🏫 The history
The PWHL originated in 2019 following the closure of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) that same year. Notable players from the CWHL, such as Marie-Philip Poulin and Hilary Knight, decided to establish the Professional Women’s Hockey Player’s Association (PWHPA) instead of joining the National Women’s Hockey League (now known as the Premier Hockey Federation).
With a vision of creating a sustainable cross-border league, the players of the PWHL sacrificed income and competition opportunities to build a league that would inspire future generations. Fast forward to June 29th, 2023, when the Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises acquired the PHF, marking the beginning of a unified professional women’s hockey league.
Furthermore, the PWHPA players signed a collective bargaining agreement before the league’s launch, marking a historic moment as the first CBA in a women’s sports league.
⚙️ The set-up
The regular season will take place from January to May, with the six founding teams – Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, New York, Boston, and Minnesota, each playing 24 games, split evenly between home and away matches.
International breaks in February and April will allow players to participate in events like the Canada vs. U.S. Rivalry Series and the Women’s World Hockey Championship. The playoffs will involve the top four teams from the regular season, culminating in a championship series to crown the ultimate victor.
🏒 The teams
❤️ Ottawa: Notable players include Brianne Jenner, Emily Clark, and Emerance Maschmeyer, with their home opener expected to set a North American attendance record for professional women’s hockey.
đź’™ Toronto: Boasting players like Sarah Nurse and Natalie Spooner, Toronto’s team has already sold out all their home games, showcasing the excitement surrounding the team’s debut.
❤️ MontrĂ©al: Led by Marie-Philip Poulin and Ann-RenĂ©e Desbiens, MontrĂ©al will split their home games between two arenas, with diverse language and culture adding to the team’s allure.
đź’š Boston: Featuring Hilary Knight and Aerin Frankel, Boston is set to make a strong impact in the league, drawing attention with their notable roster.
đź’ś Minnesota: Known for their dedication to hockey, Minnesota has selected Taylor Heise as their first draft pick and will showcase players like Kendall Coyne Schofield in their NHL-sized home arena.
🍎 New York: With tall goalies and skilled forwards like Alex Carpenter and Abby Roque, New York’s team promises exciting games split between two arenas in Long Island and Connecticut.
