One Boston Day 2026: Thousands Celebrate Women's Hockey at Sold-Out TD Garden

Boston Fleet stars Aerin Frankel, Alina Muller, and Megan Keller thrill nearly 18,000 fans in a hard-fought loss to rival Montreal Victoire.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 7:34pm

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The Boston Fleet, one of the founding franchises of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), played a sold-out game at TD Garden on Saturday night, drawing a crowd of nearly 18,000 fans. The game between the Fleet and the Montreal Victoire was a showcase of the growing popularity and support for women's professional hockey in Boston, with the passionate crowd creating an electric atmosphere throughout the night. Despite the 1-0 loss, the Fleet players were thrilled to play in front of such a large and enthusiastic audience, recognizing the significance of the moment for the league and the sport.

Why it matters

The packed house at TD Garden for the Fleet game is a testament to the growing interest and support for women's professional hockey in Boston and across North America. The PWHL, which launched in 2024, has quickly gained traction, with the league's inaugural season seeing strong attendance and viewership numbers. The sold-out game at the Bruins' home arena is a major milestone, demonstrating the potential for women's hockey to thrive at the professional level and inspire the next generation of players.

The details

The Fleet's stars, including Aerin Frankel, Alina Muller, and Megan Keller, were greeted by a sea of cheering fans as they took the ice at TD Garden. The atmosphere was electric, with the crowd roaring throughout the game and creating a lively, high-energy environment. While the Fleet ultimately fell to the Victoire 1-0, the players were thrilled to be able to showcase their skills in front of such a large and passionate audience, recognizing the significance of the moment for the league and the sport.

  • The PWHL's inaugural season began on January 4, 2024.
  • The Fleet played their first game in Lowell, Massachusetts on January 4, 2024.
  • The sold-out game at TD Garden took place on Saturday, April 13, 2026.

The players

Aerin Frankel

A goaltender for the Boston Fleet, Frankel played four seasons at Northeastern University, helping the Huskies win five Hockey East titles.

Alina Muller

A forward for the Boston Fleet, Muller played five seasons at Northeastern University, also contributing to the Huskies' Hockey East championship success.

Megan Keller

A defenseman for the Boston Fleet, Keller played four seasons at Boston College, anchoring the Eagles' blue line from 2014 to 2019.

Kris Sparre

The head coach of the Boston Fleet, Sparre has been instrumental in the team's success and growth since the PWHL's inception.

Lina Ljungblom

A forward for the Montreal Victoire, Ljungblom scored the game-winning goal against the Boston Fleet at TD Garden.

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What they’re saying

“I got chills. We dream of playing in buildings like this, and especially in front of our fans.”

— Aerin Frankel, Goaltender, Boston Fleet

“This is a big deal. You're standing on that bench, and there are 17,000 people. They had the lights going on in the first little bit of the game. It's so loud. The sound system here is incredible.”

— Kris Sparre, Head Coach, Boston Fleet

“It's incredible. I think when you have the moment to look up and look in the stands and see all of the people there to support us and to support this league — it's been a long time coming. Selling out this place is a huge accomplishment for women's sports, women's hockey, and I think seeing the impact that we have on the young girls is a really special thing.”

— Aerin Frankel, Goaltender, Boston Fleet

“It's no secret we have a rivalry with them. It gets physical out there. We see them a lot, and saw them in the playoffs in year one, and we're at the top right now, kind of battling for home ice here in the playoffs... We wanted to come out and give the fans a game and give them some action and get them involved.”

— Megan Keller, Defenseman, Boston Fleet

“Tonight, I think they saw that they can play in a professional hockey league and they can sell out buildings that the men play in.”

— Megan Keller, Defenseman, Boston Fleet

What’s next

The Boston Fleet and Montreal Victoire are expected to meet again in the PWHL playoffs, as the two teams continue their fierce rivalry at the top of the league standings.

The takeaway

The sold-out crowd at TD Garden for the Boston Fleet game is a significant milestone for women's professional hockey, demonstrating the growing popularity and support for the sport in Boston and across North America. The passionate fans, electric atmosphere, and inspiring performances by the players have the potential to ignite the next generation of young hockey players, showing them that they too can achieve their dreams of playing at the highest level.