Yahoo Sports Five Takeaways For PWHL Fans From The First Leg Of The Women's Euro Hockey Tour
The first leg of the revamped Women's Euro Hockey Tour is in the books. Czechia took top spot followed by Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland. But there was more to consider this year. First, Canada and USA's development teams will join the tour in December, which will make it one of the most important scouting events of the year for PWHL teams. Also, there was plenty of current and future PWHL talent in the event. Here's five takeaways for PWHL fans from the first stop of the 2024-2025 Women's Euro Hockey Tour.
1. Get excited for Viivi Vainikka
This year we were left wondering which European stars would declare for the PWHL Draft until for the most part, until the World Championships. When it comes to 22-year-old Viivi Vainikka we already know her intent. Vainikka wants to come to the PWHL as soon as possible, and that will be following this season when her contract with Lulea, where she scored 23 goals and 52 points in 36 games last season, comes to an end. Vainikka was involved in 55.5% of Finland's goals at the Women's Euro Hockey Tour, which was more than Susana Tapani, Noora Tulus, or Petra Nieminen. She topped all Finnish scorers with three goals and five points in three games. At only 22, the best remains ahead for Vainikka, who is a player PWHL fans should be excited to see when she enters the 2025 PWHL Draft.
2. The Czechia Influence Will Continue To Grow
In year one of the PWHL, it was Katerina Mrazova, Tereza Vanisova, Aneta Tejralova, and Denisa Krizova. This year via the 2024 PWHL Draft, that number grew to include Daniela Pejsova, Klara Hymlarova, and Noemi Neubauerova. It could also include Klara Peslarova via a camp invite. But the talent wave from Czechia is only beginning, and by the time the 2026 Olympics roll around, the majority of Czechia's roster will be playing in the PWHL and NCAA. Next June, the PWHL Draft will feature Czechia's top two offensive threats in Natalie Mlynkova and Kristyna Kaltounkova, who could both be first round picks. Add in the possibility of Michaela Pejzloza declaring next season, who would be a top three round pick, and another wave coming inclusing Sara Cajanoa, Tereza Radova, Adela Sapovalivova, and Tereza Plosova, and the PWHL influence on Czechia, and the Czech influence on the PWHL is a reciprocal relationship that's only just beginning.
3. Sweden is ready to challenge
When Lina Ljungblom and Maja Nylen Persson step on the ice this season in the PWHL, it will mark the first significant movement from the nation to the world’s new top league. But the wave will grow and grow with Hanna Olsson, Sara Hjalmarsson, and in the not too distant future players like Hilda Svensson, Mira Hallin, Wilma Sundin, Ebba Hedqvist, and Mira Jungaker. The other aspect of Sweden’s wave is that it will be reciprocal. Sweden features the second best league in the world in the SDHL, and any player with PWHL aspirations from Europe will move to this league before the NCAA, and following college hockey, players who need to continue their development will head to Sweden, which will continue to help young players from the nation develop. While there is no on paper “formal” affiliations between SDHL and PWHL teams, multiple PWHL teams say they have informal agreements in place to work with SDHL teams.
4. Teams Might Be Kicking Themselves For Pesjova
PWHL Boston saw the value of Czechia's Daniela Pejsova at the World Championships. Their brass, including general manager Danielle Marmer sat in the stands at the tournament watching Pejsova perform, and obviously, they liked what they saw enough to trade up for Pejsova at the 2024 Draft to select her 7th overall, likely one pick before PWHL Ottawa would have taken the defender. She's big, physical, mobile, and sees the ice well. Most of all, Pejsova can jumpstart offense from the back end, but never at the expense of defending her zone. It's an attribute seriously lacking in the league, and Pejsova's unique combination of skill and intelligence, her off and on-ice demeanor, and the fact that at 22, she's younger than most of the NCAA rookies entering the league, meaning her upside is still coming into view, Boston may have grabbed the best defender in the draft in round two. Don't expect Pejsova to put up big numbers, but expect her to showcase a skillset that will endear her to fans immediately, and make her an imposing opponent from day one.
5. Women's Euro Hockey Tour Itself Is Significant
When December rolls around and it's time for Canada and USA's development teams join, this tournament will continue to gain in importance. The fact this tournament has become a place for the top four nations in Europe, and soon the next wave of PWHL stars, makes it an event the league and IIHF cannot and will not ignore when it comes to scheduling international breaks. Soon, there may be more PWHL players in this event than the Rivalry Series, and that in itself says a lot. The other aspect of this is that Canadian and American brass see this as an opportunity to lay the foundation for a women’s “World Junior” tournament.
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