The Boston Fleet opened their third season in impressive fashion. With over 5, 000 supporters in attendance at Lowell’s Tsongas Center, Fleet forward Susanna Tapani had Boston’s fans standing as one just 73 seconds into a new campaign lighting the lamp on her first shift of the year and setting the tone in an eventual 2-0 win over the Montreal Victoire. It marked the first time in three seasons that the Fleet have opened a new season with a victory, and it stood as the first win for new Fleet bench boss, Kris Sparre. “This will be a night for me that I’ll never forget. I thought we were aggressive, which is how we want to play,” Sparre said postgame. “There are obviously still things we need to clean up, but I’m so proud of the group. I told them in the locker room after the game that I’m having a lot of fun coaching them. They’re wonderful athletes, attentive, and they’re picking up information quickly.” While Tapani gave Boston a lead it would not cough up on Sunday, the onus fell on Fleet franchise netminder Aerin Frankel to keep her team afloat. The former Northeastern standout did not budge turning aside all 25 shots that came her way as part of a shutout showing. “Each year getting experience is really important,” Frankel said. Playing in this league, all the games are really intense, and you have to be ready to go from puck drop. I’ve been continuing to build on everything I’ve worked on in the past couple years and just try to be a calm, steady presence for our team. “I’m excited that we got our first win at home in front of all these fans. I felt like I was seeing the puck well, but the players really helped me out today. They made my job pretty easy.” Tapani scored the fastest goal of PWHL Opening Weekend after sending in a puck toward the net that was deflected off a Montreal stick and past netminder Ann-Renée Desbiens the reigning PWHL Goaltender of the Year. Boston had several opportunities to double its lead in the opening period, but Desbiens turned aside the final 12 shots that came her way over those initial 20 minutes to keep it a 1-0 game. The Fleet’s new captain, Megan Keller, gave her team some breathing room in the third period. After Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin was whistled after hitting Teresa Schafzahl into the boards just 1: 24 into the frame, Boston capitalized on the power play. After a frantic sequence where Desbiens was left sprawled out of position, Keller pounced knocking a loose puck past the netminder to make it a 2-0 contest. The Fleet’s top 2025 draft pick (No. 2 overall) in Haley Winn also made her presence felt in the win landing six shots on goal from the blue line. Boston will resume play next Saturday when they take on the Sceptres in Toronto. Puck drop is set for 2 p. m.
https://www.boston.com/sports/pwhl/2025/11/23/boston-fleet-new-season-opener-megan-keller-pwhl-womens-hockey/
