Courtesy of Bauer/PWHL via The Associated Press
With the second season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League officially underway, the league is now turning its focus to expansion, indicating another exciting new chapter. The PWHL has made significant progress since its launch, with six teams establishing a strong foundation: The Toronto Sceptres, Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Ottawa Charge, Montréal Victoire and New York Sirens. Following the recent reveal of official team names and logos, the next step is to grow the league across North America.
After Amy Scheer, senior vice president of business operations, announced they were entertaining the idea, the PWHL has reportedly received more than 25 proposals from cities and ownership groups eager to join the league. With plans to add two new teams as early as next season, preparations for significant growth have been put in place.
The league’s ongoing “Takeover Tour,” which features nine neutral-site games across Canada and the U.S., serves as both a showcase and test for possible markets. These games provide valuable insights into prospective expansion locations, offering a glimpse at fan attendance and engagement, as well as market potential. With geography and current NHL affiliation not serving as significant limitations, cities such as Quebec City, Detroit, Seattle and Denver among others have emerged as strong candidates.
Courtesy of the PWHL
On Jan. 8, the PWHL hosted the second game of the tour, where the Montréal Victoire took on the Toronto Sceptres in Vancouver, securing them a position as one of the strongest candidates thus far. The game drew a sellout crowd of over 19,000 fans – the third-largest turnout in the history of the league. These neutral-site games provide a unique opportunity to introduce the PWHL to new and diverse audiences. By bringing professional women’s hockey to cities without current teams, the league can cultivate interest in hosting a franchise.
In her interview with The Athletic, Jayna Hefford, senior vice president of hockey operations with the PWHL, made it clear that they want to provide more opportunities, and expansion is the simplest way to address the concern for roster space. The most recent PWHL draft saw 167 players declare for eligibility, while only 42 were selected in the seven rounds. This imbalance highlights the limited number of available spots in the current six-team format and signals the demand for more opportunities.
With upcoming talents in both NCAA programs and international leagues, the future of professional women’s hockey is promising as long as these talents have a place to play. Beyond creating roster spots, expansion could also foster stronger developmental pathways for players interested in the league, reaching a new audience of young women and girls.
Courtesy of the PWHL
While expansion offers opportunities for growth, it is not without its obstacles. Ensuring financial stability, securing adequate training and game facilities and building strong relationships with local organizations are all essential factors in successful growth. The league must also maintain competitive balance across teams.
Beyond the strong and expanding talent pool, there will be several factors to influence the league’s final decision on expansion. The league has stated they are prioritizing potential over current hockey success; the main focuses being market size, fan base potential, access to facilities and local partnership opportunities.
The PWHL’s plan to expand from six to eight teams represents more than just growth. It signifies a crucial step in advancing women’s professional hockey further on a global scale. Through expansion and careful planning, there is an opportunity to solidify the league’s place as a premier destination for women’s hockey talent. As preparation continues for this exciting new phase, it must be recognized that expansion represents not just a milestone for the league, but yet another defining moment for the future of women’s hockey.
Edited by Jenna Mandarano
Commentaires