NEW YORK AND TORONTO – Boston Fleet forward Alina Müller, Toronto Sceptres forward Hannah Miller and Minnesota Frost forward Taylor Heise have been named the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) ‘3 Stars of the Week’ presented by Shark Beauty Canada following games from Jan. 20-26.
FIRST STAR – ALINA MÜLLER, F, BOSTON FLEET
The Fleet scored six goals while splitting two games last week, and the dynamic Müller played a role in four of them – scoring a goal and setting up two others in Boston’s 4-1 victory over Toronto Wednesday at the Tsongas Center, then adding an assist in Sunday’s 5-2 loss at Minnesota. Goals in the first or last five minutes of a period can create huge swings in momentum, and Müller was at her most productive at those junctures against Toronto. She opened the scoring at 4:27 of the first, turning a wrist shot from the rim of the left-wing circle into her first goal of the season. After her strong forecheck helped Boston establish some solid offensive zone time, Müller used a no-look backhand pass across the goalmouth to set up Emily Brown’s first goal of the season at 17:48 of the session. Then, just 58 seconds into the third period, Müller grabbed the rebound of her own shot and set up Shay Maloney for a 3-0 Boston lead. Sunday at Minnesota, Müller set up the Hilary Knight goal that brought the Fleet within 2-1. After going without a point in her first eight games this season, Müller has points in three straight contests.
SECOND STAR – HANNAH MILLER, F, TORONTO SCEPTRES
Miller scored twice against New York Saturday, lifting the Sceptres to a 4-2 victory over New York and giving Toronto its second victory in as many appearances at the Battle On Bay Street, presented by Scotiabank. Before a crowd of 19,102 at Scotiabank Arena, Miller was a force in the closing minutes of the first and second periods. She opened the scoring at 18:34 of the opening session, driving to the front of the net and tipping in a point shot from Kali Flanagan. Then, at 18:47 of the second, Miller stole the puck, broke in alone up the middle and fired a 15-foot shot between the pads of Sirens goalie Corinne Schroeder for her sixth goal of the season. Miller thus capped her first two-goal game of the season and her third goal in two Battle On Bay Street appearances; she also scored in a 3-0 victory over Montréal in the inaugural edition of the classic. With 6-3—9 in 12 games this season, Miller is within one of matching her goal total for 23 games during the 2024 season. She shares the PWHL goal-scoring lead with last week’s Third Star, Minnesota’s Kendall Coyne Schofield.
THIRD STAR – TAYLOR HEISE, F, MINNESOTA FROST
With five shots in a 1-0 loss to Ottawa on Tuesday and seven more in Sunday’s 5-2 victory over Boston, Heise produced 12 of her team’s 49 shots – nearly one-fourth of the Frost’s total across the two home games at Xcel Energy Center. In Sunday’s triumph, the Lake City, Minnesota native opened the scoring with a snap shot from the inner rim of the left wing circle – igniting a seven-point performance by her line with Michela Cava (0-2—2) and Coyne Schofield (1-2—3). After the Fleet had halved Minnesota’s lead to 2-1, Heise powered a rising wrist shot over Emma Söderberg’s left glove from almost the same location for the game-winner and the fourth two-goal performance of her PWHL career; last season, she had two goals plus an assist against Toronto on Jan. 10, plus consecutive two-goal showings in the playoffs. With 4-8—12 in 13 games this season, including three two-point performances, Heise has matched last season’s goal total and is within one of matching her assist total over 19 games as a rookie in 2024. With 42 shots, Heise is third in the PWHL – one behind Coyne Schofield and three behind Knight.
The PWH:L 3 Stars of the Week Presented by Shark Beauty Canada are announced each Monday throughout the regular season and playoffs, encompassing games from the previous Monday through Sunday. Points will be awarded to each selection and will help determine rankings at the end of the year.
First Star = 30 Points
Second Star = 20 Points
Third Star = 10 Points
PWHL ‘3 Stars of the Week’ Standings:
Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL) = 60 Points
Abby Boreen (MTL) = 50 Points
Alex Carpenter (NY) = 40 Points
Erin Ambrose (MTL) = 30 Points
Sarah Fillier (NY) = 30 Points
Emerance Maschmeyer (OTT) = 30 Points
Alina Müller (BOS) = 30 Points
Susanna Tapani (BOS) = 30 Points
Claire Thompson (MIN) = 30 Points
Michela Cava (MIN) = 20 Points
Kendall Coyne Schofield (MIN) = 20 Points
Megan Keller (BOS) = 20 Points
Hannah Miller (TOR) = 20 Points
Kateřina Mrázová (OTT) = 20 points
Corinne Schroeder (NY) = 20 Points
Taylor Heise (MIN) = 10 points
Hilary Knight (BOS) = 10 Points
Sidney Morin (BOS) = 10 points
