Sceptres’ Clara Van Wieren suspended one game, Fleet’s Rylind MacKinnon fined
A couple of young players have received some supplemental discipline.
On Sunday, the PWHL Player Safety Committee announced that Toronto Sceptres forward Clara Van Wieren has been suspended one game, while Boston Fleet defender Rylind MacKinnon has been fined $500 for their actions in a game between the two rivals this past Friday night.
It all went down late in the third period at Coca-Cola Coliseum. With the Fleet well on their way to a convincing 4-0 win, Van Wieren delivered a cross-check from behind to Boston forward Sophie Shirley. The hit came dangerously close to the boards, with Shirley almost going head-first into the dasher.
The hit spurred an immediate melee, with MacKinnon taking matters into her own hands, grabbing Van Wieren’s facemask and dragging her down to the ice.
Van Wieren was the only player penalized in the dust-up, receiving a five-minute major for boarding. MacKinnon got away scot-free, at the time.
This is the first time Van Wieren has received any additional discipline for her actions during her PWHL career. She was forced to miss Toronto’s game on Sunday against the Vancouver Goldeneyes. For MacKinnon, this isn’t the first time the PSC has had to make a ruling regarding her play. The physical rearguard was suspended one game in December of last season, while a member of the Scpetres, for an illegal check to the head on Montreal Victoire defender Amanda Boulier.
Van Wieren had appeared in each of the Sceptres’ first 23 games this season. The Okemos, Mich. native has registered just two assists so far, last finding her name on the scoresheet on Jan. 20 against the Seattle Torrent. The rookie was taken by Toronto in the third round, 23rd overall, of the 2025 PWHL Draft.
MacKinnon has played in 21 games so far this year, picking up a helper on Jan. 3 against the Goldeneyes, her lone point so far this season. The Cranbrook, B.C. native is on a one-year contract with the Fleet.
The Fleet (12-5-2-4) entered Sunday first in the PWHL, two points ahead of the Victoire. The Sceptres (8-1-5-9) were fourth, holding the last playoff spot, one point ahead of the Ottawa Charge.