They punched their way into the record books.
While the world watched Canada beat the United States in overtime to win the 4 Nations Face-Off on Thursday, Professional Women’s Hockey League players Jill Saulnier and Tereza Vanisova threw down in what is believed to be the first fight in the league’s history.
Both combatants landed punches in bunches as Saulnier appeared to instigate the melee, shoving Vanisova into the corner before they threw down their sticks and decided to land some haymakers instead.
The first legitimate fight in the #PWHL. 🥊 @PWHL_Boston’s Jill Saulnier & @PWHL_Ottawa’s Tereza Vanišová square off. #PWHL@jill_saulnier @VanisovaTereza pic.twitter.com/L6fr5biVmv
— Melissa Burgess (@_MelissaBurgess) February 21, 2025
The fracas came during the Boston Fleet’s 3-2 overtime victory over the Ottawa Charge.
Vanisova and Saulnier landed good, clean shots in the fight, although they did not shake off their gloves, instead acting like boxers by fighting with the gloves on.
After the fight, both players were brought to the penalty box for what the official called “roughing” as they licked their wounds from the fight.
Saulnier appeared to get the worst of it as she was bloodied and doused her face in a towel as she sat in the penalty box.
Saulnier did land clean rights and lefts, snapping back Vanisova’s head early in the exchange.
Both women had a strong showing, though, as no one came out of the fight unscathed.
Vanisova got the last laugh, though, as 24-year-old from Czech Republic scored in the final moments of regulation to push the game to overtime and assisted on another goal.
She now has the first “Gordie Howe” hat trick in PWHL history, referring to when a player tallies a goal, assist and a fight in the same game.
The PWHL was founded in 2023 and has six teams, three from Canada and three from the United States.
