PWHL Takeover Weekend to feature games in Detroit, Pittsburgh

Detroit and Pittsburgh will host neutral-site PWHL games next month, the league announced Tuesday.

Ottawa will face Boston on March 16 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and Toronto will meet Montreal on March 17 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh as part of PWHL Takeover Weekend.

Additionally, Minnesota — which shares a home rink at Xcel Energy Center with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild — will host New York in a previously announced game on March 16.

The league said the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, whose arenas will be used for the games, are partners in the event.

“Bringing these games to three outstanding venues during Women’s History Month will create an unforgettable highlight of this inaugural PWHL season,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL senior vice president of hockey operations. “For fans attending these games and players who are competing on the ice, this will be a great celebration of the advancement and opportunity for women and hockey everywhere.”

Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, New York, Boston and Minnesota are the six markets with teams in the inaugural season for the league.

Toronto will host Montreal in a game at Scotiabank Arena — home of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs — on Feb. 16.