Kraken and Torrent Team Up for Back-to-Back Nights Celebrating Women in Hockey
Seattle hockey fans got a double dose of the sport last week, and it wasn't just about the wins. The Kraken and the Seattle Torrent, the Professional Women's Hockey League expansion franchise, put on consecutive nights of high-quality hockey that had the entire Emerald City talking about the future of women in the game.
Sarah Miller's Mission: Changing Minds One Game at a Time
Kraken season ticket member Sarah Miller knows the power of live hockey. She brings friends and family to games at Lumen Field, but here's the thing: she's also a Torrent season ticket holder now, and she's got a specific goal. Last week, Miller brought her mom to her first Torrent game and her five-year-old niece, Dahlia, who had been to Kraken games before but needed a little attitude adjustment.
"I tell her girls and women play hockey too. But she says, 'No, just the hockey mans,'" Miller said. "I decided we had to change that."
Mission accomplished. By the end of the Torrent's late comeback victory, Dahlia was pointing out the players' braids, noticing earrings, and recognizing that these women were fast skaters and legitimate hockey players. Miller, who also happens to have WHL Seattle Thunderbirds season tickets, watched her mom and niece soak it all in. The energy at Climate Pledge Arena was real, with fans singing along even after the music stopped.
Women in Hockey Night Brings the Full Court Press
Tuesday's Women in Hockey Night, presented by PitchBook, was the real deal. Local girls players lined up on the Torrent blue line with Seattle starters. Torrent forward and U.S. Olympic gold medalist Hannah Bilka pulled the levers for The Surge call to action at puck drop, and the crowd lost it.
Kraken owner Samantha Holloway honored Bilka and three other Torrent teammates who won gold in Italy: Seattle captain Hillary Knight, veteran forward Alex Carpenter, and young superstar defenseman in the making Kayla Barnes. In honor of Team USA, the Kraken donated the traditional $32,000 Hero of the Deep award to local girls' hockey programs.
The organization made sure everyone knew where they stand on this stuff. Assistant general manager Alexandra Mandrycky and first-ever female NHL assistant coach Jessica Campbell were featured throughout the broadcast. Popular Kraken Hockey Network personalities Piper Shaw and Alison Lukan got a second period live shot that drew a huge roar from the crowd.
The Numbers and the Art Behind the Movement
Here's what matters: 1,200 girls in Washington are now playing youth hockey, and the number is growing each season. The success of Team USA will only push that higher.
The special jersey was designed by local artist Dasha Medvedeva, who was born in Russia and moved to Seattle at age five. The design incorporates roots, which Medvedeva says hold everything together, just like women do in their homes and communities.
The jersey and related merchandise are available at Kraken team store locations. This is what progressive hockey looks like in Seattle.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.