Hilary Knight Returns to Team USA, PWHL Gets a TV Deal & New York + Vancouver Season 4 Previews

Season 4 is almost here — and this episode opens with breaking news. As Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner were recording, USA Hockey dropped its 31-player training camp roster with a familiar name on it: Hilary Knight, listed as playing for PWHL Detroit. Erica confirmed with USA Hockey in real time — Knight is expected at both camps: the first runs September 13–19 in Minnesota, and the second October 23–30 in Plymouth, Michigan, in preparation for a USA vs. Canada game October 28th in Windsor. What everyone thought was a full retirement from international hockey appears to have been an Olympic retirement only.Then the news keeps coming. The PWHL officially has a US national broadcast partner: ION and Scripps Sports. That means a weekly Saturday Game of the Week on ION, two additional national games per week on Scripps Sports Network, and ION carrying the Walter Cup Finals and playoffs exclusively. Erica and Rachel break down what the ION model means for women's sports fans who already know what the network did for the WNBA — and what questions remain about the playoff format and broadcast rights.Plus, the PWHL preseason schedule is set: centralized hub tournaments in Las Vegas, Boston, Hamilton, and San Jose in late November before the regular season starts no earlier than December 2nd. Media and fan access details are still coming — but this is a significant step up from last year's closed scrimmages.Then it's the deep dives. New York Sirens first: a team that lost Kaylee Osborne, Taylor Girard, Kayla Vespa, Allyson Simpson, and a full line to San Jose in expansion, and a full line to San Jose in expansion — and responded by signing McKenna Webster (a 2025 draft pick returning from the US field hockey national team), Elaine Chuli, and first-round pick Emma Peschel out of Ohio State. Can Sarah Fillier, Casey O'Brien, and a rebuilt blue line carry them back to the postseason?Then Vancouver Goldeneyes: Cara Gardner Morey stepped down as GM to become head coach — and Erica and Rachel make the case that she's actually the best person to unlock this team's potential because she built it herself. KK Harvey hasn't been officially signed yet despite the fanfare. The worst power play in the league has nowhere to go but up. And this is Year 2 for a team that never quite gelled in Year 1.0:00 — Breaking news: Hilary Knight confirmed on USA Hockey's 31-player training camp roster 4:30 — What Hilary Knight returning to Team USA actually means — Olympic retirement vs. full retirement 8:00 — ION and Scripps Sports: the PWHL finally has a US national broadcast partner — what it means for fans 13:15 — PWHL preseason schedule: hub tournaments, fan access, and why the regular season won't start until December 17:30 — New York Sirens Season 4 preview: expansion losses, McKenna Webster, and the goaltending question 24:00 — New York's draft class, Emma Peschel, and whether the rebuilt blue line can support Sarah Fillier 29:30 — Vancouver Goldeneyes Season 4 preview: Cara Gardner Morey moves to head coach — and why that might be the smartest move in the league 36:00 — Vancouver's power play problem, KK Harvey's unsigned status, and what Year 2 needs to look like 40:00 — Looking ahead: Seattle, Women's Worlds in Denmark, and MPP's expected absence from Team Canada campAt Even Strength is a PWHL-focused podcast from Black Rosie Media, hosted by Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner. New episodes drop on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts.Follow us on Bluesky social!Erica L Ayala🦋https://bsky.app/profile/elindsay08.bsky.socialRachel Donner🦋https://bsky.app/profile/rmiriam.bsky.socialAt Even Strength on TikTok📲https://www.tiktok.com/@atevenstrength_podFollow &amp; Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧https://blackrosiemedia.transistor.fm/Black Rosie Media: Olympics, Women’s Hockey, Women’s Basketball, and other stories that matter!🎧 https://linktr.ee/BlackRosieMedia#pwhl #womenshockey #hockey🎥 WATCH• Subscribe to this channel: youtube.com/channel/@BLKRosieMedia▶︎ Exclusive Interviews:    • Black Rosie Media  I Interviews   🎧 LISTEN• Download and follow &amp; leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: http://bit.ly/4bCWKpn• Other Black Rosie Media podcasts:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGppemZjMGJlaThYaGdMUXFQUVZsWjJfY19UUXxBQ3Jtc0ttNFc0NW42ZV9tUnhHaDBKcXBPNU9tem9oMUkzTEY5RmU0TkJEcUQ2S2s0U