As you may or may not know, this is the first season of the first women’s professional hockey league, the NWHL. ($20 tickets for general admission, which is the best deal you’ll get for a professional league; games are excellent and exceptionally fun and you can get as close as you want to the ice.)

Last Saturday my friend Ariel and I went to our first game and, of course, bought swag. Sunday morning, I wore my new Pride hat out to brunch, where I ran into #10 defensewoman, Blake Bolton!

I was super excited – that was a really cool experience and I was so excited to meet her! (She was very chill, too.)

Sunday afternoon, I got out of work early and decided to hit up the game because I was in the neighborhood (and had been dying all Saturday because I didn’t have my camera, which I did have Sunday.)  

After Saturday’s win against the Buffalo Beauts, the Pride (in pink) took on the New York Riveters (in red/white).

They were playing the New York Riveters (love that name!)  It was a super exciting game – 0-0 for the first 2 1/2 periods. 38 shots on the Riveters’ goalie, who was amazing.

The face-off.

Make no mistake, these women play fast, play well, and play hard.

I’d never shot hockey before and the quickness of the game is definitely a challenge I enjoyed!

Fighting for possession (the final score was 4-1 in favor of the Pride, but the last three minutes had some questionable coaching calls on the Riveters’ end.  It should’ve been closer.)

The Riveters’ goalie was most impressive!

And finally, a Pride forward making the shot (and scoring on an empty net!)

Definitely go out and support your team if you live near any of the teams in the NWHL – it’s a fantastic league, their games are mad competitive and loads of fun, and right now they’re very affordable.  I highly recommend it!