The Professional Women’s Hockey League is set to commence its third season on November 21 with an expanded lineup of eight teams, up from six in the previous season. The inaugural games for the two new teams, PWHL Vancouver and PWHL Seattle, will take place at 10 p.m. ET at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum. The Minnesota Frost, the reigning champions, will start their journey for a third consecutive Walter Cup at 7 p.m. ET against the Toronto Sceptres.
The upcoming season will feature a total of 120 games, an increase from 90 games in the previous season and 72 in the season before that. Each team is scheduled to play 30 games, with all teams competing against each other at least four times. Jayna Hefford, the PWHL’s executive vice-president of hockey operations, expressed enthusiasm for the new season, highlighting the debut of the expansion teams and the league’s expansion to the west coast.
The league’s opening weekend will witness all eight teams in action. The Ottawa Charge will face off against the New York Sirens on Saturday, while the Montreal Victoire will kick off their season against the Boston Fleet on Sunday. Further details regarding broadcast plans and games hosted outside of home venues are yet to be revealed.
The rosters of existing teams have undergone changes, with star players moving to Vancouver and Seattle. Notably, the New York Sirens have revamped their lineup, focusing on young talents like Sarah Fillier, Kristýna Kaltounková, and Casey O’Brien to secure a playoff berth for the first time.
The PWHL season will include an Olympic break for the first time, impacting the selection process for the Canadian Olympic team. The league’s action will pause from December 8 to 15 for international training and competition, including the Canada-U.S. Rivalry Series games in Edmonton, and from January 29 to February 25 for the Winter Olympics.
The PWHL Canadian home openers are scheduled as follows:
– PWHL Vancouver vs. PWHL Seattle at 10 p.m. ET on November 21 at Pacific Coliseum.
– Ottawa Charge vs. New York Sirens at 7 p.m. ET on November 22 at TD Place.
– Montreal Victoire vs. New York Sirens at 7 p.m. ET on November 25 at Place Bell.
– Toronto Sceptres vs. Boston Fleet at 2 p.m. ET on November 29 at Coca-Cola Coliseum.