The year 2023 has brought with it quite a lot of new and interesting additions to the world of hockey, and sports in general. One of those comes in the form of a new hockey league, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) to be exact.
The NWHL had existed in previous years, unfortunately being decimated by COVID, lack of structure and ultimately, a lack of future plans. With one unfortunate failure, a new phoenix has risen from the ashes in the form of the PWHL. The newly established women’s league will feature six teams, split evenly between the United States and Canada. St. Paul, Minnesota, New York and Boston will play home to the three United States squads, while Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa will host the three teams from Canada. As of this point, there doesn’t seem to be any news in the way of team names or mascots, just locations serving as the differentiating factors between teams.
Equality between the men’s and women’s games of hockey specifically has been a focus on both sides of the equation, and the PWHL is a fantastic first step in helping to grow the game. With the six teams getting set to drop the puck on their inaugural season, the fall brought about a unique and interesting way of starting the league. The league creation consisted of a free agency period for current/previous professional women’s players, as well as an amateur draft of players just recently graduating from college.
The schedule doesn’t seem set, and there seems to be no official full commitments in terms of arenas. The anticipation for this new league has definitely brought excitement amongst the women’s hockey community. The chance to showcase the skills and talent that these women bring each and every night will be on full display with this original half dozen teams.
The rosters will surely fill, and the league will surely grow. Women’s hockey is on the rise, and so are the quickly emerging girls’ leagues throughout the country, specifically in the Northeast. Minnesota, New York and New England, just to name a few locations, are all thriving in growing the game of girls hockey, from all ages involving youth to college. There is finally a bright light at the end of the tunnel in terms of a competitive women’s league that will undoubtedly continue to grow throughout the years.
Talent will truly be on display as many members of the IIHF Women’s hockey teams, primarily including the United States and Canada, will be rostered throughout the newly formed half dozen league. The Original Six of Women’s hockey, or the “Half Dozen” as we will phrase it, seeks to be the new beginning to the growth of our beautiful game.
As we look forward into the future of PWHL coverage, we will start to focus on highlighting some of the game’s stars, the “up and comers”, the potential prospects, as well as coaching and front office commentary. Each week we will try to get interviews throughout the league to follow along with how the league is growing, how these players are adjusting, and what they hope to see as it continues to grow.
Onward and forward is the goal, and the Half Dozen are ready to embark on that inaugural voyage of what promises to be an exciting year for women’s hockey.
- PWHL: A Fresh New Start - November 9, 2023
