At Even Strength: A Women's Hockey Podcast

Marie-Philip Poulin is heading into surgery — and Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner have a lot to say about what that means for Montréal, for women's hockey, and for one of the greatest careers the sport has ever seen.  Plus: Hillary Knight commits to Detroit on a three-year deal, Rachel brings back intel from the PWHL Draft floor and GM availability, and the duo breaks down where several teams — i...

Caroline "KK" Harvey going first overall to Vancouver was never in question — but everything after that? Pure chaos. Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner break down every pick from the Fox Theatre in Detroit, debate who actually won this draft, and dig into the draft order controversy that's got Sirens and Toronto fans rightfully heated. Inside this episode: Round one reactions: Lacey Eden's stunning...

The PWHL expansion era is in full swing — and Erica Al Ala and Rachel Donner are breaking down every move. On this episode of At Even Strength , we recap Phases 2 and 3 of PWHL free agency and look ahead to what Phase 4 means for Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, San Jose, Seattle, and Vancouver. In this episode: 🏒 Hillary Knight to Detroit — Vegas used the EFO, the sign-and-trade is in motion, and a...

The expansion era is here — and we have a LOT to unpack. Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner break down everything that went down in Phase 1 of the PWHL's player distribution process, react to the league-wide protected player lists, and discuss what those choices signal about each franchise's direction heading into a pivotal offseason. We dig into why Seattle's decision not to protect Hillary Knight...

The Seattle Torrent announced they will be in search of a new head coach. In a press release distributed Friday, general manager Meghan Turner said the following:   “We are grateful to Steve for his contributions to the Seattle Torrent during our inaugural season. We wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future."    The organization will begin the search for its next Head Coach immed...

Montreal has done it! The Montreal Victoire defeated the Ottawa Charge 4-0 in Game 4 to win its first-ever Walter Cup. Abby Roque scored twice in the game, including on a EPIC jailbreak goal. Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin was named the Finals MVP.  At Even Strength hosts Rachel Donner and Erica L. Ayala break down the series, including how Carla Macleod handled the loss, and the season, wit...

The Ottawa Charge stay alive with a 2-1 Game 3 win over the Montreal Victoire.  Ottawa-native Rebecca Leslie netted the game-winning goal to force Game 4 in Ottawa Wednesday, May 20 at 7:00 pm ET.  At Even Strength hosts Rachel Donner & Erica L. Ayala discuss another PWHL Playoff thriller, plus the latest WHL Las Vegas hire and the official introduction of PWHL San Jose.  Follow us on Bluesky...

Montreal strikes first, or last as it were, to take Game 1 of the 2026 Walter Cup Final. Nicole Gosling get an equalizer late in the third to force overtime and Laura Stacey, who returned from an injury scare, tips a puck netfront into Roque’s … well, into her face.  Rachel Donner and Erica L. Ayala recap Game 1 discuss the news that Manon Rhéaume will be the general manager of PWHL Detroit.  Domi...

Montreal takes down the two-time champions Minnesota Frost to reach its first Walter Cup Final. Rachel Donner & Erica L. Ayala discuss the 2026 PWHL Championship Series ahead of Game 1. BUT FIRST, is the PWHL overshadowing its own product with too many expansion announcements?! Follow us on Bluesky social! Erica L Ayala 🦋https://bsky.app/profile/elindsay08.bsky.social Rachel Donner 🦋https://...

The Minnesota Frost defeated Montreal 3-1 Friday to force Game 5! Rachel Donner & Erica L. Ayala break down the series and what to expect in the winner-take-all event at Place Bell.  The Ottawa Charge takes a 2-1 series lead over the Boston Fleet off a heady play off the boards. Can Ottawa fans give their team an extra jolt on home ice? We cover this and more on today’s episode of At Even Stre...

The PWHL Playoffs are heating up! Both Montreal and Ottawa bounced back to win Game 2 of their respective series. We’ve had FIVE overtimes between the Victoire and Frost, meanwhile Gwyneth Philips has posted TWO 30 or more save performances.  Rachel Donner and Erica L. Ayala discuss the playoffs ahead of the Game 3’s this week.  PLUS, PWHL Detroit is coming in the 2026-27 season! Our hosts break d...

The PWHL playoffs are here and the seedings are set! In this episode of At Even Strength, Rachel Donner breaks down Montreal’s choice to face Minnesota, Boston’s gritty Game 1 win over Ottawa, and all the intensity, physical play, and officiating drama from the opening round. You’ll get smart analysis of the goaltending clash between Aerin Frankel and Gwyneth Philips, key performances from Jessie...

At Even Strength Ep. 4.25 | PWHL Playoff Race, Standings Drama, and Game of the Week Breakdown The playoff race comes down to the final day, and Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner are breaking down all the action! Who will clinch the crucial fourth PWHL playoff spot—Ottawa Charge or Toronto Scepters? Is Montreal Victoire holding on to first place, and what does that mean for playoff matchups? We ana...

At Even Strength breaks down the PWHL’s electric sold-out game at Madison Square Garden, playoff chaos, and the playoff picture coming into focus. Speaker B shares insider moments from the arena, including epic player intros and shootout drama. Hear all about future stars like Caroline Harvey, trends in pro sports expansion, and Pride Night celebrations—plus insights on Ottawa, Seattle, Minnesota...

Get your all-access pass to the world of women’s hockey on this episode of At Even Strength! Hosts Erica L. Ayala & Rachel Donner break down a pivotal PWHL weekend, including major injury updates for Montreal and Seattle, the heated playoff race, and the impact of the league’s first-ever US national broadcast. We dive into the thrilling NCAA Frozen Four championship clash between Wisconsin and...

Welcome to another jam-packed episode of At Even Strength!  Join Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner as they break down all the latest in women’s hockey, from PWHL trades and the Seattle Torrent’s historic move to the pressing conversations around officiating and player safety.  Dive into the future of PWHL broadcasts, NCAA Frozen Four predictions, and what the newest ION partnership means for the sp...

Get ready for a jam-packed episode of At Even Strength! Hosts Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner break down the latest headlines in women’s hockey, including the monumental first-ever nationally televised PWHL game in the U.S. on ION.  They dig into what national TV exposure means for the league, how innovative sponsors like Ally Bank are driving real change, and what fans can expect from broadcast...

Get ready for another action-packed episode of At Even Strength, your all-access pass to the world of women's hockey! Hosts Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner dive into breaking PWHL attendance records, iconic sellouts at Madison Square Garden and TD Garden, and vibrant fan communities—from Seattle’s Torrent to New York’s Sirens.  They tackle hot topics like marketing, Olympic-to-pro transitions, in...

USA Women’s Hockey shifts the spotlight with Olympic gold, but can the PWHL harness this surge of new fans?  Erica L. Ayala & Rachel Donner break down the post-Olympic shakeup, from Knight’s leadership and viral moments to Megan Keller and Alina Müller’s clutch performances. Heated discussion surrounds the fallout from the men’s hockey controversy, new physical play standards, and how star abs...

In this episode of "At Even Strength," hosts Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner dive into the biggest trade in PWHL history, breaking down the Ottawa Charge and Vancouver Goldeneyes six-player swap and its massive impact on the PWHL standings.  They bring you exclusive post-trade insights, featuring reactions from Brooke McQuigge, Carla Macleod, Sarah Nurse, and Brian Idalski, and how these moves ha...

Welcome back to At Even Strength!  In this episode, host Erica Ayala sits down with trailblazer Blake Bolden for a deep dive into Olympic hockey—covering both the men’s and women’s tournaments, roster breakdowns, and the evolving storylines ahead of Milano Cortina.  They celebrate bold milestones in the sport, including Laila Edwards becoming the first Black woman to represent USA Hockey at the Ol...

Welcome to another episode of "At Even Strength," your go-to source for everything women's hockey, powered by Black Rosie Media!  This week, hosts Erica Ayala and Rachel Donner dive into the just-released Hockey Canada Olympic roster—unpacking the big news, the surprises, and why every player chosen is from the PWHL. From the missing Chloe Primarano to first-time Olympians to questions about team...

One Quarter Down: The PWHL Stock Report We’re 25% into the PWHL season, which makes it the perfect time for a check-in — without the overreactions. In this episode, we evaluate all eight PWHL teams and assess where things actually stand. Who looks like a real contender? Who has more questions than answers? And which storylines are being overstated (for better or worse)? Topics include: Stock up /...

NOTE: We recorded before Minnesota defeated Boston Friday evening.  Rachel Donner and Erica L. Ayala are back to give you a big picture view of the PWHL and International women's hockey ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.  PLUS, Rachel catches Erica up on Heated Rivalry and the connection to the first Takeover Tour stop in Halifax.  Chapters: 00:00 Vancouver, Seattle Struggles Continue 03:32 Boston...

USA Women's Hockey humiliates Hockey Canada with a 10-4 blowout, sparking questions about Canada's failing youth movement and defensive woes. Can Canada recover before the Olympic spotlight hits? Erica L. Ayala and Angelica Rodriguez spotlight standout NCAA talent like Abby Murphy and Layla Edwards, dissect Team USA’s fresh roster mix, and debate if Canada’s reliance on veterans is costing them th...