Professional Women's Hockey League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023–24 PWHL season
SportIce hockey
Founded2023
Owner(s)Mark Walter Group
CommissionerJayna Hefford (SVP)
No. of teams6
CountriesCanada (3 teams)
United States (3 teams)
Broadcasting

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL; French: Ligue professionnelle de hockey féminin—LPHF) is an annual professional women's ice hockey league in North America, owned and organised by the Mark Walter Group and chaired by Jayna Hefford. It is contested by six franchises, three each from Canada and the United States, who play a regular season of round-robin matches to earn one of four places in a best-of-five playoff that determines the champion. Differences between the PWHL and its men's equivalent, the National Hockey League, include a 3-2-1-0 points system, terminations of penalties following a short-handed goal, best-of-five shootouts, and greater restrictions on body checking. The league is broadcast nationally in Canada by the CBC and TSN, their French-language affiliates Radio-Canada and RDS, and Sportsnet. In the United States, it is broadcast in syndication, while worldwide it is streamed on YouTube.

The collapse of the Canadian Women's Hockey League in 2019 led to the establishment of the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA), a union which advocated for greater professionalism in women's ice hockey. PWHPA members boycotted existing leagues, including the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), with the goal of establishing a stable, unified professional league. After the PHF was purchased by Mark Walter following its 2022–23 season, the PWHPA concluded its boycott and worked with the Mark Walter Group to establish a unified league with new ownership and management. The league's first draft took place in September 2023, and its first season began in January 2024.

League history

Antecedents and the PWHPA

Top-level and professional women's hockey in North America has developed in starts and stops since the late twentieth century. The National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) launched in 1999, featuring teams mainly in Ontario and Quebec. Some teams from Western Canada competed intermittently, but a Western Women's Hockey League was formed in 2004. The Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) largely replaced the NWHL and ran for 12 seasons, from 2007 to 2019, with teams competing for the Clarkson Cup.[1] The CWHL, which operated on a non-profit basis, did not pay player salaries, but it did at times offer stipends and bonuses as it aspired to become a professional league.[2] However, the league lacked financial stability and it abruptly folded in 2019.[3] A new National Women's Hockey League, which did offer player salaries, was established in the United States in 2015, before expanding into Canada in 2020.[4] However, after the dissolution of the CWHL, hundreds of prominent women's players, including Canadian and American Olympians, founded the Professional Women's Hockey Players' Association (PWHPA) and opted to boycott existing leagues in pursuit of a unified, financially stable professional league.[5] In the meantime, the PWHPA attracted partnerships with corporate sponsors and NHL teams, organizing exhibition tournaments to generate support for their goal.[6]

In 2022, the PWHPA entered a partnership with the Mark Walter Group and BJK Enterprises—led by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter and Billie Jean King, respectively—with the intent to launch a new professional league.[7] In 2023, the two business partners purchased the NWHL—rebranded as the Premier Hockey Federation in 2021—and its intellectual properties, with the intent of effectively winding it down and merging it with the new venture.[8][9] The PHF ceased operations and the PWHPA negotiated a collective bargaining agreement ahead of the launch of the unified professional league the union had been working towards.[10]

Founding of the PWHL

On August 29, 2023, the PWHL announced that its six charter franchises would be based in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, New York, and Minneapolis-St. Paul.[11] Teams began constructing their rosters in the summer of 2023. All six teams were allowed to sign three players during an initial 10-day free agency period.[12] Emily Clark, Brianne Jenner, and Emerance Maschmeyer became the first three players signed to PWHL contracts when they signed with the Ottawa team on September 5.[13] Following the free agency period, the 2023 PWHL Draft was held in Toronto on September 18. The 15-round draft saw 90 players selected from a pool of 286 eligible players. Taylor Heise was the first player drafted to the PWHL, selected first overall by the Minnesota team.[14]

On October 26, 2023, the PWHL submitted the following six team names to the United States Patent and Trademark Office: Boston Wicked, Minnesota Superior, Montreal Echo, New York Sound, Ottawa Alert, and Toronto Torch.[15] The names were widely criticized by those in the hockey community for breaking with North American hockey tradition and, in many cases, lacking clear connections to team locations.[16][17] In November, the league announced that its teams would not be named ahead of the inaugural season, stating that the timeline for the launch of the league did not leave adequate time to fully brand the teams—during the inaugural season, teams would be known simply by their city names.[18] On November 14, 2023 the PWHL revealed the inaugural jerseys for each of the six teams. They each feature the team's city name in a diagonal wordmark. They were met with mixed reception, with many fans saying the "cookie-cutter" design was too basic, although there were positive reviews on the colour choices.[19] It is expected that the jerseys will last for only one season, with teams launching unique branding after the inaugural season.[20]

PWHL action between Montréal and Minnesota in January 2024.

From December 3 to 7, 2023, all six teams congregated in Utica, New York, for a five day evaluation camp, which included scrimmages at the Utica University Nexus Center.[21][22]

On December 29, the league announced broadcast partnerships with TSN, Sportsnet, and CBC in Canada, and streaming of league games on the league's official YouTube channel.[23][24]

The league's inaugural season launched on January 1, 2024. The first game in PWHL history took place on New Year's Day, between New York and Toronto at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.[25][26] The first goal was scored by New York's Ella Shelton.[27] New York went on to win the game by a score of 4–0.[28] The game logged 2.9 million viewers across Canadian broadcasts and was the top watched sports or entertainment broadcast of the day.[29][30] The league's second game took place on January 2, between Montreal and Ottawa. The game set a new record for attendance at a professional women’s hockey game with 8,318 fans at TD Place Arena in Ottawa; Montreal won the game in overtime by a score of 3–2.[31] Five days later, Minnesota set a new attendance mark of 13,316 in its home debut at the Xcel Energy Center on January 6, a 3–0 win over Montreal.[32]

Organizational and season structure

The PWHL and all six of its teams are owned by the Mark Walter Group. League management includes Jayna Hefford, announced as the senior vice-president of hockey operations.[33] The PWHPA organized a formal player's union in early 2023 and, upon creation of the PWHL, became the players' union representing all PWHL players.[34] Unique to professional women's hockey, the PWHL established an eight-year collective bargaining agreement with the players' union.[35] Brian Burke acts as the executive director of the players' union.[36]

The inaugural season will have 24 regular season games scheduled from January to May, 2024, with a break for the Women's World Championship, and is planned to include neutral-site games. Later seasons are expected to run from November through May.[37] The season will culminate in a two-round, best-of-five playoff format featuring the top four regular season teams to determine the season's champion.[38][39]

Notable rules

The rules of the PWHL closely follow the standards of ice hockey rules set by the National Hockey League and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), with some notable innovations.[40] Ahead of its inaugural season, the PWHL held an evaluation camp with all of its teams, which included a series of exhibition matches in which the league experimented with different rules.[21] When the league finalized its rule book, it included a "jailbreak" rule, whereby a team terminates a minor penalty against by scoring a short-handed goal.[41] Also new to professional hockey is the PWHL's approach to the shootout—any player is eligible to shoot at any time, including taking multiple attempts, in the best-of-five shootout.[40] In a break from the NHL points system, the PWHL opted to adopt a 3-2-1-0 points system, whereby a team is awarded 3 points for a regulation win, 2 for an overtime or shootout win, and 1 for an overtime or shootout loss.[41]

In a break from women's hockey conventions, including the standards of the IIHF, the PWHL followed the lead of the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) in allowing body-checking; the SDHL had introduced body-checking ahead of its 2022–23 season.[42] The PWHL rule-book outlines that body checking is permissible "when there is a clear intention of playing the puck or attempting to 'gain possession' of the puck", which is allowed principally along the boards.[43] League executive Jayna Hefford has stated that body checking was included at the behest of the players.[43]

Teams

Overview of PWHL teams
Team City Arena Capacity Founded Joined General manager Head coach Captain
Boston Lowell, Massachusetts Tsongas Center 6,003 2023 Danielle Marmer Courtney Kessel Hilary Knight
Minnesota Saint Paul, Minnesota Xcel Energy Center 17,954 2023 Natalie Darwitz Ken Klee Kendall Coyne Schofield
Montreal Laval, Quebec Place Bell 10,062 2023 Danièle Sauvageau Kori Cheverie Marie-Philip Poulin
Montreal, Quebec Verdun Auditorium 4,114
New York Bridgeport, Connecticut Total Mortgage Arena 8,412 2023 Pascal Daoust Howie Draper Micah Zandee-Hart
Elmont, New York UBS Arena 17,255
Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario TD Place Arena 8,500 2023 Michael Hirshfeld Carla MacLeod Brianne Jenner
Toronto Toronto, Ontario Mattamy Athletic Centre 2,539[44]
 2023 Gina Kingsbury Troy Ryan Blayre Turnbull

References

  1. ↑ "Timeline of Women's Hockey". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  2. ↑ Cleary, Martin (September 30, 2007). "Dreaming of a league of her own". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007.
  3. ↑ Rutherford, Kristina (March 31, 2019). "Questions, frustration remain in wake of CWHL's decision to fold". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  4. ↑ Kaplan, Emily (April 22, 2020). "NWHL adding first Canadian team, in Toronto". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 3, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  5. ↑ Kaplan, Emily (May 2, 2019). "Women's hockey stars to boycott pro leagues". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  6. ↑ Wawrow, John (March 2, 2022). "PWHPA inching closer to forming women's pro hockey league". CBC Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  7. ↑ Salvian, Hailey (May 24, 2022). "PWHPA, Billie Jean King considering new league: Source". The Athletic. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  8. ↑ Wyshynski, Greg (June 29, 2023). "Sources: Premier Hockey Federation sale could unite women's hockey". ESPN. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  9. ↑ Salvian, Hailey (June 30, 2023). "What we know about the PHF shutdown, and more on the new pro women's hockey league". The Athletic. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  10. ↑ Mather, Victor (August 29, 2023). "With Feud Over, New Women's Ice Hockey League Is Set to Begin". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  11. ↑ "PWHL unveils locations of first six teams, player selection process". Sportsnet. Associated Press. August 29, 2023. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  12. ↑ Sadler, Emily (September 13, 2023). "Recapping where each PWHL team stands following first signings". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Jenner, Clark, Maschmeyer become PWHL's first players after signing with Ottawa". Sportsnet. The Canadian Press. September 5, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  14. ↑ "2023 PWHL Draft". thepwhl.ca. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  15. ↑ Salvian, Hailey (October 26, 2023). "Potential names for PWHL's original 6 franchises revealed". The Athletic. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  16. ↑ Kennedy, Ian (October 27, 2023). "Backlash Swift And Decisive In Response To Proposed PWHL Team Names". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  17. ↑ Stoller, Jacob (October 26, 2023). "Trademark filings reveal possible PWHL team names, met with backlash". Yahoo Sports!. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  18. ↑ Salvian, Hailey (November 22, 2023). "Why the PWHL is launching with temporary jerseys — and without team names or logos". The Athletic. Archived from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  19. ↑ O'Brien, James (November 14, 2023). "PWHL shares inaugural jersey designs for its 6 teams to lukewarm reviews". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  20. ↑ Salvian, Hailey (November 14, 2023). "PWHL jerseys unveiled; designs temporary for Year 1, per source". The Athletic. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  21. 1 2 Donkin, Karissa (December 3, 2023). "Let the scrimmages begin: PWHL gathers in Upstate New York with final cuts on horizon". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  22. ↑ "New York beats Toronto in scrimmage in preview of PWHL season opener". TSN. The Canadian Press. December 7, 2023. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Professional Women's Hockey League announces national broadcast partnerships for inaugural 2024 season". CTV News. December 29, 2023. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  24. ↑ Shircliff, Elaine (December 31, 2023). "How to Watch the Inaugural PWHL Season". fullpresshockey.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  25. ↑ Donkin, Karissa (November 28, 2023). "Toronto to host New York in PWHL's 1st regular-season game on New Year's Day". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  26. ↑ "PWHL launching with Toronto vs. New York game today on Sportsnet". Sportsnet. Canadian Press. January 1, 2024. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  27. ↑ "New York's Shelton scores first-ever PWHL goal". TSN. January 1, 2024. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  28. ↑ "New York defeats Toronto in PWHL's first game". ESPN. Associated Press. January 1, 2024. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  29. ↑ Donkin, Karissa (January 5, 2024). "Players beaming as physical play, new rules and historic moments highlight PWHL's 1st week". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  30. ↑ "2.9 Million Canadians Watch Opening Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Game". PWHL. January 5, 2024. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  31. ↑ Brennan, Don (January 2, 2024). "A Night to Remember: Montreal scores OT win in Ottawa's historic PWHL opener". Ottawa Sun. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  32. ↑ "PWHL game in Minnesota sets attendance record with 13,316 fans". The Guardian. January 7, 2024. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  33. ↑ Warren, Ken (August 29, 2023). "Ottawa signs on as part of new professional women's hockey league". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  34. ↑ Salvian, Hailey (February 23, 2023). "PWHPA organize formal union, negotiating CBA with their investor group". The Athletic. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Sarah Nurse, Blayre Turnbull and Renata Fast sign with Toronto's PWHL franchise". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. September 6, 2023. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Brian Burke named executive director of pro women's hockey players' union". Sportsnet. August 29, 2023. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  37. ↑ Wyshynski, Greg (August 29, 2023). "New Professional Women's Hockey League reveals six franchises". ESPN. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  38. ↑ Morhardt, Meghann (December 14, 2023). "PWHL Playoffs To Feature Top Four Teams, Best-of-Five Series". TheMessenger.com. The Messenger. Retrieved January 14, 2024. The PWHL playoffs are set to take place in May and will follow a typical bracket format with two semifinal series setting up a championship series
  39. ↑ BVM Sportsdesk (December 14, 2023). "PWHL Playoffs Set for May: Top 4 Teams in Best-of-Five Series". bvmsports.com. BVM Sports. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  40. 1 2 "PWHL tweaks penalty, short-handed goal, shootout in rule book". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. January 1, 2024. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  41. 1 2 "PWHL to feature new shorthanded goal rule, three-point standing system". Sportsnet. January 1, 2024. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  42. ↑ Greg Wyshynski (March 20, 2022). "Swedish Women's Hockey League to OK bodychecking for 2022–23 season". espn.com. ESPN. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  43. 1 2 Donkin, Karissa (January 6, 2024). "PWHL showcases physicality of women's game, with full approval from players". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  44. ↑ Zanin, Tasha (February 6, 2013). "Dream come true". The Ryersonian. Toronto. p. 11.
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