Mike Murphy (he/him/his)

Jillian Dempsey is someone who should be getting a lot of phone calls about hockey operations positions in and outside of women's hockey. Scouting, managing, or coaching - she has such a good mind for the game. If she wants to do it, she'd be a slam dunk for a hockey ops role.

Jillian Dempsey, one of the most complete players and best leaders this sport has ever known, is calling it a career.
No one embodied the identity of Boston women's hockey better than Demps. No one worked harder. What a career.

PWHL Roster Recap: July 2025 Some PWHL teams have really filled out their rosters, while others have left space to sign draft picks and free agents. With the 2025-26 season set to begin in fall, there are exciting times ahead.

Some PWHL teams have really filled out their rosters, while others have left space to sign draft picks and free agents. With the 2025-26 season set to begin in fall, there are exciting times ahead. www.theicegarden.com/pwhl-roster-...

Thanks to an incredibly kind donation today, we are $87 away from my July goal of $19k.

It’s a long road but I’m hopeful to get to my ultimate goal $80k by January!!

Please continue to share or consider donating if you can! Thank you 🖤.

gofund.me/bce5b50a

Where Are All the Women At? After the PWHL filled its three head coaching vacancies with men, should the league be trying for an even gender split, or even aim for women to hold most of the head coaching jobs?

After the PWHL filled its three head coaching vacancies with men, should the league be trying for an even gender split, or even aim for women to hold most of the head coaching jobs? www.theicegarden.com/where-are-al...

Column: The PWHL Has A Hiring Problem The PWHL's most recent coaching hires have something troubling in common.

The PWHL's most recent coaching hires have something troubling in common. www.theicegarden.com/column-the-p...

Gwyneth Philips Signs Two-Year Contract Extension The Ottawa Charge have locked up Playoff MVP Gwyneth Philips to a two-year contract extension.

The Ottawa Charge have locked up Playoff MVP Gwyneth Philips to a two-year contract extension.

This party’s not over yet! 🎉

Loren Gabel has signed a one-year Standard Player Agreement (SPA).

📰: bit.ly/3IOKB4F

A billboard ad of Natasha Cloud of the New York Liberty.

Hell yeah.

Tweaking the PWHL Playoff Format What might the PWHL's Walter Cup Playoffs format be with eight teams in the league?

What might the PWHL's Walter Cup Playoffs format be with eight teams in the league?

Walter Cup Champion Dominique Petrie Returns to Southern California to Inspire the Next Generation of Players Walter Cup champion Dominique Petrie returned to her home roots in southern California to give back to the community that shaped her.

Walter Cup champion Dominique Petrie returned to her home roots in southern California to give back to the community that shaped her. www.theicegarden.com/walter-cup-c...

Having moments (or longer periods) of despair and scary thoughts after you believe you've made massive progress with your depression is okay. It doesn't mean that you've lost ground - it means that you're human. Ask for help if you need it; you deserve it.
The storm will pass.

Hearing that goaltender Kim Newell, who recently represented China in the 2022 Olympics, has a camp invite to PWHL Vancouver.
The Princeton product was outstanding in the 2022 Olympic Games - she had a .955 Sv%. Great idea by Vancouver to give her an opportunity.

A rundown of the history of women’s hockey cards - The IX Trading cards are cool. They’re fun and creative and commemorative and even the chase to find and collect them is fun too.

In this week's Hockey Friday, Giselle Velazquez from @theicegarden.bsky.social provides a brief history of women's hockey trading cards.

I've covered CJ for half a decade now - it's clear how much her game has grown in that time. They have an economy of movement for a goaltender of their size and solid positioning. The improvement in rebound control from their college career is exceptional. She keeps improving.

You have to love PWHL Seattle signing CJ for one-year. They are a proven asset as a backup goaltender and will be a huge boon to a locker room that will be searching for an identity. It's hard to think of someone better to add to any mix than CJ. That's savvy team building.

Surprise Players Who Can Push for a Canadian Olympic Roster Spot With an influx of new draft picks into the PWHL and a potential Olympic spot on the line, the Olympics is the perfect time for a player to come out of nowhere to make their mark in history or hit a career...

With an influx of new draft picks into the PWHL and a potential Olympic spot on the line, the Olympics is the perfect time for a player to come out of nowhere to make their mark in history or hit a career high. www.theicegarden.com/surprise-pla...

Five PWHL Players Who Are Guaranteed Hall of Famers Taking a look at several current PWHL players who are pretty much guaranteed a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame one day.

Taking a look at several current PWHL players who are pretty much guaranteed a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame one day. www.theicegarden.com/five-pwhl-pl...

Purple Posts Episode 3: The Ottawa Alerts Go back in time with LJ and Elisha to talk about early 20th-century women's hockey history and team names.

Go back in time with LJ and Elisha to talk about early 20th-century women's hockey history and team names. www.theicegarden.com/purple-posts...

Checking the Box Pod Ep. 4 The Checking the Box pod is back with a breakdown of the 2025 PWHL Draft! Mike and Eleni talk about what happens after you get drafted, the Russians going to Ottawa, and the New York Sirens rebuild.

The Checking the Box pod is back with a breakdown of the 2025 PWHL Draft! Mike and Eleni talk about what happens after you get drafted, the Russians going to Ottawa, and the New York Sirens rebuild. www.theicegarden.com/checking-the...

thank you!!

Checking the Box: Episode 4 The Ice Garden · Episode

The latest episode of @theicegarden.bsky.social's Checking the Box podcast is up!

open.spotify.com/episode/1R3a...

Toronto Sceptres Acquire Ella Shelton from New York Sirens A trade in the first round of the the PWHL Draft sent Ella Shelton to Toronto.

A trade in the first round of the the PWHL Draft sent Ella Shelton to Toronto. www.theicegarden.com/toronto-scep...

Want to learn more about the newest member of the Ottawa Charge? Check out this article: www.theicegarden.com/pwhl-draft-p...

PWHL Vancouver Acquires Goaltender Kristen Campbell from Toronto Sceptres The second-round trade sent Kristen Campbell and the 19th overall pick to Vancouver in exchange for the 16th and 23rd overall picks.

The second-round trade sent Kristen Campbell and the 19th overall pick to Vancouver in exchange for the 16th and 23rd overall picks. www.theicegarden.com/pwhl-vancouv...

Michelle Karvinen, PWHL Vancouver.

What a fantastic addition to an expansion team.

Why I love the PWHL Vancouver Brian Idalski hiring When PWHL Vancouver announced they hired Brian Idalski as their first head coach on Monday, I was sad for St. Cloud State and women's college hockey, but thrilled for Vancouver. This is, in my opinion...

Felt like I should do something with all the interviews and interactions I've had with Idalski, so here's an attempt to put that all in one spot.

Some pre-draft reading (and listening)

Florence Schelling really should be in by now. Her career was undeniably great and her impact on the game was massive.

The North American bias for women's inductees continues but it is tremendous to see Botterill, Decker, and Sauvageau get the nod here. They all deserve it and the exclusion of others shouldn't take away from that.

Pre-Draft Check-in with the Montréal Victoire After the immense disruption of the expansion draft, the Victoire will need a smart draft to have a chance at the Walter Cup.

After the immense disruption of the expansion draft, the Victoire will need a smart draft to have a chance at the Walter Cup. www.theicegarden.com/pre-draft-ch...