 (01/23-01/29)

Welcome back to The Ice Garden’s weekly PWHL power rankings! Check back every Friday for a new installment and remember: if you think your team is ranked too low, it’s definitely, totally, 100% because we hate them.

And just like that, the PWHL is halfway through its third season. The league is now on its first-ever Olympic break, with the women’s hockey tournament—which will feature 61 PWHL players—set to start on February 5. There were no real surprises from this week’s game action, with teams largely continuing down whatever path they’ve been on this season, for better or worse. The PWHL will return on Thursday, February 26, but since there is just one game that day, these all-important power rankings will be on hiatus until March 6. In the meantime, be sure to keep up with all of TIG’s Olympic coverage! We’ll be back to rankin’ and jokin’ before you know it.

This pause at the halfway mark presents the perfect opportunity to reflect on how things have been going for each team. So, I’ve picked one word to sum up the season so far for each team, ranging from sensational to disastrous. If you have a different word for your team, leave it in the comments! I've also listed out every team's Olympians as a reminder of who to look out for in Italy.

#1. Boston Fleet  (8-2-2-2, 30 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 1 (-)

This Week’s Results:

• Wed, Jan 28 vs NYS: 4-3 SOW

Upcoming Schedule:

• Sat, Feb 28 @ OTT: 2 p.m. ET, TD Place, Ottawa, ON (NESN, CBC, PWHL YouTube Channel)
• Thu, Mar 5 @ NYS: 7 p.m. ET, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ (NESN, Sportsnet, PWHL YouTube Channel)

Olympians: 

• Forwards: Susanna Tapani (FIN), Laura Kluge (GER), Alina Müller (SUI) 
• Defenders: Daniela Pejšová (CZE), Megan Keller (USA), Haley Winn (USA)
• Goaltender: Aerin Frankel (USA) 

Word: Sensational

Many, myself included, had this Fleet team penciled in near the bottom of the standings preseason. Instead, they’ve sat first in the league all season. They’ve been a must-watch, with top-notch goaltending, an exciting rookie class, and the ability to win in a bunch of different ways. It hasn’t been perfect, but it has been successful, and that’s all you can really ask for out of the first half of a season.

Boston practically started the Olympic break early, with just one game over the past ten days. It was arguably their worst home performance of the season, as they kept letting the Sirens crawl back into the game when the Fleet should have had all the momentum. However, they still played reasonably well overall and secured the shootout win to stay undefeated in Massachusetts. Boston will now face arguably its toughest test of the season, with the long break immediately followed by a five-game road trip. If they hope to keep their spot in the standings in the second half, they’ll have to significantly improve their road play and start truly earning some road points, instead of just eking most of them out, primarily on the back of Aerin Frankel.

#2. Minnesota Frost (7-2-3-3, 28 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 3 (+1)

This Week’s Results:

• Sun, Jan 25 vs NYS: 6-2 W
• Wed, Jan 28 vs VAN: 4-1 W

Upcoming Schedule:

• Sun, Mar 1 @ MTL: 12 p.m. CT, Place Bell, Laval, QC (FanDuel Sports Network North, Sportsnet, RDS, PWHL YouTube Channel)

Olympians:

• Forwards: Klára Hymlárová (CZE), Denisa Křížová (CZE), Kendall Coyne Schofield (USA), Britta Curl-Salemme (USA), Taylor Heise (USA), Kelly Pannek (USA), Grace Zumwinkle (USA)
• Defender: Lee Stecklein (USA)
• Staff: Katie Homan (USA athletic trainer), Sis Paulsen (USA equipment manager)

Word: Consistent

The two-time Walter Cup champions are a problem again this season. Unlike their past two seasons, which have been streaky, they’ve had a remarkably consistent Year 3, with just one losing streak to their name (and even that just featured one regulation and one overtime loss). Their offense has been potent, goaltending strong, and defense better than anticipated. They certainly look like a team that’s ready to be a problem in the postseason again as they head into the second half.

Remember how I said that Minnesota’s first homestand of the season was going to give them an excellent chance to bank some points heading into the Olympic break? Yeah, it was. They went 2-0-1-0 on it, and outscored their opponents 10-3 this week. It’s a bit unfortunate for them that they don’t get a chance to continue that momentum for over a month, but they couldn’t ask to head into this break on a better note.

#3. Montréal Victoire (7-3-0-5, 27 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 3 (-)

This Week’s Results:

• Sat, Jan 24 vs OTT: 3-1 W
• Wed, Jan 28 vs TOR: 3-0 W

Upcoming Schedule:

• Thu, Feb 26 @ NYS: 7 p.m. ET, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ (TSN, RDS, MSGSN2, PWHL YouTube Channel)
• Sun, Mar 1 vs MIN: 1 p.m. ET, Place Bell, Laval, QC (Sportsnet, RDS, FanDuel Sports Network North, PWHL YouTube Channel)
• Tue, Mar 3 @ TOR: 7 p.m. ET, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto, ON (Amazon Prime, PWHL YouTube Channel)

Olympians:

• Forwards: Marie-Philip Poulin (CAN), Laura Stacey (CAN), Natálie Mlýnková (CZE), Lina Ljungblom (SWE), Hayley Scamurra (USA)
• Defenders: Erin Ambrose (CAN), Kati Tabin (CAN)
• Goaltenders: Ann-Renée Desbiens (CAN), Sandra Abstreiter (GER)
• Staff: Kori Cheverie (CAN assistant coach), Caroline Ouellette (CAN assistant coach), Vicki Bendus (CAN strength and conditioning coach), Danièle Sauvageau (ITA general manager), Mikael Nahabedian (ITA director of analytics), Alex Tremblay (ITA skills coach)

Word: Resilient

The goals haven’t been coming like the Victoire want them to for most of this season. However, they’ve proven themselves to be a resilient squad, and they’ve found ways to win games anyway. Sure, a good deal of it is owed to Marie-Philip Poulin’s perpetual clutchness and Ann-Renée Desbiens’ overall brilliance, but the supporting cast has been vital to gritting out games and banking enough points to sit third heading into this break.

Could it be? The Victoire have scored more than two goals in consecutive games? And Poulin only had one of them? You better believe it, because it’s true. This is exactly the week that Montréal needed to feel good about themselves heading into the long break. They got scoring from all over the lineup, and even got some elusive power play goals, while staying strong defensively and in between the pipes. These wins should give the group staying home some confidence as they tweak some things in practice, while leaving the team as a whole with something good to build on when they return.

#4. New York Sirens (7-0-3-6, 24 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 3 (-1)

This Week’s Results:

• Sun, Jan 25 @ MIN: 6-2 L
• Wed, Jan 28 @ BOS: 4-3 SOL

Upcoming Schedule:

• Thu, Feb 26 vs MTL: 7 p.m. ET, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ (MSGSN2, Sportsnet, RDS, PWHL YouTube Channel)
• Thu, March 5 vs BOS: 7 p.m. ET, Prudential Center, Newark, NJ (NESN, Sportsnet, PWHL YouTube Channel)

Olympians: 

• Forwards: Sarah Fillier (CAN), Kristin O’Neill (CAN), Kristýna Kaltounková (CZE) 
• Defenders: Nicole Vallario (SUI), Maja Nylén-Persson (SWE)
• Goaltender: Kayle Osborne (CAN)
• Staff: Josh Sciba (USA assistant coach)

Word: Promising

After finishing last in the PWHL in the first two seasons, it looks like this one is different in New York. They’re currently in the final playoff spot by both points and points percentage, and while a great deal of that is owed to one four-game regulation win streak, it’s a promising position to be in nonetheless. Now, it’s just a matter of keeping pace on the other side of this break.

Unlike the three teams above them, the Sirens are not heading into the break on a high note. Their defense continued to struggle this week, especially in Sunday’s visit to Minnesota, and while the offense remained strong, it wasn’t enough to paper over the defensive lapses. Still, New York finds itself in a playoff spot heading into the break, and that’s all they can really ask for after the past two seasons. They get to come back to a three-game homestand, and although they’ll have to start it against two tough opponents, they should have a decent opportunity to get their play moving in the right direction before they hit the road again.

#5. Ottawa Charge (4-5-0-7, 22 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 5 (-)

This Week’s Results:

• Sat, Jan 24 @ MTL: 3-1 L
• Wed, Jan 28 vs SEA: 4-2 W

Upcoming Schedule:

• Sat, Feb 28 vs BOS: 2 p.m. ET, TD Place, Ottawa, ON (CBC, NESN, PWHL YouTube Channel)
• Wed, Mar 4 vs SEA: 7 p.m. ET, TD Place, Ottawa, ON (TSN, PWHL YouTube Channel)

Olympians:

• Forwards: Emily Clark (CAN), Brianne Jenner (CAN), Kateřina Mrázová (CZE) 
• Defenders: Jocelyne Larocque (CAN), Ronja Savolainen (FIN), Rory Guilday (USA)
• Goaltenders: Sanni Ahola (FIN), Gwyneth Phillips (USA)
• Staff: Carla MacLeod (CZE head coach)

Word: Resurgent

Ottawa did not have a good first month of the season. However, they’ve surged back since to sit in fifth place and well within striking distance of a playoff spot. Much of their success is still owed to Gwyneth Phillips, but points are points right now. If they can unlock more offense and clean up their details during this break, they just might be able to sneak into the playoffs in the second half.

The story in Ottawa was the same as usual this week. Both games featured a healthy dose of goalie torture, with Saturday’s result reflecting that. However, thanks to three goals in the final 5:14, they found a way to win on Wednesday and send themselves into the break on a happy note. This break will be interesting for Ottawa, as their biggest challenge this season has been generating consistent offense and scoring chances, and they’ll have to work on it in practice without their top two goaltenders. However, it can still be done, and if they manage to find some more lines that work, they’ll be in a good spot to stay in the playoff race after the break.

#7 (tied). Seattle Torrent (4-1-2-7, 16 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 6 (-1)

This Week’s Results:

• Sun, Jan 25 vs VAN: 3-1 L
• Wed, Jan 28 @ OTT: 4-2 L

Upcoming Schedule:

• Fri, Feb 27 vs TOR: 7 p.m. PT, Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA (TSN, PWHL YouTube Channel)
• Wed, Mar 4 @ OTT: 4 p.m. PT, TD Place, Ottawa, ON (TSN, PWHL YouTube Channel)

Olympians:

• Forwards: Julia Gosling (CAN), Hannah Bilka (USA), Alex Carpenter (USA), Hilary Knight (USA)
• Defenders: Aneta Tejralová (CZE), Cayla Barnes (USA)

Word: Underwhelming

Seattle never looked like they were going to have the most explosive team, but they looked like they’d be able to win a lot of tight games. But instead, they’ve been extremely underwhelming all season. The offense is even more top-heavy than it looked on paper. The defense is not as consistently strong as it seemed like it would be. And the goaltending, while solid, has not often been show-stopping, although that would be a tall order considering the team in front of them. As a result, they sit last in the PWHL by raw points and seventh by points percentage, and their postseason hopes grow dimmer by the day.

The Torrent are heading into the international break on one of the worst notes in the league. They’ve lost five of their past six games, and they spectacularly blew their last game by letting up three goals in the final 5:14. The good news for the Torrent is that they’re sending the fewest players overseas, meaning their practices will be the closest to normal across the league. However, the bad news is there is a *lot* to practice.

#7 (tied). Vancouver Goldeneyes (5-1-2-8, 19 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 8 (+1)

This Week’s Results:

• Sun, Jan 25 @ SEA: 3-1 W
• Wed, Jan 28 @ MIN: 4-1 L

Upcoming Schedule:

• Sun, Mar 1 vs TOR: 1 p.m. PT, Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC (TSN, PWHL YouTube Channel)

Olympians:

• Forwards: Jennifer Gardiner (CAN), Sarah Nurse (CAN), Tereza Vanišová (CZE), Michelle Karvinen (FIN)
• Defenders: Sophie Jaques (CAN), Claire Thompson (CAN), Nina Jobst-Smith (GER) 
• Goaltender: Emerance Maschmeyer (CAN)

Word: Disappointing

Disappointing is the nicest way to put it when a team that many had penciled in near the top of the standings in the preseason ends up in sixth at the halfway mark. The pieces are there in Vancouver, but they’re not fitting together. They’re a good team at home, but disastrous out on the road, and the result is a bottom-dwelling squad. 

In positive news, Vancouver finally won another game on the road this week. However, it was against an equally struggling team, so it's not too much to write home about. Then, despite having another strong game on Wednesday, they couldn’t find the back of the net in Minnesota until they had already dug too deep a hole. Sarah Nurse’s return to the lineup has been a massive boost to the Goldeneyes, but it is a big problem that despite playing in just five of her team’s 16 games, she is tied for the team lead in goals and sits fifth in points. Other players simply have to step up in Vancouver, or they'll be playing for the Gold Plan before long.

#8. Toronto Sceptres (4-1-3-8, 17 points)

Last Week’s Ranking: 8 (-)

This Week’s Results:

• Wed, Jan 28 @ MTL: 3-0 L

Upcoming Schedule:

• Fri, Feb 27 @ SEA: 10 p.m. ET, Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA (TSN, PWHL YouTube Channel)
• Sun, Mar 1 @ VAN: 4 p.m. ET, Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC (TSN, PWHL YouTube Channel)
• Tue, Mar 3 vs MTL: 7 p.m. ET, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto, ON (Amazon Prime, PWHL YouTube Channel)

Olympians:

• Forwards: Emma Maltais (CAN), Natalie Spooner (CAN), Blayre Turnbull (CAN), Daryl Watts (CAN), Kristin Della Rovere (ITA), Sara Hjalmarsson (SWE)
• Defenders: Renata Fast (CAN), Ella Shelton (CAN), Anna Kjellbin (SWE)
• Staff: Gina Kingsbury (CAN general manager), Troy Ryan (CAN head coach), Stef Thompson (CAN assistant coach, video), Brad Kirkwood (CAN goaltending consultant), Daniel Tkaczuk (CAN performance coach consultant), Alana Goulden (CAN equipment manager)

Word: Disastorous

Toronto hasn’t won consecutive games all year. They’re 0-1-1-6 in their last eight. They’ve been shut out in their last two. They’re last in the PWHL by points percentage. Disastrous is the only word for them right now.

And the award for “going into the break on the worst note” goes to … drumroll ... Toronto! Having to sit and stew for a month over getting shut out in back-to-back games is not ideal, to say the least. Nobody seems to have any answers as to why this team is so bad or how to fix them, and it’s looking more and more like a lost season in Toronto. Could they surprise us in the second half of the season? Sure, because the pieces are still there. But does that feel likely? Not at all.