April 30th, 2026 BONUS Episode Summary
In this roundtable episode of “The Forecast” on KVRU 105.7 FM, host Maggie Mertens speaks with hockey writers Ava Wood and Heather Coy Moonka about the inaugural PWHL season of the Seattle Torrant, reflecting on a year of on-ice struggles, off-ice success, and growing community support. They recount a pivotal late-season win over the Minnesota Frost that secured a top-two position in the league’s “Gold Plan” draft-order system, an anti-tanking measure that rewards eliminated teams for continued strong play in pursuit of a highly anticipated, star-studded draft class. The guests highlight standout performances from players such as Michaela Grant-Mentis, Julia Gosling, Hannah Murphy, and CJ, emphasizing their energy, resilience, and emotional connection with fans. Despite finishing at the bottom of the standings, they argue that the true success of the season lies in consistently strong attendance, family-friendly accessibility, and an unusually engaged, knowledgeable crowd that has embraced the team and created an inclusive environment, especially for women and children discovering pro women’s hockey.
Looking ahead, they express optimism about the Torrant’s future, citing expected rapid improvement through a deep draft, potential league expansion to new markets, and the benefits and challenges of the PWHL’s single-owner model, while stressing the need for sustainable growth, better officiating, and careful expansion to preserve quality and player development. Throughout, they frame this first season as the foundation of something much larger for women’s sports in Seattle, urging fans not to be discouraged by early results and to recognize their role in building a long-term, community-rooted franchise.
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Heather Moonka lives in Seattle with her husband and their rescue dog. She has always loved sports, but has a true passion for women's sports and amplifying the voices of those in the space. She covers PWHL Seattle for The Hockey News- Women's and speaks passionately about the team on the @BTWSEA podcast.
Ava Wood founded 365 Hockey Girl to talk PWHL every day. Ava’s mission is to make women’s hockey accessible, inclusive, and fun. Follow 365 Hockey Girl on all social media but more importantly, subscribe to the 365 Hockey Girl newsletter here : https://tinyurl.com/5s6me9r6
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The Forecast is a Production of :
KVRU (https://www.kvru.org/shows/the-forecast/) & JEFFSCOTTSHAW
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Executive Producer + Host // Maggie Mertens // Maggie@KVRU.org
Executive Producer // JEFFSCOTTSHAW // Jeff@KVRU.org
Additional Production Support Provided By // Crystal Fincher & Shannon Cheng & Maurice Jones Jr.
