The hockey world welcomed a new league, the PWHL, in the long-awaited entrance for a unified North American pro women’s hockey league. The PWHL will consist of six teams who will each play 24 games starting in January 2024, and will employ ~150 players. The six teams will be located in New York, Boston, Minnesota, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa.
Team GMs and franchise names will be announced in the coming days, as well as which building each team will play in. The PWHL is looking for AHL-sized rinks, but are exploring bigger and smaller arenas like NHL, junior, and college rinks. The NHL will host a number of neutral-site games at NHL rinks. It’s been reported that the Minnesota Wild will host the PWHL team from Minnesota for a number of games at XL Energy Center.
The Bruins, Maple Leafs, Islanders, and Senators all shared excitement on social media, signaling some potential partnerships. Considering how many teams are in the New York area, it was interesting to see the Islanders as the team to attach themselves to the PWHL. Could the team be coming to Barclays Center (where the NY Liberty play) or UBS Arena (Islanders)? Along with the teams, the NHL itself shared a press release, noting that the two leagues intend on working together.
Teams will be allowed to sign three players each starting on September 1st until the 10th. This will create a bedrock for their rosters before an open pro draft will take place on September 18th. The 15-round draft will fill out the majority of each team’s roster up to 18. Undrafted players can sign contracts or earn training camp invites to fill out the roster. Training camps will have a minimum of 28 players.
A schedule will be released in October. Training camps will be in November. And the first games will be in January. Another interesting note is that teams cannot make any trades until after the first game of the season. They are also not allowed to trade any draft picks around. This simplifies the whole process of bringing a new league to life. Six expansion drafts at once would just be too unruly.
Brian Burke was also named as executive director of the PWHLPA, the league’s player union, rebranded from the PWHPA, but will include all players who will play in the PWHL, not excluding any former NWHL or PHF players. USA Hockey and Hockey Canada both gave their support to the league, which should employ most, if not all, of their national team players.
Discussions are being held to smooth the process for European players who play in the SDHL (Swedish Women’s Hockey League) to play in the PWHL either on loans or by other means. The SDHL plays from September to February, so the league schedules overlap. The SDHL has 10 teams that play 36 games each, and they are run alongside the SHL and the junior leagues for both men and women in the same buildings.
Which are you more excited about, the draft or six new hockey team names?
Stay safe, y’all!
Throwback!
Excellent series, Bolts by the Bay!
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly spoke to Michael Russo about the status of various things in the league, including the Coyotes, TV deals, and the PWHL.
Parkour!
