The PWHL
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is the newest effort to establish a stable and united professional women’s ice hockey league in North America. It kicked off in January 2024 and is run by the Mark Walter Group, a global investment firm that also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), which used to be the National Women’s Hockey League. Jayna Hefford, a Canadian Olympic gold medalist and former PHF commissioner, leads the PWHL.
The PWHL includes six franchises, with three based in Canada and three in the United States: Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto. These teams, which are still waiting for official names, have 23 players each selected through a 15-round draft in September 2023. Notable players like Taylor Heise, Marie-Philip Poulin, Hilary Knight, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Natalie Spooner were part of this draft.
League Structure and Unique Rules
In its first season, the league features 30 regular season games per team followed by a best-of-five playoff series to determine the champion. It has unique rules like a 3-2-1-0 points system, penalties ending after a short-handed goal, best-of-five shootouts, and stricter body checking rules. Players in the PWHL are guaranteed a minimum salary of $50,000 along with health insurance, travel expenses, and equipment allowances.
The PWHL is the outcome of efforts by women’s hockey players to gain more recognition, respect, and resources for their sport. Following the collapse of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) in 2019, players formed the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) and boycotted existing leagues like the PHF to create a unified and financially stable professional league. The PWHPA organized showcase events and tours across North America and Europe, attracting sponsors, media attention, and fans.
Reception and Broadcasting Deals
The PWHL has received acclaim from players, fans, and media as a significant opportunity to grow the game and showcase women’s hockey talent and passion. It has secured broadcasting deals with CBC, TSN, Sportsnet, and YouTube in Canada, as well as syndication in the United States. The league has attracted substantial viewership, with its fifth game between Minnesota and Montreal drawing over 10,000 spectators at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, and over 500,000 viewers online.
Future of the PWHL
The PWHL represents not only a new league but also a new era for professional women’s hockey. It aims to provide optimal conditions for players and entertainment for fans while celebrating the diversity, excellence, and empowerment of women’s hockey. The league seeks to inspire the next generation of players and fans while creating a historic legacy.