Content deleted Content added
Other justin (talk | contribs) m Mostly CE, e.g. tenses, hyperlinks, etc. |
Other justin (talk | contribs) Further CE and expansion with refs |
||
Line 20:
}}
The '''Canadian Women's Hockey League''' ('''CWHL'''; {{lang-fr|Ligue canadienne de hockey féminin ‒ LCHF}}) was a [[women's ice hockey]] league. Established in 2007 as a Canadian women's [[Senior ice hockey|senior league]] in the [[Greater Toronto Area]], [[Montreal]], and [[Ottawa]], the league expanded into [[Alberta]] (2011) and internationally in the [[United States]] (2010) and [[China]] (2017) throughout its tenure. The league [[Collapse of the Canadian Women's Hockey League|discontinued operations on May 1, 2019]], after 12 seasons.
For most of its existence, the CWHL was registered as an amateur association but was considered the top women's hockey league in North America. The National Women's Hockey League, later re-branded the [[Premier Hockey Federation]], launched in the US in 2015 and was the first women's league to pay salaries. The CWHL began paying players a stipend during its last two seasons before it folded, citing financial difficulties. The collapse of the league resulted in the establishment of the [[Professional Women's Hockey Players Association]] (PWHPA), a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to the professionalization of women's hockey.
==History==
===Formation and early years (2007–2010)===
The CWHL was an initiative spearheaded by players including [[Jennifer Botterill]], [[Lisa-Marie Breton]], Allyson Fox, [[Kathleen Kauth]], Kim McCullough, and [[Sami Jo Small]], all of whom played in the original [[National Women's Hockey League (1999)|National Women's Hockey League]], which disbanded in 2007. The players worked with a group of volunteer business people to form the CWHL. The league, which would operate as a non-profit business, would be responsible for all travel, ice rentals, uniforms, and some equipment costs, but would not pay salaries.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cleary |first=Martin |date=2007-09-30 |title=Dreaming of a league of her own |url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/columnists/story.html?id=b649aca4-4560-49af-b3f0-525e14891b75 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023220923/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/columnists/story.html?id=b649aca4-4560-49af-b3f0-525e14891b75 |archive-date=2007-10-23 |access-date=2014-07-18 |publisher=Canada.com}}</ref><ref name="longman20131118">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/18/sports/olympics/women-on-the-us-olympic-hockey-team-juggle-practices-and-studies.html | title=Crashing the Boards and Cracking the Books | work=The New York Times | date=2013-11-18 | access-date=17 November 2013 | last=Longman |first=Jeré}}</ref> Unlike the NWHL, in which teams were independently owned and operated, the CWHL was to be centrally run, and teams formed affiliations with local youth hockey associations.<ref name=":0" />
In 2007, [[Hockey Canada]] announced that it would revamp the [[Esso women's hockey nationals|Esso Women's Nationals]], with the [[Western Women's Hockey League]] (WWHL) finalists meeting the CWHL finalists in a playoff.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |date=2007-09-27 |title=Players form new Canadian Women's Hockey League |url=https://www.thestar.com/article/261338 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607035235/https://www.thestar.com/article/261338 |archive-date=2011-06-07 |work=The Star |location=Toronto}}</ref> Beginning in 2009, teams from the two leagues competed for the [[Clarkson Cup]] at the end of the season.<ref
The [[Brampton Thunder]] won the [[2007–08 CWHL season|first CWHL championship]] in 2008, winning 4–3 over the [[Mississauga Chiefs]] in the final.<ref>{{cite news | work = The Brampton News | title = Brampton Claims Inaugural CWHL Title | url = http://www.thebramptonnews.com/articles/3258/1/Brampton-Claims-Inaugural-CWHL-Title/Page1.html | date = March 25, 2008 | access-date = January 2, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080617130113/http://www.thebramptonnews.com/articles/3258/1/Brampton-Claims-Inaugural-CWHL-Title/Page1.html | archive-date = June 17, 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> In [[2008–09 CWHL season|2008–09]], the [[Montreal Stars]] won 25 of 30 games and the CWHL Championship before going on to win the first Clarkson Cup over the [[Minnesota Whitecaps]].<ref name=":1" /> The Stars would take a third straight regular season championship the [[2009–10 CWHL season|following season]]. The CWHL did not have an individual playoff champion in 2010 but instead had a Clarkson Cup qualifying playoff. The Stars and Chiefs qualified for the Cup tournament from their regular season records and the Thunder qualified through the playoff. The Thunder then played into the Clarkson Cup final but lost to the Whitecaps.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Robson |first=Dan |date=2010-03-28 |title=Minnesota Whitecaps capture Clarkson Cup |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/minnesota-whitecaps-capture-clarkson-cup-1.887795 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113025926/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/minnesota-whitecaps-capture-clarkson-cup-1.887795 |archive-date=2022-11-13 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=[[CBC Sports]]}}</ref>
===Restructuring and stabilization (2010–2017)===
Prior to the [[2010–11 CWHL season|2010–11 season]], the league underwent a structural reorganization, which it considered a relaunch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cwhl.ca/news.asp?id=12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121085028/http://cwhl.ca/news.asp?id=12 |title=Elite Women's Hockey Action Starts |website=CWHL.ca |date=October 21, 2010 |archive-date=November 21, 2010}}</ref> Changes included the Chiefs, [[Ottawa Senators (CWHL)|Ottawa Senators]], and [[Vaughan Flames]] ceasing operations
The league announced on April 19, 2011, that it would expand to Alberta ahead of the [[2011–12 CWHL season|2011–12 season]], welcoming a single team combining the former [[Edmonton Chimos]] and [[Strathmore Rockies]] of the WWHL.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-04-19 |title=Canadian Elite Women’s Hockey Moves West with League’s Expansion to Alberta |url=http://cwhl.ca/news.asp?id=73 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516142333/http://cwhl.ca/news.asp?id=73 |archive-date=2011-05-16 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=CWHL}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2011-04-25 |title=Chimos Part of Merger With CWHL |url=http://www.edmontonchimos.com/default.aspx?p=article&id=30948 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716135808/http://www.edmontonchimos.com/default.aspx?p=article&id=30948 |archive-date=2011-07-16 |website=Edmonton Chimos}}</ref> The move effectively marked the end of the WWHL, and controversially left its remaining teams—the Whitecaps and the [[Manitoba Maple Leafs]]—as independent teams without a league to play in.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clinton |first=Jared |date=2018-10-05 |title=Passion Project: How Undying Dedication has Led to Whitecaps' NWHL Debut |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/passion-project-how-undying-dedication-has-led-to-whitecaps-nwhl-debut |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206041955/https://thehockeynews.com/news/passion-project-how-undying-dedication-has-led-to-whitecaps-nwhl-debut |archive-date=2022-12-06 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=[[The Hockey News]]}}</ref> The new CWHL team was initially called Team Alberta; it adopted the unofficial Alberta Honeybadgers moniker for its second season, before settling on becoming the [[Calgary Inferno]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-09-24 |title=The heat is on: Calgary team embraces new Inferno logo and name; ready to melt the ice this season |url=http://www.cwhl.ca/view/cwhl/news-644/news_87202 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109041639/http://www.cwhl.ca/view/cwhl/news-644/news_87202 |archive-date=2014-01-09 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=CWHL}}</ref> These developments also led to the Clarkson Cup becoming the playoff championship trophy solely for the CWHL.
Changes continued in [[2012–13 CWHL season|2012]] with Burlington folding and
In November 2012, the CWHL announced partnerships between the Furies and Inferno with their local [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) counterparts, the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] and [[Calgary Flames]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Girard |first=Daniel |date=2012-11-13 |title=Maple Leafs put faith in Furies |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20121113/282522950742121 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |via=pressreader.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-11-13 |title=Flames partner with CWHL to support Team Alberta |url=https://www.nhl.com/ice/m_news.htm?id=645586 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120160339/https://www.nhl.com/ice/m_news.htm?id=645586 |archive-date=2024-01-20 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=nhl.com |publisher=National Hockey League}}</ref> The announcement marked a reversal from the position that sponsorships could not be directed to particular teams but only to the league, with the partnerships providing funding for coaches, equipment, and travel expenses, and greater opportunities for marketing and promotion. The Leafs partnership also led to the first [[1st Canadian Women's Hockey League All-Star Game|CWHL All-Star Game]] in 2014, hosted by the Leafs at [[Air Canada Centre]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014 |title=CWHL All-Star Showcase |url=http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=101897 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115013410/http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=101897 |archive-date=2014-11-15 |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=mapleleafs.nhl.com |publisher=Toronto Maple Leafs}}</ref> In 2015, the league announced a similar arrangement between the Stars and the [[Montreal Canadiens]], which led to the Stars re-branding as [[Les Canadiennes de Montréal]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Proteau |first=Adam |date=2015-03-19 |title=Canadiens Support Women's Hockey, Enter Parntership with CWHL's Montreal Stars |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/canadiens-support-womens-hockey-enter-partnership-with-cwhls-montreal-stars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519095614/https://thehockeynews.com/news/canadiens-support-womens-hockey-enter-partnership-with-cwhls-montreal-stars |archive-date=2022-05-19 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=The Hockey News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-09-24 |title=Montreal women’s team gets new logo, name: Les Canadiennes |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/montreal-womens-team-gets-new-logo-name-les-canadiennes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930215622/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/montreal-womens-team-gets-new-logo-name-les-canadiennes/ |archive-date=2015-09-30 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=Sportsnet |agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref> In 2012, the CWHL also announced a partnership with [[You Can Play]], an LGTBQ organization, to promote inclusiveness—it was the first league to to partner with the organization.<ref name=":2" />
In early 2015, the CWHL began working with entrepreneur [[Dani Rylan]] to establish an expansion team in New York. However, Rylan ultimately changed plans and instead announced the establishment of a new [[National Women's Hockey League]] (NWHL) with four teams in the Northeastern United States.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Rutherford |first=Kristina |date=2019 |title='What's right for the game': Inside the frustrating, inspiring mess that's women's pro hockey |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/inside-cwhl-nwhl-mess-big-read/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330115500/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/inside-cwhl-nwhl-mess-big-read/ |archive-date=2019-03-30 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=Sportsnet}}</ref> The new league claimed to be the first true professional women's hockey league, offering player salaries ranging from $10,000 to $26,000 per year.<ref name=":3" /> However, in 2017 the NWHL cut salaries in half, calling its stability into question.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rutherford |first=Kristina |date=2020-03-08 |title='A woman willing to change the world': Meet the most controversial and misunderstood woman in hockey |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/dani-rylan-nwhl-big-read/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315184051/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/dani-rylan-nwhl-big-read/ |archive-date=2020-03-15 |access-date=2020-12-13 |website=Sportsnet}}</ref>
===
The CWHL announced on June 5, 2017, that it would expand to [[China]], adding [[Kunlun Red Star WIH]], a team controlled by the [[Kontinental Hockey League]]'s [[Kunlun Red Star]], and the [[Vanke Rays]], both based in [[Shenzhen]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-06-05 |title=Chinese team set to enter Canadian Women’s Hockey League |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/cwhl-unveils-chinese-expansion-franchise-2017-18/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614060851/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/cwhl-unveils-chinese-expansion-franchise-2017-18/ |archive-date=2017-06-14 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=Sportsnet |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Brady |first=Rachel |date=2017-10-12 |title=After a busy summer, the CWHL is hoping for a big winter in 2017-18 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/cwhl-looks-to-china-to-grow-womens-hockey-ahead-of-2022olympics/article36563348/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013061255/https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/cwhl-looks-to-china-to-grow-womens-hockey-ahead-of-2022olympics/article36563348/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com& |archive-date=2017-10-13 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> The expansion plan was designed to help Chinese hockey development in preparation for the [[2022 Winter Olympics|2022 Beijing Winter Olympics]], while bringing significant partnership revenue to the CWHL.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Aykroyd |first=Lucas |date=2019-02-14 |title=Barely Drawing a Whisper Where Hockey Is the Talk of the Town |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/sports/hockey/womens-hockey-toronto-furies.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215123530/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/sports/hockey/womens-hockey-toronto-furies.html |archive-date=2019-02-15 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> In order to minimize travel, each North American team made one trip to China to play a four-game series, while the Chinese teams likewise had road games in North America grouped into sets.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rutherford |first=Kristina |date=2018-11-07 |title=Making it in China: Can the CWHL teach China to love hockey? |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/cwhl-china-hockey-krs-vanke-shenzhen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402075441/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/cwhl-china-hockey-krs-vanke-shenzhen/ |archive-date=2019-04-02 |access-date=2020-12-13 |website=Sportsnet}}</ref> Kunlun Red Star's [[2017–18 CWHL season|debut season]] was a success, with the team advancing to the Clarkson Cup final, losing 2–1 in overtime to the Thunder.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGran |first=Kevin |date=2018-03-25 |title=Laura Stacey’s overtime winner gives Markham its first Clarkson Cup |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/laura-stacey-s-overtime-winner-gives-markham-its-first-clarkson-cup/article_7c47aa4f-7ae2-5676-bb02-55173c748293.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216132955/https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/laura-stacey-s-overtime-winner-gives-markham-its-first-clarkson-cup/article_7c47aa4f-7ae2-5676-bb02-55173c748293.html |archive-date=2023-12-16 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=Toronto Star}}</ref>
Alongside the expansion, the league announced it would also begin paying its players for the first time.<ref name="PlayersPay">{{cite web |last=Brady |first=Rachel |date=2017-09-01 |title=Canadian Women's Hockey League will begin paying its players |url=
In January 2018,
On July 19, 2018, league commissioner Brenda Andress announced she would be stepping down, and [[Jayna Hefford]] was named interim commissioner.<ref>{{cite web |date=2018-07-18 |title=CWHL commissioner Brenda Andress to step down |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/cwhl-commissioner-brenda-andress-step/ |
=== Collapse (2019) ===
{{Main|Collapse of the Canadian Women's Hockey League}}
On March 31, 2019, it was announced by the CWHL board of directors that the league would discontinue operations effective May 1. The league cited financial instability due in part to the fragmentation of corporate sponsors between the CWHL and NWHL, noting that the Chinese partnership had kept the league operating during the previous two seasons. The board of directors stated that it owed its players more than the league could continue to provide, suggested that there may only be room for one women's league, and encouraged the players to push any successor leagues to pay a livable wage.<ref name="FinalStatement">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecwhl.com/CWHL_Final_Public_Communication%20July_2_2019_FINAL_630pm.pdf |title=Final Public Communication |website=CWHL |date=2 July 2019 |access-date=9 July 2019 |archive-date=25 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925231559/http://thecwhl.com/CWHL_Final_Public_Communication%20July_2_2019_FINAL_630pm.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Players were not consulted prior to the decision, and tended to express shock and anger at the abrupt closure of the league.<ref name=":52">{{Cite news |last=Rutherford |first=Kristina |date=2019-03-31 |title=Questions, frustration remain in wake of CWHL’s decision to fold |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/questions-frustration-remain-wake-cwhls-decision-fold/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402215259/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/questions-frustration-remain-wake-cwhls-decision-fold/ |archive-date=2019-04-02 |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Sportsnet]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wawrow |first=John |date=2019-04-18 |title=Players demand say in women's hockey future after CWHL folds |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/players-demand-say-in-womens-hockey-future-after-cwhl-folds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419145908/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/players-demand-say-in-womens-hockey-future-after-cwhl-folds/ |archive-date=2019-04-19 |access-date=2020-12-13 |website=[[The Seattle Times]] |agency=The Associated Press}}</ref>
The
==== CWHL/NWHL relations ====
Relations between the CWHL and the NWHL remained strained in the years after the latter was established. While the NWHL offered salaries, the league was persistently criticized for a lack of professionalism and its approach to growing the women's game.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2020 |title=Behind the Game: Former Players Detail Life in the NWHL |url=https://victorypress.org/2020/05/10/behind-the-game-former-players-detail-life-in-the-nwhl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001105936/https://victorypress.org/2020/05/10/behind-the-game-former-players-detail-life-in-the-nwhl/ |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=The Victory Press}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Wharton |first=David |date=2020-03-08 |title=U.S. women's hockey players look for stability in starting their own league |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-03-08/us-womens-ice-hockey-kendall-coyne-schofield |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811131453/https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-03-08/us-womens-ice-hockey-kendall-coyne-schofield |archive-date=2022-08-11 |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 11, 2020 |title=Professionalism prompts Kristen Richards to choose PWHPA over NWHL |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2020/06/11/professionalism-prompts-kristen-richards-to-choose-pwhpa-over-nwhl.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219160748/https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2020/06/11/professionalism-prompts-kristen-richards-to-choose-pwhpa-over-nwhl.html |archive-date=February 19, 2021 |access-date=January 24, 2023 |newspaper=The Toronto Star}}</ref> Over the years there were talks about merging the entities, with some women's hockey leaders emphasizing the need for a unified league and others stating that two or more could coexist.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2018-12-17 |title=NWHL commissioner says merger with CWHL 'is inevitable' |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nwhl-commissioner-says-merger-cwhl-inevitable/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324043506/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nwhl-commissioner-says-merger-cwhl-inevitable/ |archive-date=2020-03-24 |access-date=2020-12-13 |website=Sportsnet |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The relationship was further strained by a refusal by the NHL to fully back either entity, and suggesting that it had interest in starting its own women's league from scratch.<ref name=":6" /> As late as January 2019, NWHL commissioner Dani Rylan was pursuing the CWHL about a merger.<ref name=":52" /> On April 2, 2019, just days after the CWHL board announced its decision to dissolve the league, the NWHL announced plans to expand into Canada with franchises in Toronto and Montreal.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wawrow |first=John |date=2019-04-02 |title=U.S.-based women's hockey league OKs plan to expand to Canada after CWHL folds |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2019/04/02/us-based-nwhl-oks-plan-to-expand-to-canada-after-cwhl-folds.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404133354/https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2019/04/02/us-based-nwhl-oks-plan-to-expand-to-canada-after-cwhl-folds.html |archive-date=2019-04-04 |access-date=2019-04-02 |newspaper=Toronto Star |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The [[Toronto Six]] became the league's first Canadian franchise in 2020, and the [[Montreal Force]] were added in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Emily |date=2020-04-22 |title=NWHL adding first Canadian team, in Toronto |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/29081851/nwhl-adding-first-canadian-team-toronto |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503225123/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/29081851/nwhl-adding-first-canadian-team-toronto |archive-date=2020-05-03 |access-date=2020-10-21 |website=ESPN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-30 |title=Montreal's new PHF women's hockey franchise will be named the Force |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/montreal-premier-hockey-federation-expansion-franchise-force-1.6566669 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830160741/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/montreal-premier-hockey-federation-expansion-franchise-force-1.6566669 |archive-date=2022-08-30 |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=CBC Sports |agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref>
==== PWHPA ====
After the collapse of the CWHL, more than 200 prominent women's players launched a boycott of North American leagues and founded the [[Professional Women's Hockey Players Association]] (PWHPA) to work towards the establishment of a unified, financially stable women's professional league.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McKenzie |first=Bob |author-link=Bob McKenzie (broadcaster) |date=2019-05-02 |title=More than 200 players call for overhaul of women's pro hockey |url=https://www.tsn.ca/more-than-200-players-call-for-overhaul-of-women-s-pro-hockey-1.1299658 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116031418/https://www.tsn.ca/more-than-200-players-call-for-overhaul-of-women-s-pro-hockey-1.1299658 |archive-date=November 16, 2019 |access-date=2020-09-30 |work=[[The Sports Network]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Emily |date=2019-09-20 |title=Sorting out the current landscape of professional women's hockey |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/27643375/sorting-current-landscape-professional-women-hockey |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202233445/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/27643375/sorting-current-landscape-professional-women-hockey |archive-date=2022-12-02 |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> The PWHPA itself had a tumultuous relationship with the NWHL—which was rebranded as the [[Premier Hockey Federation]] (PHF) in 2021—rejecting overtures at merging and holding out for the construction of a new league with greater financial backing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Larkin |first=Matt |date=June 3, 2020 |title=Jayna Hefford Q&A: head of the PWHPA talks future of the women's game, NHL investment and more |url=https://www.si.com/hockey/news/jayna-hefford-qa-head-of-the-pwhpa-talks-future-of-the-womens-game-nhl-investment-and-more |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109204345/https://www.si.com/hockey/news/jayna-hefford-qa-head-of-the-pwhpa-talks-future-of-the-womens-game-nhl-investment-and-more |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=The Hockey News on Sports Illustrated}}</ref> For several years, players with the PWHPA courted corporate, media, and NHL partnerships, and organized a "Dream Gap" tour to showcase top-level women's hockey.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dichter |first=Myles |date=2021-02-10 |title=NHL partnerships bring unified women's league closer to reality, PWHPA's Hefford says |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/pwhpa-jayna-hefford-nhl-partnerships-1.5908146 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211062243/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/pwhpa-jayna-hefford-nhl-partnerships-1.5908146 |archive-date=2021-02-11 |access-date=2024-01-19 |work=CBC Sports}}</ref> In 2022, the PWHPA entered a partnership with [[Mark Walter]] and [[Billie Jean King]], whose business enterprises went on to purchase the PHF in 2023.<ref name="salvian20220524">{{cite news |last1=Salvian |first1=Hailey |date=2022-05-24 |title=PWHPA, Billie Jean King considering new league: Source |url=https://theathletic.com/3490779/2022/05/24/pwhpa-billie-jean-king-enterprises-exploring-starting-womens-hockey-league-source/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630175625/https://theathletic.com/3490779/2022/05/24/pwhpa-billie-jean-king-enterprises-exploring-starting-womens-hockey-league-source/ |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-30 |work=[[The Athletic]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="phf-sale-espn2">{{cite web |author=Wyshynski |first=Greg |date=2023-06-29 |title=Sources: Premier Hockey Federation sale could unite women's hockey |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/37937093/premier-hockey-federation-sale-unite-women-hockey |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630015545/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/37937093/premier-hockey-federation-sale-unite-women-hockey |archive-date=2023-06-30 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=ESPN |publisher=}}</ref> The PWHPA then organized a [[Professional Women's Hockey League Players Association|formal union]] and negotiated a collective bargaining agreement as part of the establishment of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), which began play in January 2024 with six teams in Canada and the US.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Salvian |first=Hailey |date=2023-02-23 |title=PWHPA organize formal union, negotiating CBA with their investor group: Sources |url=https://theathletic.com/4245465/2023/02/23/pwhpa-union-negotiating-cba/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918055010/https://theathletic.com/4245465/2023/02/23/pwhpa-union-negotiating-cba/ |archive-date=2023-09-18 |access-date=2024-01-18 |work=[[The Athletic]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Donkin |first=Karissa |date=2024-01-05 |title=Players beaming as physical play, new rules and historic moments highlight PWHL's 1st week |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-roundup-jan-4-1.7074704 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105232750/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-roundup-jan-4-1.7074704 |archive-date=2024-01-05 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=CBC Sports}}</ref>
==Teams==
=== Final season (2018–19) ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!
!
!
!
!
|-
| [[
|-
| [[
|-
| [[
|-
| [[
|-
| [[
|-
| [[
|}
=== Former teams ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#ddf; " | Team
! style="background:#ddf; " | City
! style="background:#ddf; " | Years active
! style="background:#ddf; " | Champ{{shy}}ionships
|-
| [[Burlington Barracudas]] || [[Burlington, Ontario]] || align="center" | {{nowrap|2007–2012}} || align="center" | 0
|-
| [[Mississauga Chiefs]] || [[Mississauga]], Ontario || align="center" | 2007–2010 || align="center" | 0
|-
| [[
|-
| [[Quebec Phenix|Phénix du Québec]] || Montréal, Québec || align="center" | 2007–2008 || align="center" | 0
|-
|[[Vanke Rays]] || Shenzhen, Guangdong || align="center" | 2017–2018 || align="center" | 0
|-
| [[Vaughan Flames]] || [[Vaughan]], Ontario || align="center" | 2007–2010 || align="center" | 0
|
==Championships==
Numbers in brackets denote numbers of titles.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%;"
|- style="text-align:center; background:#ddf;"
! style="text-align:center; background:#ddf;" |Season !! style="text-align:center; background:#ddf;" |Playoff champion!! style="text-align:center; background:#ddf;" |Regular season title!! style="text-align:center; background:#ddf;" |Scoring champion
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2007–08 CWHL season|2007–08]] || [[Brampton Thunder]] || [[Montreal Stars]]|| [[Jennifer Botterill]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2008–09 CWHL season|2008–09]] || Montreal Stars || Montreal Stars <small>(2)</small> || [[Jayna Hefford]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2009–10 CWHL season|2009–10]] || [[Minnesota Whitecaps]]{{ref label|WWHL|a|a}} || Montreal Stars <small>(3)</small> || [[Sabrina Harbec]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2010–11 CWHL season|2010–11]] || Montreal Stars <small>(2)</small> || Montreal Stars <small>(4)</small> || [[Caroline Ouellette]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2011–12 CWHL season|2011–12]] || Montreal Stars <small>(3)</small> || Montreal Stars <small>(5)</small> || [[Meghan Agosta]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2012–13 CWHL season|2012–13]] || [[Boston Blades]] || Boston Blades || Meghan Agosta-Marciano <small>(2)</small>
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2013–14 CWHL season|2013–14]] || [[Toronto Furies]] || Montreal Stars <small>(6)</small> || [[Ann-Sophie Bettez]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2014–15 CWHL season|2014–15]] || Boston Blades <small>(2)</small> || Boston Blades <small>(2)</small> || [[Rebecca Johnston]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2015–16 CWHL season|2015–16]] || [[Calgary Inferno]] || Les Canadiennes <small>(7)</small> || [[Marie-Philip Poulin]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2016–17 CWHL season|2016–17]] || Les Canadiennes <small>(4)</small> || Calgary Inferno || [[Jess Jones]] & Marie-Philip Poulin <small>(2)</small>
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2017–18 CWHL season|2017–18]] || Markham Thunder <small>(2)</small> || Les Canadiennes <small>(8)</small> || [[Kelli Stack]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2018–19 CWHL season|2018–19]] || Calgary Inferno <small>(2)</small> || Calgary Inferno <small>(2)</small> || Marie-Philip Poulin <small>(3)</small>
|}
===Notes===
{{note label|MLAs|a|a}} In 2009 and 2010, the [[Clarkson Cup]] was awarded in a playoff between teams from the CWHL and the [[Western Women's Hockey League|WWHL]]; Minnesota was the 2010 WWHL champion and defeated Brampton in the [[2010 Clarkson Cup]] finals.
==Drafts==
The [[2010 CWHL Draft|first league draft]] was held on August 12, 2010, at the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] in [[Toronto]]
===First overall picks===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%;"
|-
| '''Draft year''' || '''Player'''||'''Team'''||'''College'''
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2010 CWHL Draft|2010]] || [[Tessa Bonhomme]] || [[Toronto
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2011 CWHL Draft|2011]] || [[Meghan Agosta]] || [[Montreal Stars]] || [[Mercyhurst Lakers women's ice hockey|Mercyhurst Lakers]]
Line 141 ⟶ 156:
| [[2012 CWHL Draft|2012]] || [[Hillary Pattenden]] || [[Calgary Inferno|Alberta Honeybadgers]] || Mercyhurst Lakers
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2013 CWHL Draft|2013]] || [[Jessica Wong]] ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2014 CWHL Draft|2014]] || [[Laura Fortino]] || [[Brampton CWHL|Brampton Thunder]] || [[Cornell Big Red women's ice hockey|Cornell Big Red]]
Line 151 ⟶ 166:
| [[2017 CWHL Draft|2017]] || [[Courtney Turner]] || Boston Blades || [[Union Dutchwomen ice hockey|Union College Dutchwomen]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2018 CWHL Draft|2018]] || [[Lauren Williams (ice hockey)|Lauren Williams]] ||
|}
==All-time leaderboard==
===All-time leading scorers (2007–08 to 2018–19)===
The annual CWHL scoring champion
{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%;"
|-
| '''Player''' || '''
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Caroline Ouellette]] || [[Montreal Stars]]|| 202 || 143 || 203 || 346
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Ann-Sophie Bettez]] || Montreal Stars || 189 || 127 || 152 || 279
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Jayna Hefford]] || [[Brampton Thunder]]|| 145 || 134 || 113 || 247
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Marie-Philip Poulin]] || Montreal Stars || 98 || 93 || 103 || 196
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Noémie Marin|Noemie Marin]] || Montreal Stars || 172 || 91 || 86 || 177
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Jennifer Botterill]] || [[Mississauga Chiefs]], [[Toronto Furies]]|| 87 || 68 || 98 || 166
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Emmanuelle Blais]]|| Montreal Stars || 210 || 60 || 95 || 155
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Gillian Apps]] || Brampton Thunder || 142 || 80 ||68 || 148
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Rebecca Johnston]] || [[Calgary Inferno]]|| 111 || 59 || 84 || 143
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Meghan Agosta]] || Montreal Stars || 58 || 62 || 73 || 135
|}
Line 187 ⟶ 202:
===All-time leaders in shutouts (2007–08 to 2014–15)===
{{Update|section|missing 2015–16 to 2018–19|date=March 2019}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%;"
|-
| '''Player''' || '''Team(s)''' || '''Shutouts'''
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Sami Jo Small]] || [[Mississauga Chiefs]], [[Toronto Furies]]|| 15
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Jenny Lavigne ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Kim St-Pierre]] ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Mandy Cronin]] || [[Brampton Thunder]], [[Burlington Barracudas]], [[Boston Blades]]|| 6
|}
==Television coverage==
Specialty television channel [[Sportsnet]] aired the CWHL playoffs and the league's All-Star Game from 2014–15 through 2018–19. The most watched game was the [[2019 Clarkson Cup]] Final on March 24, 2019, with 170,000 viewers.<ref name="Discontinue">{{Cite web |date=2019-03-31 |title=The Canadian Women's Hockey League to Discontinue Operations |url=http://www.thecwhl.com/the-canadian-womens-hockey-league-to-discontinue-operations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502221143/http://www.thecwhl.com/the-canadian-womens-hockey-league-to-discontinue-operations |archive-date=2019-05-02 |access-date=2019-03-31 |website=Canadian Women's Hockey League |language=en-US}}</ref> Sportsnet was ultimately criticized for its limited coverage, broadcasting just three games per season, and its lack of licensing fees paid to the league, a problem common to women's sports.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hall |first=M. Ann |date=2019-04-03 |title=Women's sport needs time to carve out a niche. The CWHL didn't get a fair shot |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-womens-sport-needs-time-carve-out-a-niche-the-cwhl-didnt-get-the/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404052303/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-womens-sport-needs-time-carve-out-a-niche-the-cwhl-didnt-get-the/ |archive-date=2019-04-04 |access-date=2020-12-20 |work=The Globe and Mail |type=Op-ed}}</ref>
==References==
Line 217 ⟶ 224:
==External links==
===News stories===
* [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2007/09/27/hockey-womensleague.html Canadian Women's Hockey League launches] CBCsports, September 27, 2007
| |||