A new rule has Taylor Heise daydreaming about the power-play chances that will come her way in the second season of the PWHL.
“It makes you salivate,” said the Minnesota Frost center, who earned Playoff MVP honors last spring as her team captured the league’s inaugural Walter Cup.
Under the ‘No Escape’ rule, teams won’t be permitted to change their personnel when they take a penalty. Similar to the restriction that has been in place after icing calls for years, it should offer big opportunities for power plays that go up against tired defenders.
“There’s pressure on centers,” Heise added. “If you lose that face-off draw, then what’s the point? But it’s awesome, because now everyone on the team has to be well-versed in PK and what you do in those odd situations where, say, a defense gets a penalty, then you got to have one of your forwards playing defense. So things are going to get ugly, but I’m hoping when we’re on the power play side of it, we’re going to take a good step forward with it.”
Though a lingering knee issue kept Heise off the ice for the Frost’s mini-camp in Toronto last week, she expects to be on the ice with her teammates when their championship banner is raised to the rafters at the Xcel Energy Center ahead of Minnesota’s season-opener on Sunday.
“It’s an injury where you just have to listen to your body,” she said. “I am not a very patient woman and my trainers know that. They do a really great job of keeping me in check and just saying, ‘There are no heroes in November. You’re not going to win a championship in November.’”
As well as hitting the ice for the PWHL’s real-life second season, Heise and her teammates and opponents are also about to get to work in the virtual world. On Dec. 5, EA Sports is releasing a holiday update to its NHL 25 game which will feature all six PWHL teams, as well as the league’s players.
“I’m excited to play as myself here soon,” Heise said. “I’ve already gotten so many people reaching out to me that are super-excited about us in the PWHL being a part of the EA Sports game and NHL 25.”
Female players were first introduced to the EA Sports NHL franchise in 2022, under their national team affiliations. Canada’s Sarah Nurse, now of the Toronto Sceptres, was a cover athlete for NHL 23.
“This is important in the sense of any young girl or any young boy can choose if they want to go play EA Sports NHL 25 and play as whoever player they want,” Heise said. “You don’t have to be a little girl to play as Natalie Spooner or Hilary Knight or Kendall Coyne. You can be anyone, and you can do it at any point that you want.
“To have people like us, that look like us, that people can play as — that’s a whole different thing,” she continued. “I know EA Sports did a great job, including facial recognition and facial movements. I’ve gotten screened twice now — and you make some funny faces, whether you get in a fight or you’re driving the net. The facial expressions are insane.”
The collaboration is another feather in the cap of the PWHL, which is now trying to perpetuate the enormous momentum that they were able to generate Season 1.
“Our partnership with EA Sports opens new doors to elevate women’s hockey across all levels,” said the PWHL’s senior vice president of business operations, Amy Scheer. “Through this alliance, we’ll develop in-game and out-of-game experiences that strengthen the bond between our teams, players, and fans, bringing the PWHL closer to the global hockey community.”
Season 2 of PWHL action kicks off with two games on Saturday, Nov. 30. The Sceptres will host the Boston Fleet at their new home, Coca-Cola Coliseum (2 p.m. ET), then the Montreal Victoire will entertain the Ottawa Charge at Place Bell (5 p.m. ET).
Taylor Heise and the Frost will host the New York Sirens on Sunday (6 p.m. ET).