The upcoming third season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is set to commence on November 21, with the league expanding from six to eight teams. The new teams, PWHL Vancouver and PWHL Seattle, will face off for the first time at 10 p.m. ET at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum, which will serve as the home venue for the Vancouver team.
On the same night, the Minnesota Frost, the reigning champions, will start their journey towards a third consecutive Walter Cup at 7 p.m. ET against the Toronto Sceptres. This marks the beginning of a 120-game season, an increase from 90 games in the previous season and 72 games before that. Each team will play 30 games, with a minimum of four head-to-head matchups for all teams.
Jayna Hefford, the PWHL’s executive vice-president of hockey operations, expressed excitement for the season, highlighting the debut of the expansion teams and the league’s growth to the west coast. The league’s opening weekend will feature all eight teams in action, including matchups like the Ottawa Charge versus the New York Sirens and the Montreal Victoire against the Boston Fleet.
The season opener will showcase the new Vancouver and Seattle teams, with Seattle boasting a lineup of skilled players like Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter, while Vancouver showcases a strong defensive unit led by former Walter Cup winners. Several existing teams will see significant roster changes due to players moving to the expansion teams, with the New York Sirens undergoing a major transformation with the departure of key players and the emergence of young talents like Sarah Fillier.
The PWHL season will also include games outside of teams’ home venues as part of the Takeover Tour, building on the success of the previous season. Additionally, this season will include a mid-season break for the Olympics, with the league playing a crucial role in determining the Canadian Olympic team roster.
As anticipation builds for the start of the season, fans and players alike are looking forward to an exciting and competitive third season of the PWHL.
