By: Alexis Caines | Follow me on Twitter / X @alexiscaines_
The Boston Fleet took some serious hits during the launch of expansion teams the Vancouver Goldeneyes and the Seattle Torrent, most notably losing an elite player in Captain Hilary Knight. Head Coach Courtney Kessel also left the team to take on a Head Coach position at Princeton University. It was a consensus amongst certain PWHL media that the Fleet would likely have a rough 2025-26 season; and that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
The Fleet have been undeniably one of the most consistent teams in the PWHL this season. The team is 10-5-2-4-2 and currently hold 42 points. They have the second-lowest goals against with only 34 across 21 games. Their ten wins are a franchise record and with nine games remaining, they’ll look to raise that number. Home ice advantage couldn’t be more true for the Fleet, as they’ve only lost one game in front of a home crowd this season.
At the helm, they have Aerin Frankel who has had one of the most impressive seasons both in the PWHL and internationally at the Olympics. It’s only fitting to kick off the award predictions with her MVP campaign.
Billie Jean King MVP
The PWHL Billie Jean King MVP award is presented to the player considered most valuable to their team’s success throughout the regular season.
The Fleet have depth scoring, they have a solid presence on the blueline, but their most consistent asset this season has been Aerin Frankel. 12 of their 21 games have come down to be decided by one goal and in those moments she’s come up huge for the Fleet.
This season Frankel has 14 wins, a career high. On Sunday night, she recorded her fifth shutout of the season, which set a league high for shutouts recorded in a season. She has a .949 SV% and a 1.29 GAA on the year.
It would be shocking to see Frankel not even named one of the three finalists for the award and all the season stats show a very strong case for her to become the winner. She would be the first goaltender to be nominated.
Defender of the Year
The PWHL Defender of the Year award is presented to the defender who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season.
Megan Keller had big shoes to fill when she was named Captain of the Boston Fleet in the absence of Hilary Knight. Having previously worn an “A”, there was little doubt on how well she would transition into her new role.
Not only has she led Boston, but she also leads the league in points by a defender. She currently holds 16 points (6-10-16) in 21 games played – a career high for the Michigan native. She’s second in time on ice per game, just under teammate Haley Winn.
Her blueline presence is strong as Keller currently has a +5 for the season. She also holds the highest shooting % of defenders with 11.1% . She currently has seven different teammates assisting on her goals, the most in the league. It highlights her flexibility and total team chemistry – what more could you want from a captain?
Goaltender of the Year
The PWHL Goaltender of the Year award is presented by Rogers to the goaltender who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season.
At this point in the season, Frankel sits just below Ann-Renné Desbiens of the Montréal Victoire in goaltender standings. As noted above, Frankel has a .949 SV% and Desbiens, a .950 SV%. It will take the remaining nine games of the season to make a more educated guess on who will take home the honor, but it’s almost guaranteed we’ll see Frankel as one of the three finalists.
Rookie of the Year
The PWHL Rookie of the Year award is presented to the player who showcases the most outstanding ability throughout their first regular season of professional play.
When speaking with the media just before the 2025 PWHL Draft, General Manager Danielle Marmer acknowledged her interest in a player like Haley Winn. So it wasn’t too much of a surprise to hear her name called by the Fleet with the second-overall pick.
This season she’s recorded a 3-9-12 in 21 games played. She’s tied for second amongst rookies in assists and third on the Fleet roster. Her transition from college to the PWHL has been nearly seamless when it comes to scoring. At just 22 years old, she leads the league in time on ice. Just below her is teammate and occasional d-partner, Megan Keller.
As a rookie, there are areas of her game that will only grow better with time. She currently holds a -2 for the season. It’s a tight race for the best young star. It isn’t impossible for Winn to get the honor, and she’s a favorite to be a finalist.
Though not anticipated to be a finalist, Ella Huber deserves her flowers. She was taken tenth overall in the 2025 PWHL Draft. All three of her goals this season have been the game-winning goal. She is the rookie leader in this category and tied at second league-wide.
Coach of the Year
The PWHL Coach of the Year award is presented to the head coach whose contributions most impacted their team’s on-ice success throughout the regular season.
On July 23rd, the Fleet announced the hiring of Kris Sparre. He joined with nine years of coaching under his belt, most recently serving as the Assistant Coach of the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. His lack of experience with women’s hockey was a big change from previous head coach, Courtney Kessel. Despite this, his track record pointed towards success. His previous teams have made postseason appearances and recorded their best franchise records.
General Manager Danielle Marmer echoed this by saying, “What makes Kris such a strong fit is his experience in the AHL, where coaches are constantly balancing the need to win now with the responsibility of developing players — a challenge that mirrors what we face in the PWHL. Our players need to grow and perform in real time, and Kris understands how to create that environment.”
Sparre has done nothing but keep the wins rolling for his Boston team. His record with the team is 10-5-2-4-2, a franchise record for wins in regular season play.
He’s exceeded the many expectations first held of him and has become a successful coach in women’s hockey, poised for another postseason appearance. He will definitely be a finalist for the award, and should be a favorite to take home the title.
With just nine games remaining for the Fleet, they’ll look to keep their momentum rolling. They host the Vancouver Goldeneyes on Tuesday night. After that, there will be just eight games left in the regular season. According to Emma Healy of the Boston Globe, 13 is the number of points needed to clinch a postseason berth.
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