MARCH 26, 2024 — Ottawa left wing Daryl Watts, Ottawa right wing/center Brianne Jenner, and Toronto right wing Natalie Spooner have been named the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) ‘3 Stars of the Week’ for the week ending March 25.
FIRST STAR – DARYL WATTS, LW, OTTAWA
Watts is named first star for the first time this season after the forward had four goals in two games played last week, including a hat trick against Toronto. Her output moved her into a tie for third in the PWHL in goals scored with eight, and a tie for ninth in overall scoring with 13. Ottawa won both of its games last week, with Watts notching the game-winning-goal in each contest. First, her team won 3-0 against New York, which moved them past Boston in the standings and into a playoff position. Then, on March 23, Ottawa ended Toronto’s 11-game win streak with a 5-3 win, propelled by Watts’ hat trick. The 24-year-old had a powerplay marker, the game-winner in the third, and iced the game with an empty netter. Watts was also +3 with nine shots on goal in last week’s games. With their two regulation wins last week, her team now sits five points ahead of fifth-place Boston and just four back of Montréal, who sit in third.
SECOND STAR – BRIANNE JENNER, RW/C, OTTAWA
Jenner is named one of the PWHL’s three stars of the week for the second time in three weeks— she was named the third star for the week ending March 10. In two games played last week, Ottawa’s captain had five points (2G, 3A), the most in the PWHL. Jenner now has 5-10—15 in 19 games played and moved into a tie for sixth place in league scoring. In her team’s first game of the week—a 3-0 win against New York on March 16— Jenner provided the assist on the game-winning-goal and added the insurance marker in the third period. The 32-year-old followed up that performance with her first three-point-game of the season, which came in a key matchup against first-place Toronto. Her team ended Toronto’s 11-game win streak with a 5-3 win— Jenner had a goal and two primary assists in the tilt, a key factor in Ottawa’s victory. Jenner now has four multi-point performances in her last five games and sits second in team scoring, two points behind team leader Kateřina Mrázová.
THIRD STAR – NATALIE SPOONER, RW, TORONTO
Spooner added to her league-leading goal total last week, notching three goals in two games played. She now sits at 15 tallies on the season, six more than the next best in the PWHL. In her team’s first game of the week, Spooner scored the game-winning-goal in the third period, a powerplay marker, which extended Toronto’s win streak to 11. The native of Scarborough, ON leads the PWHL in powerplay goals with five, and is the only Toronto player to have multiple tallies on the advantage. On March 23 against Ottawa, Spooner added two more goals, including her first shorthanded marker of the season. The 33-year-old was also +3 with 11 shots on goal last week. Spooner’s trio of tallies moved the forward to the top of the PWHL scoring race with 15-5—20 through 19 games played, one more point than Alex Carpenter (NY), who now sits in second place.
The ‘3 Stars of the Week’ are announced each Monday throughout the season and encompass games from the previous Monday through Sunday. Points will be awarded to each selection and will help determine rankings at the end of the regular season.
Note: this week’s ‘3 Stars of the Week’ include all games from Monday, March 18 – Monday, March 25 due to the PWHL’s International Hockey break that runs from March 26 – April 18.
First Star = 30 Points
Second Star = 20 Points
Third Star = 10 Points
Standings:
1. Natalie Spooner (TOR) = 80 Points
2. Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL) = 60 Points
T3. Alex Carpenter (NY) = 50 Points
T3. Brianne Jenner (NY) = 50 Points
T3. Daryl Watts (OTT) = 50 Points
T6. Kendall Coyne Schofield (MIN) = 40 Points
T6. Alina Müller (BOS) = 40 Points
T6. Kristen Campbell (TOR) = 40 Points
T9. Claire Dalton (MTL) = 30 Points
T9. Grace Zumwinkle (MIN) = 30 Points
T9. Kateřina Mrázová = 30 Points
T12. Michela Cava (MIN) = 20 Points
T12. Jade Downie-Landry (NY) = 20 Points
T12. Ella Shelton (NY) = 20 Points
T15. Aerin Frankel (BOS) = 10 Points
T15. Taylor Heise (MIN) = 10 Points
T15. Abby Roque (NY) = 10 Points
T15. Corinne Schroeder (NY) = 10 Points
