PWHL Hands Out its First Ever Suspension on a Brutal Hit to the Head

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TJ Tucker
January 27, 2024 (5:38 PM)

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Boston forward Taylor Wenczkowski has earned the first PWHL suspension in history following a terrible hit to the head.

We're not far into the inaugural season of the Professional Women's Hockey League, or PWHL, and the league has already handed out it's first ever suspension.

Boston forward Taylor Wenczkowski has earned a one-game suspension for a terrible hit to the head of Ottawa's Amanda Boulier during a game on Wednesday. Despite the fact that Wenczkowski's shoulder makes contact with Boulier's head before anything else, she was given a minor penalty for roughing on the play.

#PWHL has announced:

Boston's Taylor Wenczkowski suspended for one game for this hit on Ottawa's Amanda Boulier. pic.twitter.com/rWgZog4W2u- Gayle Troiani (@Gayle_Troiani) January 27, 2024

"Player safety is a top priority for the PWHL. We all recognize that our game is played at a fast pace and there is a high level of physicality. Overall, this style of play will continue to be encouraged in a safe way, within the rules of the game. Our Player Safety Committee, in regular consultation with the PWHLPA, is dedicated to ensuring that there is consistent enforcement of the rules and constant vigilance to deliver supplemental discipline when warranted." - Jayna Hefford, PWHL SVP of Hockey Operations, and Chair of the PWHL Player Safety Committee."

Members of the PHWL Player Safety committee include Cassie Campbell-Pascall, PWHL Special Advisor; Katie Guay, a current NHL and AHL on-ice official; Mike Murphy, a long-time NHL executive and former VP of Hockey Operations; Matt McMahon, a member of the NHL's Player Safety department.

I have a feeling this hit would have also earned a suspension in the NHL. Contrary to what some might believe, hitting is 100 percent fine in the PWHL, as long as it falls within the rules of contact. The women have no issue getting physical either, as you can see in the video below.