There was much talk about the stifling netminding in the PWHL this season, particularly when the playoffs rolled around. With another wave of goaltenders entering the league this season and beyond, that issue will compound.
Looking at the 2024 PWHL playoffs, 53.8% of postseason games saw one team shutout. When you look at the number of games where a team was held to a single goal or less, that numbers jumped to 84.6% of playoff games, including a pair of double overtime 1-0 games.
In those playoffs, five goalies appeared in three or more games. Of those goalies, the worst goals against average and save percentage came from Montreal's Ann-Renee Desbiens who posted a 1.70 GAA and 0.931 save percentage, both figures that remain remarkably low. Toronto's Kristen Campbell who saw herself and Toronto eliminated in the opening round had a 0.93 GAA and 0.962 save percentage.
The numbers highlight the year long dominance of netminders. With each team able to start one of the world's top 6-8 netminders night over night, it's no wonder scores can often be held low.
Looking At The Incoming Goalies
Seeing Klara Peslarova, a former SDHL Goaltender of the Year, Olympic All-Star, World Championship All-Star, and Czechia's current starter go undrafted shows you how incredibly deep the goaltending pool is. Peslarova will certainly be better than multiple backups in the league this season, and she's heading to camp with PWHL Boston looking to steal their third goaltending spot. The same can be said for this year's Best Goaltender from the 2024 World Championships, Sandra Abstreiter who lost her backup spot in Ottawa and will look for a third string position as an invite to Montreal. The push has come from not only free agents, but also from a trio of goaltenders who were selected in the PWHL Draft. Gwyneth Philips is the most notable name picked going 14th overall to Ottawa. The back-to-back First Team All-American and 2023 NCAA Goaltender of the Year will look to push Emerance Maschmeyer in Ottawa. She stole USA's third spot from PWHL New York's Abbey Levy, and will have depth behind her in Quinnipiac grad Logan Angers who signed with Ottawa as their third goalie. Speaking of Abbey Levy, she also went from USA's third goalie, to losing her backup job in New York to Colgate's Kayle Osborne. Osborne is a prospect in Canada's pipeline and could evolve into a future starter in the league. The final new goalie to grab a spot on a roster is Toronto draft pick Raygan Kirk. Another Hockey Canada hopeful, Kirk won a national title with Ohio State last year shutting out Wisconsin 1-0 in the final.
Who Will Push For A Spot In 2025-2026
USA has a pair of PWHL Draft eligible goaltenders in their national team festival this summer in Callie Shanahan and Amanda Thiele, but the crease situation in the PWHL is so deep that it's unlikely we'll see either of these netminders steal a job. There are three goaltenders looking at the PWHL for next season however, who could push someone out of a job. Clarkson's Michelle Pasiechnyk is the reigning NCAA Goaltender of the Year, and she looks like a good bet to challenge for a spot via the 2025 Draft. It's hard to believe she could be on the outside looking in, but despite her accolades and elite skill, she'll still need to fight for a spot. The same can be said for Switzerland's starter Andrea Brandli who wanted to come to the PWHL this year, but had contractual obligations in MoDo. She's a goaltender who could not only start games in the PWHL, but steal games. The final goalie on the near horizon who could push for a position is Finland's starter Sanni Ahola who will also be PWHL Draft eligible for 2025. She was the backbone of Finland at the World Championships and was clearly the top goaltender in Group A. Without Ahola, Finland would likely not have reclaimed bronze. She's a big game goalie who has an international and pro career ahead. Colgate's Hannah Murphy is at Canada's national development team camp this summer, and the other netminder to watch next season is Yale's Pia Dukaric, who represents Slovenia internationally.
Expansion Will Help
Expansion has to be on the mind of the PWHL, but the timing isn't right yet. Two additional teams only creates four new spots, with two new starters, and right now if you inserted any of the aforementioned goaltenders into starting roles, there wouldn't be a significant drop in talent. Expansion will come, potentially as soon as season four of the league, but the league is wisely taking this aspect slow. The 2026 Draft class however, could force that hand with the depth of talent that group will bring.
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