The NWHL’s Boston Pride look towards a promising season after a stunning loss in overtime to the Buffalo Beauts in the playoffs last season.

On March 17^th at 5:30 p.m., the Pride faced off against the Beauts at the Harbor Center in Buffalo, New York. It was a close battle, leaving the score 2-1 with the Pride ahead at the end of the second period. This lead was short-lived though, as the Beauts scored early in the third period on a power play to force overtime where the Beauts scored on another powerplay to knock the Pride out of the playoffs. The Beauts went on to win the Isobel Cup against the Metropolitan Riveters.

Despite an upsetting loss, the Pride have had great success in the playoffs in the past seasons. In the 2015-2016 inaugural season of the National Women’s Hockey League, The Pride beat the Beauts 3-1 for the Isobel Cup. The season after that, the Beauts beat the Pride in the Isobel Cup finals.

The Pride are preparing to return to their former days at the top of the league with recent signings. Forwards Gigi Marvin and Amanda Pelkey resigned with the Pride after taking a season off for the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. In the 2016-2017 season with the Pride, Marvin had 14 points and 33 shots on goal in 16 games while Pelkey had 7 points and 34 shots in 17 games. Forward Jillian Dempsey also resigned with the Pride this offseason. Dempsey led the Pride last season in goals, assists and points with 8, 7 and 15 respectively.

Aside from veteran resignations, new players joined the Pride organization this offseason as well. Former Boston College star Taylor Wasylk signed for the first time. She joins a large number of other BC Alum to sign with the Pride the last few seasons.

Forward McKenna Brand also signed with the Pride this offseason. She was drafted 11^th Overall in the 2017 Draft to the Riveters. Brand is an alum of Northeastern University and decided to begin her professional career in the famously dubbed, “Beantown.”

On this topic, Seth Dussault, American International College’s Men’s Ice Hockey play-by-play commentator, said, “The pride have a solid roster too. They bring back a lot of talent and added some fresh faces.”

Since the beginning of the NWHL, the Pride has gained attention on and off the ice.

The Boston Pride have been home to some of the biggest activists for equality in women’s sports. Their star-studded roster has included Hilary Knight, Kacey Bellamy and Meghan Duggan, all players who boycotted the International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Championship. This shocking move was a way to bring attention to and demand the same treatment that the men’s ice hockey team gets.

Ludlow Youth Ice Hockey Coach Kayla Egan said, “It’s great to see a team come together and risk losing their chance to play hockey at one of the most prestigious events just so that the children I coach will have the opportunity to have equal pay and treatment.”

The Pride’s first game this season is on October 13, 2018 at 7:30 PM at the Warrior Ice Arena in Boston, Massachusetts.