Epilogue

Pittsburgh Bearcats beat Reigning Champions in Cup Final; First WHPL Expansion Team to Win Title in Inaugural Season

PITTSBURGH – In a shocking upset, the Pittsburgh Bearcats have won the WHPL Cup Final, ousting the Calgary Blizzard—the reigning champions—in a wild Game 7.

No other expansion team has earned the title in its first season in the League; only Chicago, one of the Original 10, has won in its inaugural season.

Captain Sabrina McAvoy led the team with 5 goals and 9 assists, including the game-winning goal in Game 2.

Of the victory, head coach Hannah Reilly said, "They fought hard, and Calgary didn't make it easy. Every inch of that ice was a battle. These women should be very proud of what they accomplished out there. I'm certainly proud of them."

Calgary head coach Emily Corbin told reporters, "It's impressive, what the Bearcats did this season. It's always hard when the whole team is new to each other, and getting to this from scratch—I won't tell you it's fun to lose to them, but I have a ton of respect for these women."

Normally, the losing team leaves the ice after the postgame handshakes, but a few Calgary players stuck around for the Bearcats' celebration. Vanessa Tucker-Crowe stayed out to congratulate her younger sister, Bearcat blue liner Jamie Tucker. Goalie Amber Grayson brought her twin sons out to celebrate with her partner and their mother, Pittsburgh forward Jennifer Valentine. And three players lingered for a short time to share some hugs with previous Olympic teammates Sabrina McAvoy, Lila Hamilton, and Simone Yates.

"During the game," Grayson said to reporters, "we're all out for blood. We want to win, no matter what it takes. But when the buzzer goes off, these are our friends and teammates. Maybe someday I'll get to raise the Cup myself. Tonight it's Jenny's turn, and I'm over the moon for her."

SUPPORTIVE FATHER OR UNREPENTANT SEXIST? – "SHE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE BETTER THAN HIM"

Confrontation between Sabrina McAvoy, Father, Leads to Accusations of Misogyny

PITTSBURGH – A tense conversation played out between Pittsburgh Bearcats captain Sabrina McAvoy and her father after the team's victory in the Cup Finals.

McAvoy accused her father, likely future Hall of Famer Doran McAvoy, of criticizing the existence of the women's league, and of keeping her back in her journey through the sport.

"You can't spend my whole life trying to pull me back down the mountain," Sabrina was overheard telling her father, "then think you can celebrate with me when I reach the summit."

She then dismissed him from the ice and returned to celebrating with her team. Doran exited the arena shortly after, refusing to answer questions about his daughter's comments or her team's victory.

St. Louis forward Mark McAvoy—Doran's son and Sabrina's brother—was present for the postgame celebration. He did not leave with his father but also dodged questions about anything except the Bearcats' championship win.

The father-daughter confrontation was brief but raised questions about the senior McAvoy's thoughts on the existence of the Women's Hockey Professional League and his own daughter's participation in the same. Most former teammates and coaching staff have not returned phone calls, but not all.

Ollie Gray, who famously requested a trade out of Buffalo after clashing with his superstar teammate, told reporters, "Everyone knows Doran McAvoy is a sexist [expletive]. They won't admit it to a camera, but everyone knows."

Another former teammate, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that he found McAvoy's comments about other players' wives and daughters to be inappropriate. "They weren't sexual or anything, but he clearly didn't have any respect for them." He went on to add, "Doran always had something to say if someone brought their little girl to a family skate in hockey gear. Even if we were just knocking some pucks around for fun—it wasn't something girls had any business doing,"

Doran's longtime linemate, Cary Olson, admitted, "No one was surprised when he and Nancy (McAvoy's ex-wife) broke up. We were just glad it happened before Doran found out she was letting Sabrina play hockey." When pressed to explain this comment, Olson simply said, "Everybody knew he didn't want Sabrina playing hockey. We could all see that she had the same talent has her dad and brother, but he wasn't having it." He then paused before adding, "Maybe that was why Doran didn't want her to play. He knew she had the potential to be better than him."

Reporters reached out to Sabrina McAvoy for her perspective, but the only response was a message from her agent, Meryl Sheary: "Sabrina is taking a well-deserved vacation after her Cup win. Upon her return, she will not be commenting publicly on private family matters."

"THEY'VE WORKED HARD TO GET WHERE THEY ARE—THEY DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS."

Companies distance themselves from Doran McAvoy over accusations of misogyny, disrespect toward WHPL

NEW YORK – Doran McAvoy has taken the next step in falling from grace: losing lucrative endorsement contracts.

Following the confrontation between McAvoy and his daughter, Pittsburgh Bearcats captain and recent Cup champion Sabrina, the player once certainly destined for the Hall of Fame has soured in the public eye. After a leaked video surfaced of him telling former teammates that "women playing hockey is a joke, and not even a funny one," fans of both leagues are outraged.

Fueling this fire, McAvoy responded to criticism over his comments, stating on his social media accounts: "No one objects to keeping professional football and baseball as men's domains. It shouldn't be controversial to say that ice hockey is and always will be a men's sport."

While McAvoy's stats may still ensure him a place in the Hall of Fame one day, speculation that he'd be inducted within the next five years have gone all but silent.

"The Hall of Fame recognizes players for their hockey skill," a Hall representative told reporters, "but they are also expected to be ambassadors for the sport. To be so publicly disrespectful toward women's hockey is to not embody the values of the Hockey Hall of Fame."

In the weeks following the leaked video, BladeWorks and Karbon Stixx, manufacturers of ice skates and hockey sticks, respectively, each announced they were "moving on" from McAvoy's endorsement. On Wednesday of this week, sporting goods giant Bob's Athletic Gear, a massive corporate sponsor of the WHPL since the League's inception, announced they were ending their $5 million/year contract with McAvoy. CEO Mike Thorson said to shareholders, "They've (WHPL players) worked hard to get to where they are—they deserve better than this."

McAvoy is still contracted to endorse Colson Tires, Western Canada Fuel, and BioSurge Energy Drinks. Representatives from these companies did not respond to requests for comment, though there are unsubstantiated reports that BioSurge is holding a previously unscheduled vote among shareholders. The reason for this vote is unclear, though an insider believes it is regarding the McAvoy endorsement.

McAvoy did not respond to requests for comment, and his social media has not been updated for over a week.

PITTSBURGH BEARCATS SIGN MERCY NELSON

Agree to Terms with McAvoy, Austin

PITTSBURGH – With summer trades and free agency in full swing, the Pittsburgh Bearcats front office has been busy.

Unrestricted free agent Mercy Nelson (D), one of the hottest assets on the market this off season, just signed a four-year deal with the Bearcats. The two-time Cup champion with Calgary says she is "excited to play for Pittsburgh" and looks forward to joining the team in next season's campaign for a repeat victory.

Team captain Sabrina McAvoy (F) has agreed to terms for a five-year extension beginning next season at the end of her current two-year deal. She led the Eastern Conference in assists and points last season, and was second in the entire WHPL for power play goals.

Finally, Maryann Austin (G) has also agreed to terms and is expected to sign a five-year deal as well. This past season, she was narrowly eked out for the Hale MVP Goalie Trophy by Hartford's Marta Lane. Austin ended the regular season with a 1.99 goals against average and 0.93 save percentage, close behind Lane's 1.93 GAA and 0.922 SV%.

Bearcats General Manager Chloe Morin told reporters there are other trades and deals in the works which will be announced soon.