Fleet Leaders Open Up Regarding Disjointed PWHL Schedule

The Boston Fleet needed just one point in their regular-season finale against the Minnesota Frost to clinch a playoff berth for the second straight season.

Instead, Boston was a no-show in the must-win game, and now they’re watching the playoffs rather than competing for a Walter Cup championship.

There is no denying that the Fleet were in control of their own destiny and failed to rise to the occasion. However, it begs the question of whether or not the disjointed schedule they faced played a part in Boston’s failure to capture a postseason appearance.

The Fleet had a six-game road trip that spanned 16 days, beginning at the end of December, that then directly led to the club’s bye week. The team then returned for three games before the two-week break for the Rivalry Series. Not to mention the additional two-week break for the World Championships. It’s not hard to comprehend that gaining any type of momentum could be strained given the schedule. Not that the Fleet themselves will use that as an excuse.

“Yeah, I think whenever you stop the season, it’s tough, right?” Fleet captain Hilary Knight said after Boston’s finale on Saturday. “If you’re on a heater and then you have to go dark for a few weeks, and then come back and pick up that momentum, it’s difficult.

“Unfortunately, we played Toronto three times, before or after the break this year, and that’s just how it is. But nevertheless, every single person, whether they’re playing internationally, or they’re staying here is trying to prepare themselves for that next win. … International breaks are tough, but they’re part of the game.”

The Fleet had several players competing internationally this past season and is more than likely expected to see more of the same next season, with the league shutting down for three weeks in February for the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, followed by another two weeks when the 2026 World Championships get underway in April.

“These international breaks, obviously, have affected us quite a bit,” Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer said during Boston’s end-of-season press conference on Wednesday. “So, if we can limit the amount of times that the team breaks for those, because it’s not your depth players, necessarily, who are going to those events, it’s your best players — the players that you need to be healthy and playing their best hockey by the end of the season.”

Boston was plagued with injuries from international play during the 2024-25 campaign. Hannah Bilka was hurt during the Rivalry Series in February, and both Alina Müller and Frankel suffered injuries during the World Championships last month. Müller was unable to play for Boston in their final three games and Frankel was sidelined for two before being cleared for the finale.

“If anything, I would advocate for prioritizing player health, making sure player management is done correctly,” Knight said. “… But, obviously, bumps and bruises are going to come along, it’s just the game. And hockey players of any breed are the most stoic, so we’re willing to play through everything, whether it’s good or bad.”

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