Last year, the PWHL kicked off its inaugural season, making a powerful debut and boosting women's professional hockey VISibility. In its second season, the league surpassed last season’s total attendance, reaching over one million fans. Committed to grassroots growth, the PWHL has partnered with PLAY Hockey to support young women athletes at the youth level.
Held over three days in Blaine, MN, at the beginning of the month, the Breakthrough Cup brought together teams of various ages and skill levels. The event provided a unique opportunity for young players to engage with PWHL stars, creating an inspiring experience for all involved. We talked with VIS Mentor and PWHL Pro Emma Maltais, who shared her perspective on how this event influences the next generation of women hockey players.
The Breakthrough Cup Experience
The Breakthrough Cup offered an unforgettable experience for both players and fans alike. Throughout the tournament, young athletes had the opportunity to compete alongside and learn from some of the best in the game. “I think that the Inaugural Breakthrough Cup is a super cool opportunity!” says Maltais. It gave young athletes a deeper understanding of the game and inspired them to pursue their dreams of playing professionally with confidence.
PWHL pros attended the tournament, giving young players the chance to interact and collect autographs directly from their role models. Although Maltais couldn’t be there in person due to her travel commitment for the Women’s World Championships, she shared her thoughts on the impact the pros had on the event. “I think when you can interact with your role models after seeing them on TV, you get inspired so much more and in different ways than just hockey,” Maltais says.
“Questions are a great way to converse with your role models, and we are athletes full of wisdom, advice, and energy, and all we want to do is share.”
The event also provided young players with a unique opportunity to ask PWHL pros questions and gain valuable insight into the world of professional women's hockey. “Questions are a great way to converse with your role models, and we are athletes full of wisdom, advice, and energy, and all we want to do is share,” Maltais says. “If you can get anything out of it is watching how they interact with their teammates, with the girls and how they speak about their careers and how hard they had to work to get to where they are now!”
Aside from playing in hockey games and meeting some stars, this tournament offered something for everyone. With interactive games and exciting prizes between matches, the event kept the energy high. Fun raffles for gift cards added to the thrill, and a lucky winner scored free tickets to a future PWHL Minnesota Frost game. More than just a competition, the tournament fostered a sense of community, bringing together players, families, and fans to celebrate the sport and build lasting connections that extend beyond the rink.
Looking Ahead
It’s essential to support young players and communities in women’s hockey at every skill level, and the PWHL’s partnership with PLAY Hockey is doing just that. “We do a very good job as a league to implement the importance of strong characters and leadership within the community,” Maltais says. This partnership ensures that the foundation of women’s hockey continues to thrive, creating opportunities for growth and development across the sport.
The Breakthrough Cup is one of the many events that will be hosted this year to advance women's hockey at all levels. “This strengthens the women’s hockey community because, like I said, it builds connections that you wouldn’t necessarily get more authentically,” Maltais says. She adds that events like these not only foster great friendships among players but also create a support network where “authentic connections will be made.”
With continued support from organizations and the community, women’s ice hockey will continue to grow, empowering future generations of women athletes to reach new heights and pave the way for even more opportunities for women in sports.
