Under the radar: PWHLers weigh in on most underrated players
CBC
You couldn't have scripted Jamie Lee Rattray's first PWHL goal better than it played out.
Rattray scored off a perfect net-front pass from Boston teammate Sophie Shirley in front of a hometown Ottawa crowd of more than 5,200 people, including her parents. Boston went on to defeat Ottawa 3-2 in that game on Wednesday, nabbing an important three points for a regulation win.
"It's always fun coming home and always fun to win at home as well," Rattray said after the game.
Before the regular season began, CBC Sports asked more than 30 PWHL players who they thought was the most underrated player heading into the league's inaugural season.
Twenty-six different names emerged, but only three players received more than one vote: Rattray and Ottawa forwards Emily Clark and Hayley Scamurra.
WATCH | PWHLers weigh in on the most underrated player in the league:
Rattray has been a do-everything 13th forward on the Canadian national team over the last few years. She's the type of player who can play on the top line or the fourth line.
She can also score big goals when it matters, like her shootout game-winner against the Americans in the preliminary round of the world championships last year.
On Boston, where Rattray wears a letter, she's a lock for top-six minutes. So far, she's turned the opportunity into nearly a point per game.
"She's just really tenacious," Scamurra said about Rattray before the season began.
"[Rattray]'s that player that maybe does the little things that you don't notice and they lead to goals for their team. She's just an all-around really great person and player."
Boston teammates Shirley and Aerin Frankel also picked Rattray. Both singled out her work ethic.
"Obviously a really, really great player, works really hard, has a great shot," Shirley said.
"A player that kind of I feel like flies under the radar, but does all the things that she needs to do right."
