Sports

Women’s Hockey Brawl Creates Hilarious Photo Op When Haymakers Fly After Controversial PWHL No-Goal

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PWHL Women's Hockey Brawl Fight New York Sirens Montreal Victoire Punch
PWHL

A record-breaking crowd for women’s hockey cheered hysterically when a ferocious line brawl broke out between the New York Sirens and Montreal Victoire. PWHL fans in Washington D.C. were treated to one of the best on-ice fight in league history.

Punches were flying!

Much unlike the NHL, the women’s hockey players gathered together for a group photo just a few minutes after the situation was deescalated. It was a tremendous end to a tremendous game.

The PWHL Takeover Tour stopped in Washington D.C.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League is only a few years old. Founded in 2023, it is comprised of eight teams from the United States and Canada. Four from each country.

The Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, New York Sirens and Seattle Torrent represent the United States. The Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Toronto Sceptres and Vancouver Goldeneyes represent Canada.

There are a few differences between the PWHL and other pro hockey leagues, like a 3-2-1-0 points system and greater restrictions on body checking, but the general rules are the same. It’s hockey!

As the league continues to grow in popularity across North America, it took its product on the road to 11 different markets that currently do not have a team.

The PWHL will play games in Dallas, Hamilton, Quebec City, Halifax, Edmonton, Calgary, Detroit, Chicago, Winnipeg, Denver and Washington D.C. a part of the ‘PWHL Takeover Tour.’ The fans showed up in a massive way on Sunday.

A record-breaking PWHL crowd of 17,228 packed the stands at Captial One Arena in D.C.

Those who were in attendance got their money’s worth. Not only did they witness a hard-fought, one-goal game that went right down to the final horn, they witnessed a controversy and saw an epic brawl.

The controversy took place on a power play during the early third period. Montreal appeared to tie the game but the goal was called off. It was ruled that the puck did not cross the line.

Tensions were already heightened in front of a raucous crowd. The controversial no goal added even more fuel to the fire.

Knucks were chucked during a hockey brawl between the Montreal Victoire and the New York Sirens.

The Victoire trailed the Sirens by just one goal with less than 30 seconds remaining during the third period when a bouncing puck in front of the net gave them a chance to tie the game. Both teams scrambled to make something happen. Montreal poked and prodded as the defense tried to clear the puck out of danger. New York goalie Kayle Osborne ultimately covered it up to secure the win.

And then it was on.

Some initial pushing and shoving very quickly escalated to a fight. Sirens forward Kristyna Kaltounkova exchanged punches with Victoire defenseman Maggie Flaherty after she was pulled away from the scrum by an official. Sirens forward Taylor Girard came flying in out of nowhere to steamroll Flaherty.

Players from both teams were thrown to the ground as the referees tried (and failed) to restore order. The PWHL crowd went bonkers.

Here is how it looked from the stands:

Here is how it looked from the ice:

Flaherty, Girard, Kaltounkova, Abby Roque, Hayley Scamurra, Marie-Philip Poulin, Maja Nylen Persson and Micah Zandee-Hart all received 10-minute misconduct penalties for the brawl. Girard also received a 20-minute penalty for leaving the bench. It was a real fight! They were throwing haymakers.

Cooler heads prevailed not even five minutes later.

A historic day for the PWHL ended with fireworks. You can’t ask for better!