NEW YORK AND TORONTO – Boston Fleet forward Susanna Tapani, Fleet defender Megan Keller, and Fleet captain Hilary Knight have been named the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) ‘3 Stars of the Week’ presented by SharkNinja Canada for the week of December 30 – January 5. This is the first time in PWHL regular-season history that all three Stars of the Week have represented the same team.
First Star – Susanna Tapani, F, Boston Fleet
At Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, in front of a season-high crowd of 12,608, Tapani scored the game-tying goal at 10:58 of the third period and netted a shootout goal to secure a 3-2 victory over Montréal in the PWHL Takeover Tour opener. Tapani’s performance led to a three-goal week, helping Boston snap a three-game losing streak and securing the team’s first road point of the season while ending Montréal’s four-game winning streak.
After being held scoreless in a 3-1 loss to Montréal, the Turku, Finland native made PWHL history by scoring twice within 49 seconds against Minnesota, recording the fastest two goals ever by a PWHL player. Tapani finished the week with four goals in eight games, matching her goal total from the 2024 season.
Second Star – Megan Keller, D, Boston Fleet
Keller had a four-point week, with assists in Boston’s losses to Montréal and Minnesota and two assists in Seattle against the Victoire. The Farmington, Michigan native helped Boston secure a 1-1 tie temporarily and then contributed to Boston’s comeback with her second two-point game of the season. Her assist on Tapani’s tying goal highlighted Boston’s PWHL-leading power play, which boasts a 29.2% success rate[5].
Third Star – Hilary Knight, F, Boston Fleet
Boston’s captain, Hilary Knight, collected two goals, one assist, and amassed 14 shots during the team’s busy week. The Sun Valley, Idaho native scored her third goal of the season against Montréal and notched her first two-point performance of the campaign with a goal and an assist against the Frost. Knight also forced a crucial turnover, leading to Tapani’s game-tying goal. With four goals in eight games, Knight is just two short of her total for the inaugural season and sits in a four-way tie for second in league scoring.
PWHL 3 Stars of the Week Standings:
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Carpenter | New York | 40 Points |
| Abby Boreen | Montréal | 30 Points |
| Sarah Fillier | New York | 30 Points |
| Emerance Maschmeyer | Ottawa | 30 Points |
| Marie-Philip Poulin | Montréal | 30 Points |
| Susanna Tapani | Boston | 30 Points |
| Claire Thompson | Minnesota | 30 Points |
| Michela Cava | Minnesota | 20 Points |
| Megan Keller | Boston | 20 Points |
| Kateřina Mrázová | Ottawa | 20 points |
| Kendall Coyne Schofield | Minnesota | 10 Points |
| Hilary Knight | Boston | 10 Points |
The PWHL ‘3 Stars of the Week’ Presented by SharkNinja Canada are announced each Monday throughout the regular season and playoffs, with points awarded to each selection contributing to the rankings at the end of the season.
