Why the Break Was the Best (and Worst) For Boston
Rookie defender Paige Capistran was outstanding on the blueline for the Pride in Lake Placid Photo Credit: Michelle Jay
Early February marked a massive moment when COVID took something from the hockey world: it robbed us of Swaggy P on National Television.
Lack of Paul Mara’s drip on NBCSN aside, when COVID broke out and suspended the NWHL Bubble, fans were forced to watch history fade away to the pandemic. As the NWHL made the right call to pause the season, flashbacks crossed our minds to March 2020 when just days before the Isobel Cup play was suspended. Luckily, the 2021 season did not suffer the same fate. NBCSN kept its word, and the Isobel Cup is shipping up to Boston for the playoffs. March 26 and 27 will see the Pride, Whale, Whitecaps, and Six take to the ice at Warrior Ice Arena to crown a champion.
This. Is. Great. For. Boston. (Sort of).
Boston found its footing during that best-of-three series against the Beauts. As coach Mara noted in a recent episode of the Pride Diehards, that’s when the real Boston Pride showed up. If the Pride keep their momentum, no one’s stopping them.
Let’s weigh the positives and negatives of the situation. Boston found itself, and now has the line chemistry they need. No one needs to figure out playing styles, in game focus, and scoring touches anymore. With actual gameplay under their belts, the team knows how to play with each other. A month off lets Captain Jillian Dempsey return to her post and rest from her injury. Dempsey’s leadership and play was noticed in the first few games; and while she was playing through injury her ice time and play suffered. While the status of Jenna Rheault remains unknown, but looks unlikely, Dempsey’s veteran presence is key. Not to forget, Toronto beat Boston. A loss like that won’t sit well with a team like Boston. Players and staff alike want to have that game back, here’s the chance. In those final games, Boston looked scary. Leaving them for a month let that hunger grow for them, and now they’re ready to feed. Rookies know where they’re at. Veterans know what they need to do. It’s time to win.
Negatively, this break could hurt the Pride. Both teams will be on this break, with Boston having the shortest break and the Whale having the longest. Toronto and Boston had to gain chemistry before rising to their potential. Boston comes off the break against a Six team at the top of the standings. Toronto won’t go easy on the Pride, and thus the Pride have an uphill battle.
We know Paul’s going to do his best to lead this team to Isobel. Dempsey and the rest of the captains are set to guide this team to victory. Every player plans to give their all for Boston.
Let’s take our Cup back.