Rivalry Brews Between Pride and Six
Someone should call the old ladies from Wendy’s, because we’ve found the beef.
If over the last five years I asked you to define the Pride’s Rival, what would your answer be? More than likely you’d say the team they’ve met in four playoff series that include two Isobel Cup bouts. If not them, you’d probably answer the team that ended their undefeated season last year. While Buffalo and Minnesota are great adversaries for the Pride, the beef was never there.
Recently, I’ve feared the NWHL was going to force the border rivalry between Buffalo and Toronto. With Toronto joining the league and easy travel between the two cities (outside of a pandemic), a Six-Beauts rivalry promised packed crowds and harsh words. If we saw this reality, Boston would be left rival-less for a few years as a new, true rival formed. Lucky for us, we have Twitter.
Over the weekend Boston didn’t look for a rival, they went head hunting for one. Over the weekend the Toronto Six excitedly awaited the bubble with their “6 weeks ‘til” tweet. Like a true lioness, the Pride account pounced when their prey was week. Firing off a tweet anticipating their first loss and well… I’ll let you read the threat below.
Looks like someone’s excited to experience their first loss in the NWHL. That’s cute.
— Boston Pride (@TheBostonPride) December 11, 2020
Because a 6th team makes all the difference pic.twitter.com/UAaoOAS0bs
— Boston Pride (@TheBostonPride) December 11, 2020
Ahh yes, the Whitecaps, welcome to the party. Keep riding our coat tails with that one win 👍
— Boston Pride (@TheBostonPride) December 11, 2020
But that’s not the end of it. While the Whale were feeling festive and looking for ugly Christmas sweaters, the Pride graciously offered the winner in the Six’s red threads. More fire ensued with the Whale threatening to block the Pride, and ultimately leading to the NWHL account itself stepping in to put its children to bed.
We got you covered pic.twitter.com/fbAsQOLLGi
— Boston Pride (@TheBostonPride) December 12, 2020
That’s it. Both of you go to your rooms @TheBostonPride @TheTorontoSix
— NWHL (@NWHL) December 12, 2020
To say the least, I’m ecstatic. Bad blood has lived between these two cities for decades in the hockey world, it was only inevitable this happened. For starters, Boston now has a true rival meaning no matter how good or bad either team is they will be giving their all. Second, Pastrnak > Matthews won’t be the only argument for players now. I’ll argue for Jillian Dempsey being the goat any day of the week, and that Sammy Davis will be the future goat any other day. To say the least, some of the best parts of Boston sports are the rivalries. Canadiens-Bruins, Leafs-Bruins, Celtics-Lakers, and the unforgettable Sox-Yankees. It’s time the Pride show their Bostonian roots and join the fray.
Emily Fluke jumping ship adds to this tension as well. Jumping from one New England team to another is one thing, but hopping across the border to the North might just be fighting words.
With six weeks until the bubble, watching where this rivalry goes will be intense. One team in the bubble looks as scary as the Pride, and it’s Toronto. Getting blood to boil, and putting nails to the chalk board over the next few weeks is going to make an intense first bout between the two.