Professional Women's Hockey League: Difference between revisions

Professional Women's Hockey League
Current season, competition or edition:; 2023–24 PWHL season
Sport	Ice hockey
Gegründet	2023
Owner(s)	Mark Walter Group
Commissioner	Jayna Hefford (SVP)
No. of teams	6
Countries	Canada (3 teams); United States (3 teams)
Broadcasting	CBC, TSN, Sportsnet (Canada); Syndication (United States); YouTube (Worldwide);

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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 organized 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 to earn one of four places in a postseason comprising best-of-five series to determine 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 non-profit organization that 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.

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

The establishment of the Professional Women's Hockey League was announced by the Mark Walter Group in August 2023, along with the location of its six charter franchises: Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Montreal, New York City, Ottawa, and Toronto.^[11]^[12] Teams began constructing their rosters that summer, with an initial ten-day free agency period to sign three players.^[13] Emily Clark, Brianne Jenner, and Emerance Maschmeyer became the league's first players when they signed with Ottawa.^[14] The inaugural draft took place in September at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto, where Minnesota chose Taylor Heise as the first pick in a fifteen-round, ninety-player draft from a pool of 286 eligible players.^[15]

Potential franchise nicknames were registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in October: Boston Wicked, Minnesota Superior, Montreal Echo, New York Sound, Ottawa Alert, and Toronto Torch.^[16] The names were widely criticized by fans for breaking with perceived North American hockey traditions and lacking clear connections to the franchises' locations.^[17]^[18] It was later decided, due to time constraints, that the teams would not be given identities until after the inaugural season, and would wear generic jerseys featuring the name of the teams' locales in a diagonal wordmark.^[19]^[20] The colour choices for each team were praised by fans, though they criticized the generic designs as "basic" and "cookie-cutter".^[21]

Prior to the start of the inaugural season, all six teams congregated at the Utica University Nexus Center in early December for a five day evaluation camp, including scrimmages used to experiment with new rules.^[22]^[23] The first match took place on January 1, 2024, when Toronto hosted New York at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.^[24]^[25] New York's Ella Shelton scored the league's first goal en route to a 4–0 win.^[26]^[27] Its Canadian television audience of 2.9 million viewers was the largest for a sports or entertainment broadcast that day, beating the 2024 NHL Winter Classic.^[28]^[29] The next day, a game hosted by Ottawa at TD Place Arena against Montreal was played in front of a crowd of 8,318, setting a new attendance record for a professional women's ice hockey match.^[30] That record would be broken four days later, when Minnesota hosted Montreal at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, winning the game in front of a crowd of 13,316.^[31]^[32]

Organization

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—the PWHL Players Association (PWHLPA)—that became the players' union representing all PWHL players.^[34] Unique to professional women's hockey, the PWHL established an eight-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the players' union.^[35] The CBA establishes that each team must sign at least six players to a minimum salary of $80,000, and no more than nine players to a league minimum salary of $35,000, with teams instructed to achieve an average salary of $55,000; the base and average salaries are slated to increase 3% per season through the end of the agreement in 2031.^[36] The CBA further outlines performance and team bonuses, including a $63,250 bonus for the championship-winning team, and other financial incentives, including housing stipends.^[36] Brian Burke acts as the executive director of the players' union.^[37]

Format and rules

Pos	Team	W	OTW	OTL	L	Pts
1	PWHL Montreal	6	0	0	0	18
2	PWHL Toronto	3	2	1	0	14

An example of the 3-2-1-0 points system; Montreal has 18 points for 6 wins, while Toronto has 9 points for 3 wins, 4 points for 2 overtime wins and 1 point for an overtime loss, adding up to a sum of 14 points.

The inaugural PWHL season consists of a 24-game schedule lasting from January to May, during which each team faces the other five opponents at least four times.^[38] From the 2024–25 season, the schedule will be expanded to 32 games played from November to May, each team facing their opponents at least six times.^[39] The schedule includes a mid-season break during the annual IIHF World Women's Championship in April.^[38] A 3-2-1-0 points system is used for classification, 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.^[40] At the end of the regular season, the best four teams qualify for a postseason tournament that determines the champion, comprising two semi-finals and a final played as a best-of-five series.^[41]^[42]

PWHL rules closely follow National Hockey League and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) standards, with some notable innovations.^[43] A "jailbreak" rule allows a team to terminate a minor penalty against by scoring a short-handed goal.^[40] During best-of-five shootouts, any player is eligible to shoot at any time, including taking multiple attempts.^[43] Like the Swedish Women's Hockey League, the PWHL breaks with women's ice hockey and IIHF conventions and allows body checking, with the rule-book outlining that checking is permissible "when there is a clear intention of playing the puck or attempting to 'gain possession' of the puck", allowed principally along the boards.^[44]^[45] League executive Jayna Hefford has stated that body checking was included at the behest of the players.^[46]

Teams

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As of the 2023–24 season, six teams compete in the Professional Women's Hockey League: Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto from Canada, and Boston, Minnesota and New York from the United States.^[47]^[48] Described as the league's own "Original Six",^[49]^[50] the teams' locations were chosen for being markets of National Hockey League franchises with "track records of supporting hockey and, specifically, the women's game."^[51]^[52] The markets cover five of the seven cities the Premier Hockey Federation had franchises in at its dissolution; the Buffalo Beauts and Connecticut Whale were not given PWHL replacements.^[53] Franchises in London, Ontario, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. were also considered for the original six.^[54] Though all of the teams currently lack nicknames, crests, and stylized jerseys, unique club identities will eventually be adopted in the future.^[55]^[56]

Of the six teams, two share their home ice with an NHL team: Minnesota play all their home games at the Minnesota Wild's Xcel Energy Center, the largest-capacity venue in the league at 17,954, and New York plays some of their home games at the New York Islanders' UBS Arena.^[57]^[58] New York also shares Total Mortgage Arena with the American Hockey League's (AHL) Bridgeport Islanders.^[58] Montreal similarly splits its home games between two venues, the Verdun Auditorium and Place Bell; the latter shared with the AHL's Laval Rocket.^[59] Boston plays at the Tsongas Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.^[60] Ottawa play at TD Place Arena in Lansdowne Park.^[61] Toronto play at the Toronto Metropolitan University's Mattamy Athletic Center in Maple Leaf Gardens, the smallest-capacity venue in the league at 3,850.^[62]^[63]

List of teams

Team	Standort	Venue	Cap.	General manager	Head coach	Captain
PWHL Boston	Lowell, MA	Tsongas Center	6,003	Danielle Marmer	Courtney Kessel	Hilary Knight
PWHL Minnesota	Saint Paul, MN	Xcel Energy Center	17,954	Natalie Darwitz	Ken Klee	Kendall Coyne Schofield
PWHL Montreal	Laval, QC	Place Bell	10,062	Danièle Sauvageau	Kori Cheverie	Marie-Philip Poulin
PWHL Montreal	Montreal, QC	Verdun Auditorium	4,114	Danièle Sauvageau	Kori Cheverie	Marie-Philip Poulin
PWHL New York	Bridgeport, CT	Total Mortgage Arena	8,412	Pascal Daoust	Howie Draper	Micah Zandee-Hart
PWHL New York	Elmont, NY	UBS Arena	17,255	Pascal Daoust	Howie Draper	Micah Zandee-Hart
PWHL Ottawa	Ottawa, ON	TD Place Arena	8,585	Michael Hirshfeld	Carla MacLeod	Brianne Jenner
PWHL Toronto	Toronto, ON	Mattamy Athletic Centre	3,850	Gina Kingsbury	Troy Ryan	Blayre Turnbull

All-Stars

For its inaugural season, the PWHL announced that it will collaborate with the National Hockey League on its All-Star festivities, intending to host its own All-Star game in future seasons.^[64]^[65] PWHL All-Stars will participate in the "PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase" on February 1 during the 2024 NHL All-Star weekend in Toronto. The game will feature Team King and Team Kloss—named after Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, respectively—coached by Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Meghan Duggan.^[65]

Broadcasting

The Professional Women's Hockey League is aired nationally by TSN, Sportsnet, and CBC in Canada, and streamed via the league's official YouTube channel.^[66]^[67]

References

^ "Timeline of Women's Hockey". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
^ Cleary, Martin (September 30, 2007). "Dreaming of a league of her own". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ "2023 PWHL Draft". thepwhl.ca. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ "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.
^ "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.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ 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.
^ "PWHL breaks professional women's hockey attendance record". Reuters. January 7, 2023. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. [The] game between host Minnesota and Montreal on Saturday set an attendance record for the most-watched professional women's ice hockey game with 13,316 people at Xcel Energy Center, the league said.
^ "PWHL game in Minnesota sets attendance record with 13,316 fans". The Guardian. January 7, 2023. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ ^a ^b Kennedy, Ian (July 3, 2023). "CBA Compensation Details: New Professional Women's Hockey League". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
^ "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.
^ ^a ^b Donkin, Karissa (November 30, 2023). "PWHL releases full 72-game schedule ahead of inaugural season". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
^ "PWHL confirms launch with three Canadian, three American teams". TSN. The Canadian Press. August 29, 2023. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "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.
^ 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
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b "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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ Schram, Carol (August 29, 2023). "New Pro Women's Hockey League Will Launch In January With 6 Teams". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Boston, New York and Minnesota on the U.S. side and Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal in Canada.
^ 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 January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. The six teams in the new Professional Women's Hockey League will be evenly divided between the United States and Canada, with teams in Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, the New York metropolitan area, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. With the start of the new league, Buffalo and Connecticut are losing their teams, while Ottawa is gaining one.
^ Clipperton, Joshua (October 6, 2023). "'An amazing thing for hockey': NHL players excited for PWHL puck drop". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul and the New York City area have been tabbed as the new league's Original Six.
^ Hornby, Lance (November 16, 2023). "A new set of Original Six rivalries ready to rock the PWHL". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. All are great NHL Original Six rivalries that endure. "When you add Ottawa into the mix, as an Original Six, there's a lot of old rivalries that will be renewed."
^ Wawrow, John; Whyno, Stephen (August 30, 2023). "Professional Women's Hockey League unveils its Original 6: 3 teams based in the US and 3 in Canada". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. The new league unveiled its Original Six franchises on Tuesday, putting each one of them in NHL markets with track records of supporting hockey and, specifically, the women's game.
^ Wawrow, John; Whyno, Stephen (August 30, 2023). "New Professional Women's Hockey League is getting support from the NHL, just not the financial kind". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. The newly founded Professional Women's Hockey League unveiled its Original Six franchises [...] based in NHL markets [...] with track records of supporting the women's game.
^ deSimas, Jr., Gerry (August 29, 2023). "Connecticut isn't one of six locations selected for PWHL's first season". Collinsville Press. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Connecticut and the Buffalo Beauts, both charter members of the National Women's Hockey League in 2015, were the only two Premier Hockey Federation cities not selected to continue playing.
^ Salivan, Hailey (January 2, 2024). "Six teams, one draft and loads of Ikea furniture: How the PWHL was made in six months". The Athletic. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. That wasn't the original "original six," either. According to multiple PWHL sources, the league looked at Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and London, Ont., among others.
^ Morhardt, Meghann (December 21, 2023). "PWHL Toronto GM Says Nailing Down Team Name and Logo Are 'Low on Priority List'". The Messenger. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. When the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) starts its inaugural season on Jan. 1, the league's six teams won't have names and logos. For now, the players will be wearing simple jerseys that have the city name across the front.
^ Ibrahim, Abdulhamid (January 2, 2024). "PWHL sorting out missing pieces like team names and logos as it goes along". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. However there are some missing pieces, such as names and logos for the six teams. "I don't, I don't," PWHL advisory board member Stan Kasten said Monday on whether he has a timeline for those key elements to be included.
^ Shipley, John (September 25, 2023). "Minnesota's PWHL team set to play home games at Xcel Energy Center". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Xcel Energy Center officially seats 17,954 for Minnesota Wild games...
^ ^a ^b Mocker, Greg (December 21, 2023). "New York pro women's hockey team ready for inaugural season". PIX11. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. New York's team has two home arenas: UBS Arena in Elmont and Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
^ "PWHL releases inaugural season schedule". The Montreal Gazette. November 30, 2024. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Montreal's team [...] will split its 12 home games between the 4,100-seat Verdun Auditorium and 10,000-seat Place Bell in Laval, which will host at least four games.
^ Healy, Emma (November 28, 2023). "PWHL Boston will play home games at Lowell's Tsongas Center, including home opener Jan. 3". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. ...the PWHL announced Tuesday that its Boston team will play home games at UMass Lowell's Tsongas Center...
^ "Ottawa's pro women's hockey team to share TD Place Arena with junior 67's". Ottawa Citizen. September 2, 2023. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. The as-yet-unnamed hockey team will play at the TD Place Arena (formerly Civic Centre Arena) in the Lansdowne Park complex.
^ Kennedy, Ian (December 23, 2023). "Canada's PWHL Teams Are Sold Out For Openers, Ottawa Smashes Record". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. PWHL Toronto will fill Mattamy Athletic Centre with 3850 fans per game.
^ Dove, Abigail (November 14, 2023). "New beginnings for women's hockey: PWHL to play at MAC". The Eyeopener. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) will see a professional sports team at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC). Toronto's team will play their home games out of the MAC...
^ "Poulin, Knight highlights PWHL representatives at NHL All-Star weekend". TSN. CP. January 15, 2024. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Ayala, Erica L. (January 16, 2024). "2024 NHL All-Star Weekend: Brianne Jenner among 24 PWHL players set to participate in women's 3-on-3 showcase". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
^ "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.
^ Shircliff, Elaine (December 31, 2023). "How to Watch the Inaugural PWHL Season". fullpresshockey.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.

External links

Official website

[:4-1] "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.

[salvian20220524-7] 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.

[phf-sale-espn2-8] 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.

[salvian20230630-9] 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.

[ESPN-Inaugural-12] 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.

[13] 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.

[14] "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.

[15] "2023 PWHL Draft". thepwhl.ca. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.

[16] 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.

[17] 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.

[18] 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.

[19] 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.

[20] 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.

[21] 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.

[:2-22] 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.

[23] "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.

[24] 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.

[25] "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.

[26] "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.

[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] 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.

[29] "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.

[30] 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.

[:1-31] "PWHL breaks professional women's hockey attendance record". Reuters. January 7, 2023. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. [The] game between host Minnesota and Montreal on Saturday set an attendance record for the most-watched professional women's ice hockey game with 13,316 people at Xcel Energy Center, the league said.

[32] "PWHL game in Minnesota sets attendance record with 13,316 fans". The Guardian. January 7, 2023. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 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.

[:6-36] Kennedy, Ian (July 3, 2023). "CBA Compensation Details: New Professional Women's Hockey League". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2024.

[37] "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.

[format-cbc-38] Donkin, Karissa (November 30, 2023). "PWHL releases full 72-game schedule ahead of inaugural season". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.

[39] "PWHL confirms launch with three Canadian, three American teams". TSN. The Canadian Press. August 29, 2023. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024.

[:5-40] "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.

[41] 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

[42] 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.

[:3-43] "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.

[:0-44] 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.

[45] 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.

[:02-46] 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.

[47] Schram, Carol (August 29, 2023). "New Pro Women's Hockey League Will Launch In January With 6 Teams". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Boston, New York and Minnesota on the U.S. side and Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal in Canada.

[teams-nyt-48] 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 January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. The six teams in the new Professional Women's Hockey League will be evenly divided between the United States and Canada, with teams in Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, the New York metropolitan area, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. With the start of the new league, Buffalo and Connecticut are losing their teams, while Ottawa is gaining one.

[teams-cbc-49] Clipperton, Joshua (October 6, 2023). "'An amazing thing for hockey': NHL players excited for PWHL puck drop". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul and the New York City area have been tabbed as the new league's Original Six.

[50] Hornby, Lance (November 16, 2023). "A new set of Original Six rivalries ready to rock the PWHL". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. All are great NHL Original Six rivalries that endure. "When you add Ottawa into the mix, as an Original Six, there's a lot of old rivalries that will be renewed."

[teams-ap1-51] Wawrow, John; Whyno, Stephen (August 30, 2023). "Professional Women's Hockey League unveils its Original 6: 3 teams based in the US and 3 in Canada". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. The new league unveiled its Original Six franchises on Tuesday, putting each one of them in NHL markets with track records of supporting hockey and, specifically, the women's game.

[teams-ap2-52] Wawrow, John; Whyno, Stephen (August 30, 2023). "New Professional Women's Hockey League is getting support from the NHL, just not the financial kind". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. The newly founded Professional Women's Hockey League unveiled its Original Six franchises [...] based in NHL markets [...] with track records of supporting the women's game.

[53] Simas, Jr., Gerry (August 29, 2023). "Connecticut isn't one of six locations selected for PWHL's first season". Collinsville Press. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Connecticut and the Buffalo Beauts, both charter members of the National Women's Hockey League in 2015, were the only two Premier Hockey Federation cities not selected to continue playing.

[54] Salivan, Hailey (January 2, 2024). "Six teams, one draft and loads of Ikea furniture: How the PWHL was made in six months". The Athletic. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. That wasn't the original "original six," either. According to multiple PWHL sources, the league looked at Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and London, Ont., among others.

[55] Morhardt, Meghann (December 21, 2023). "PWHL Toronto GM Says Nailing Down Team Name and Logo Are 'Low on Priority List'". The Messenger. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. When the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) starts its inaugural season on Jan. 1, the league's six teams won't have names and logos. For now, the players will be wearing simple jerseys that have the city name across the front.

[56] Ibrahim, Abdulhamid (January 2, 2024). "PWHL sorting out missing pieces like team names and logos as it goes along". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. However there are some missing pieces, such as names and logos for the six teams. "I don't, I don't," PWHL advisory board member Stan Kasten said Monday on whether he has a timeline for those key elements to be included.

[57] Shipley, John (September 25, 2023). "Minnesota's PWHL team set to play home games at Xcel Energy Center". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Xcel Energy Center officially seats 17,954 for Minnesota Wild games...

[teams-wpix-58] Mocker, Greg (December 21, 2023). "New York pro women's hockey team ready for inaugural season". PIX11. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. New York's team has two home arenas: UBS Arena in Elmont and Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

[59] "PWHL releases inaugural season schedule". The Montreal Gazette. November 30, 2024. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Montreal's team [...] will split its 12 home games between the 4,100-seat Verdun Auditorium and 10,000-seat Place Bell in Laval, which will host at least four games.

[60] Healy, Emma (November 28, 2023). "PWHL Boston will play home games at Lowell's Tsongas Center, including home opener Jan. 3". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. ...the PWHL announced Tuesday that its Boston team will play home games at UMass Lowell's Tsongas Center...

[61] "Ottawa's pro women's hockey team to share TD Place Arena with junior 67's". Ottawa Citizen. September 2, 2023. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. The as-yet-unnamed hockey team will play at the TD Place Arena (formerly Civic Centre Arena) in the Lansdowne Park complex.

[62] Kennedy, Ian (December 23, 2023). "Canada's PWHL Teams Are Sold Out For Openers, Ottawa Smashes Record". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. PWHL Toronto will fill Mattamy Athletic Centre with 3850 fans per game.

[63] Dove, Abigail (November 14, 2023). "New beginnings for women's hockey: PWHL to play at MAC". The Eyeopener. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) will see a professional sports team at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC). Toronto's team will play their home games out of the MAC...

[64] "Poulin, Knight highlights PWHL representatives at NHL All-Star weekend". TSN. CP. January 15, 2024. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.

[:7-65] Ayala, Erica L. (January 16, 2024). "2024 NHL All-Star Weekend: Brianne Jenner among 24 PWHL players set to participate in women's 3-on-3 showcase". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.

[66] "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.

[fph-31dec23-67] Shircliff, Elaine (December 31, 2023). "How to Watch the Inaugural PWHL Season". fullpresshockey.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.

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 }}
-The '''Professional Women's Hockey League''' ('''PWHL'''; {{Lang-fr|Ligue professionnelle de hockey féminin—LPHF}}) is an annual [[Professional sports|professional]] [[Ice hockey#Women's ice hockey|women's ice hockey]] league in North America, owned and organised by the [[Mark Walter|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 [[Season (sports)|regular season]] of [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] matches to earn one of four places in a [[Playoff format#Best-of-five playoff|best-of-five]] [[Playoffs|playoff]] that determines the champion. Differences between the PWHL and its men's equivalent, the [[National Hockey League]], include a [[Three points for a win#Ice hockey|3-2-1-0]] points system, terminations of [[Penalty (ice hockey)|penalties]] following a [[short-handed]] goal, best-of-five [[Overtime (ice hockey)#Shootout|shootouts]], and greater restrictions on [[Checking (ice hockey)#body checking|body checking]]. The league is broadcast nationally in Canada by the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] and [[The Sports Network|TSN]], their French-language affiliates [[Radio-Canada]] and [[Réseau des sports|RDS]], and [[Sportsnet]]. In the United States, it is broadcast [[Broadcast syndication|in syndication]], while worldwide it is [[Streaming television|streamed]] on [[YouTube]].
+The '''Professional Women's Hockey League''' ('''PWHL'''; {{Lang-fr|Ligue professionnelle de hockey féminin—LPHF}}) is an annual [[Professional sports|professional]] [[Ice hockey#Women's ice hockey|women's ice hockey]] league in North America, owned and organized by the [[Mark Walter|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 [[Season (sports)|regular season]] to earn one of four places in a postseason comprising [[Playoff format#Best-of-five playoff|best-of-five]] [[Playoffs|series]] to determine the champion. Differences between the PWHL and its men's equivalent, the [[National Hockey League]], include a [[Three points for a win#Ice hockey|3-2-1-0]] points system, terminations of [[Penalty (ice hockey)|penalties]] following a [[short-handed]] goal, best-of-five [[Overtime (ice hockey)#Shootout|shootouts]], and greater restrictions on [[Checking (ice hockey)#body checking|body checking]]. The league is broadcast nationally in Canada by the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] and [[The Sports Network|TSN]], their French-language affiliates [[Radio-Canada]] and [[Réseau des sports|RDS]], and [[Sportsnet]]. In the United States, it is broadcast [[Broadcast syndication|in syndication]], while worldwide it is [[Streaming television|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 [[Trade union|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 PHF season|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 [[2023 PWHL Draft|first draft]] took place in September 2023, and its [[2023–24 PWHL season|first season]] began in January 2024.
+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 non-profit organization that 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 PHF season|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 [[2023 PWHL Draft|first draft]] took place in September 2023, and its [[2023–24 PWHL season|first season]] began in January 2024.
 == History ==
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 {{Further|2023–24 PWHL season}}
-The establishment of the Professional Women's Hockey League was announced by the Mark Walter Group in August 2023, along with the location of its six charter franchises: Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Montreal, New York City, Ottawa, and Toronto.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-29 |title=PWHL unveils locations of first six teams, player selection process |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/pwhl-unveils-locations-of-first-six-teams-player-selection-process/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830074635/https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/pwhl-unveils-locations-of-first-six-teams-player-selection-process/ |archive-date=2023-08-30 |access-date=2024-01-04 |work=[[Sportsnet]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Teams began constructing their rosters that summer, with an initial ten-day [[free agency]] period to sign three players.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sadler |first=Emily |date=2023-09-13 |title=Recapping where each PWHL team stands following first signings |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/recapping-where-each-pwhl-team-stands-following-first-signings/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914040201/https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/recapping-where-each-pwhl-team-stands-following-first-signings/ |archive-date=2023-09-14 |access-date=2023-09-19 |work=Sportsnet}}</ref> [[Emily Clark (ice hockey)|Emily Clark]], [[Brianne Jenner]], and [[Emerance Maschmeyer]] became the league's first players when they signed with [[PWHL Ottawa]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-05 |title=Jenner, Clark, Maschmeyer become PWHL's first players after signing with Ottawa |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/jenner-clark-maschmeyer-become-pwhls-first-players-after-signing-with-ottawa/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905183704/https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/jenner-clark-maschmeyer-become-pwhls-first-players-after-signing-with-ottawa/ |archive-date=2023-09-05 |access-date=2023-09-19 |work=Sportsnet |publisher= |agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref> The [[2023 PWHL Draft|inaugural draft]] took place in September at the [[Canadian Broadcasting Centre]] in Toronto, where [[PWHL Minnesota]] chose [[Taylor Heise]] as the first pick in a fifteen-round, ninety-player draft from a pool of 286 eligible players.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 PWHL Draft |url=https://www.thepwhl.com/2023-draft |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919133728/https://www.thepwhl.com/2023-draft |archive-date=2023-09-19 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=thepwhl.ca}}</ref>
+The establishment of the Professional Women's Hockey League was announced by the Mark Walter Group in August 2023, along with the location of its six charter franchises: Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Montreal, New York City, Ottawa, and Toronto.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-29 |title=PWHL unveils locations of first six teams, player selection process |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/pwhl-unveils-locations-of-first-six-teams-player-selection-process/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830074635/https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/pwhl-unveils-locations-of-first-six-teams-player-selection-process/ |archive-date=2023-08-30 |access-date=2024-01-04 |work=[[Sportsnet]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref name="ESPN-Inaugural">{{cite news |last=Wyshynski |first=Greg |date=2023-08-29 |title=New Professional Women's Hockey League reveals six franchises |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/38282089/new-professional-women-hockey-league-reveals-six-franchises |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829164016/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/38282089/new-professional-women-hockey-league-reveals-six-franchises |archive-date=2023-08-29 |accessdate=2023-08-29 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> Teams began constructing their rosters that summer, with an initial ten-day [[free agency]] period to sign three players.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sadler |first=Emily |date=2023-09-13 |title=Recapping where each PWHL team stands following first signings |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/recapping-where-each-pwhl-team-stands-following-first-signings/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914040201/https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/recapping-where-each-pwhl-team-stands-following-first-signings/ |archive-date=2023-09-14 |access-date=2023-09-19 |work=Sportsnet}}</ref> [[Emily Clark (ice hockey)|Emily Clark]], [[Brianne Jenner]], and [[Emerance Maschmeyer]] became the league's first players when they signed with [[PWHL Ottawa|Ottawa]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-05 |title=Jenner, Clark, Maschmeyer become PWHL's first players after signing with Ottawa |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/jenner-clark-maschmeyer-become-pwhls-first-players-after-signing-with-ottawa/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905183704/https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/jenner-clark-maschmeyer-become-pwhls-first-players-after-signing-with-ottawa/ |archive-date=2023-09-05 |access-date=2023-09-19 |work=Sportsnet |publisher= |agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref> The [[2023 PWHL Draft|inaugural draft]] took place in September at the [[Canadian Broadcasting Centre]] in Toronto, where [[PWHL Minnesota|Minnesota]] chose [[Taylor Heise]] as the first pick in a fifteen-round, ninety-player draft from a pool of 286 eligible players.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 PWHL Draft |url=https://www.thepwhl.com/2023-draft |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919133728/https://www.thepwhl.com/2023-draft |archive-date=2023-09-19 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=thepwhl.ca}}</ref>
 Potential franchise [[nickname]]s were registered with the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] in October: Boston Wicked, Minnesota Superior, Montreal Echo, New York Sound, Ottawa Alert, and Toronto Torch.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Salvian |first1=Hailey |date=26 October 2023 |title=Potential names for PWHL's original 6 franchises revealed |language=en |work=[[The Athletic]] |url=https://theathletic.com/5002068/2023/10/26/pwhl-team-names-six-franchises/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031041041/https://theathletic.com/5002068/2023/10/26/pwhl-team-names-six-franchises/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023}}</ref> The names were widely criticized by fans for breaking with perceived North American hockey traditions and lacking clear connections to the franchises' locations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Ian |date=27 October 2023 |title=Backlash Swift And Decisive In Response To Proposed PWHL Team Names |language=en |work=[[The Hockey News]] |url=https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/backlash-swift-and-decisive-in-response-to-proposed-pwhl-team-names |access-date=29 October 2023 |archive-date=October 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029133543/https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/backlash-swift-and-decisive-in-response-to-proposed-pwhl-team-names |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Stoller|first1=Jacob|date=26 October 2023|title=Trademark filings reveal possible PWHL team names, met with backlash|language=en|work=Yahoo Sports!|url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/trademark-filings-reveal-possible-pwhl-team-names-met-with-backlash-191622526.html|access-date=29 October 2023|archive-date=November 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107052823/https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/trademark-filings-reveal-possible-pwhl-team-names-met-with-backlash-191622526.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was later decided, due to time constraints, that the teams would not be given identities until after the inaugural season, and would wear generic [[jersey (clothing)|jerseys]] featuring the name of the teams' locales in a diagonal wordmark.<ref>{{cite news |last=Salvian |first=Hailey |date=November 14, 2023 |title=PWHL jerseys unveiled; designs temporary for Year 1, per source |work=The Athletic |url=https://theathletic.com/5063112/2023/11/14/pwhl-jerseys-designs-temporary/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |accessdate=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201045003/https://theathletic.com/5063112/2023/11/14/pwhl-jerseys-designs-temporary/ |archive-date=December 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Salvian |first=Hailey |date=2023-11-22 |title=Why the PWHL is launching with temporary jerseys — and without team names or logos |url=https://theathletic.com/5082370/2023/11/22/pwhl-jerseys-team-names-logos/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225135205/https://theathletic.com/5082370/2023/11/22/pwhl-jerseys-team-names-logos/ |archive-date=2023-12-25 |access-date=2024-01-04 |work=[[The Athletic]]}}</ref> The colour choices for each team were praised by fans, though they criticized the generic designs as "basic" and "cookie-cutter".<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Brien |first=James |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/pwhl-shares-inaugural-jersey-designs-for-its-6-teams-to-lukewarm-reviews-191520291.html |title=PWHL shares inaugural jersey designs for its 6 teams to lukewarm reviews |work=Yahoo News |date=2023-11-14 |accessdate=2023-11-14 |archive-date=November 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120194550/https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/pwhl-shares-inaugural-jersey-designs-for-its-6-teams-to-lukewarm-reviews-191520291.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
-[[File:240106 MN Montreal JohnMc029 (53447772511).jpg|thumb|The first ever match between [[PWHL Montreal|Montreal]] and [[PWHL Minnesota|Minnesota]] set the record for the highest-attended professional women's ice hockey match at 13,316.]]
+[[File:240106 MN Montreal JohnMc029 (53447772511).jpg|thumb|The January 6, 2024 match between [[PWHL Montreal|Montreal]] and [[PWHL Minnesota|Minnesota]] set the record for the highest-attended professional women's ice hockey match at 13,316.]]
-Prior to the start of the [[2023–24 PWHL season|inaugural season]], all six teams congregated at the [[Utica University Nexus Center]] in early December for a five day evaluation camp, including scrimmages used to experiment with new rules.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Donkin |first=Karissa |date=2023-12-03 |title=Let the scrimmages begin: PWHL gathers in Upstate New York with final cuts on horizon |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-utica-camp-preview-1.7046879 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205125525/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-utica-camp-preview-1.7046879 |archive-date=2023-12-05 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=CBC Sports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-07 |title=New York beats Toronto in scrimmage in preview of PWHL season opener |url=https://www.tsn.ca/womens-hockey/new-york-beats-toronto-in-scrimmage-in-preview-of-pwhl-season-opener-1.2045989 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208043206/https://www.tsn.ca/womens-hockey/new-york-beats-toronto-in-scrimmage-in-preview-of-pwhl-season-opener-1.2045989 |archive-date=2023-12-08 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=[[The Sports Network|TSN]] |agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref> The first match took place on January 1, 2024, when [[PWHL Toronto]] hosted [[PWHL New York]] at the [[Maple Leaf Gardens#Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens|Mattamy Athletic Centre]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donkin |first=Karissa |date=2023-11-28 |title=Toronto to host New York in PWHL's 1st regular-season game on New Year's Day |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-2024-home-opener-details-1.7042321 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205150404/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-2024-home-opener-details-1.7042321 |archive-date=2023-12-05 |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=[[CBC Sports]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-01 |title=PWHL launching with Toronto vs. New York game today on Sportsnet |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/pwhl-launching-with-toronto-vs-new-york-game-today-on-sportsnet/?sn-amp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101190738/https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/pwhl-launching-with-toronto-vs-new-york-game-today-on-sportsnet/?sn-amp |archive-date=2024-01-01 |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Sportsnet |agency=Canadian Press}}</ref> conceding a 4–0 loss during which New York's [[Ella Shelton]] scored the league's first goal.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-01 |title=New York defeats Toronto in PWHL's first game |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39225217/new-york-defeats-toronto-pwhl-first-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102050618/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39225217/new-york-defeats-toronto-pwhl-first-game |archive-date=2024-01-02 |access-date=2024-01-04 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-01 |title=New York's Shelton scores first-ever PWHL goal |url=https://www.tsn.ca/womens-hockey/new-york-ella-shelton-scores-first-ever-pwhl-goal-1.2055862#:~:text=New%20York%20defender%20Ella%20Shelton,York%20a%201%2D0%20lead. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101182208/https://www.tsn.ca/womens-hockey/new-york-ella-shelton-scores-first-ever-pwhl-goal-1.2055862#:~:text=New%20York%20defender%20Ella%20Shelton,York%20a%201%2D0%20lead. |archive-date=2024-01-01 |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=TSN}}</ref> Its Canadian television audience of 2.9 million viewers was the largest for a sports or entertainment broadcast that day, beating the [[2024 NHL Winter Classic]].<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><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-01-05 |title=2.9 Million Canadians Watch Opening Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Game |url=https://www.thepwhl.com/en/two-point-nine-million-canadians-watch-opening-professional-womens-hockey-league-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106015306/https://www.thepwhl.com/en/two-point-nine-million-canadians-watch-opening-professional-womens-hockey-league-game |archive-date=2024-01-06 |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=PWHL |language=en-CA}}</ref> The next day, a game hosted by Ottawa at [[TD Place Arena]] saw them lose in [[overtime (sports)|overtime]] to [[PWHL Montreal]] in front of a crowd of 8,318; the largest crowd ever for a professional women's ice hockey match.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Don |date=2024-01-02 |title=A Night to Remember: Montreal scores OT win in Ottawa's historic PWHL opener |url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/a-night-to-remember-montreal-scores-ot-win-in-ottawas-historic-pwhl-opener |url-access= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104225658/https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/a-night-to-remember-montreal-scores-ot-win-in-ottawas-historic-pwhl-opener |archive-date=2024-01-04 |access-date=2024-01-02 |work=[[Ottawa Sun]] |language=en}}</ref> That record would be broken a mere four days later, when Minnesota hosted Montreal at the [[Xcel Energy Center]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]], winning the game in front of a crowd of 13,316.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=PWHL breaks professional women's hockey attendance record |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/pwhl-breaks-professional-womens-hockey-attendance-record-2024-01-06/ |website=[[Reuters]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116022016/https://www.reuters.com/sports/pwhl-breaks-professional-womens-hockey-attendance-record-2024-01-06/ |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |date=January 7, 2023 |quote=[The] game between host Minnesota and Montreal on Saturday set an attendance record for the most-watched professional women's ice hockey game with 13,316 people at Xcel Energy Center, the league said. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=PWHL game in Minnesota sets attendance record with 13,316 fans |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/jan/06/pwhl-minnesota-montreal-game-ttendance-record |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118154007/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/jan/06/pwhl-minnesota-montreal-game-ttendance-record |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=January 7, 2023 |quote=...on Saturday afternoon in front of a record crowd of 13,316 at Xcel Energy Center. |url-status=live}}</ref>
+Prior to the start of the [[2023–24 PWHL season|inaugural season]], all six teams congregated at the [[Utica University Nexus Center]] in early December for a five day evaluation camp, including scrimmages used to experiment with new rules.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Donkin |first=Karissa |date=2023-12-03 |title=Let the scrimmages begin: PWHL gathers in Upstate New York with final cuts on horizon |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-utica-camp-preview-1.7046879 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205125525/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-utica-camp-preview-1.7046879 |archive-date=2023-12-05 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=CBC Sports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-07 |title=New York beats Toronto in scrimmage in preview of PWHL season opener |url=https://www.tsn.ca/womens-hockey/new-york-beats-toronto-in-scrimmage-in-preview-of-pwhl-season-opener-1.2045989 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208043206/https://www.tsn.ca/womens-hockey/new-york-beats-toronto-in-scrimmage-in-preview-of-pwhl-season-opener-1.2045989 |archive-date=2023-12-08 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=[[The Sports Network|TSN]] |agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref> The first match took place on January 1, 2024, when [[PWHL Toronto|Toronto]] hosted [[PWHL New York|New York]] at the [[Maple Leaf Gardens#Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens|Mattamy Athletic Centre]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donkin |first=Karissa |date=2023-11-28 |title=Toronto to host New York in PWHL's 1st regular-season game on New Year's Day |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-2024-home-opener-details-1.7042321 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205150404/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-2024-home-opener-details-1.7042321 |archive-date=2023-12-05 |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=[[CBC Sports]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-01 |title=PWHL launching with Toronto vs. New York game today on Sportsnet |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/pwhl-launching-with-toronto-vs-new-york-game-today-on-sportsnet/?sn-amp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101190738/https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/pwhl-launching-with-toronto-vs-new-york-game-today-on-sportsnet/?sn-amp |archive-date=2024-01-01 |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Sportsnet |agency=Canadian Press}}</ref> New York's [[Ella Shelton]] scored the league's first goal en route to a 4–0 win.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-01 |title=New York defeats Toronto in PWHL's first game |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39225217/new-york-defeats-toronto-pwhl-first-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102050618/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39225217/new-york-defeats-toronto-pwhl-first-game |archive-date=2024-01-02 |access-date=2024-01-04 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-01 |title=New York's Shelton scores first-ever PWHL goal |url=https://www.tsn.ca/womens-hockey/new-york-ella-shelton-scores-first-ever-pwhl-goal-1.2055862#:~:text=New%20York%20defender%20Ella%20Shelton,York%20a%201%2D0%20lead. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101182208/https://www.tsn.ca/womens-hockey/new-york-ella-shelton-scores-first-ever-pwhl-goal-1.2055862#:~:text=New%20York%20defender%20Ella%20Shelton,York%20a%201%2D0%20lead. |archive-date=2024-01-01 |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=TSN}}</ref> Its Canadian television audience of 2.9 million viewers was the largest for a sports or entertainment broadcast that day, beating the [[2024 NHL Winter Classic]].<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><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-01-05 |title=2.9 Million Canadians Watch Opening Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Game |url=https://www.thepwhl.com/en/two-point-nine-million-canadians-watch-opening-professional-womens-hockey-league-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106015306/https://www.thepwhl.com/en/two-point-nine-million-canadians-watch-opening-professional-womens-hockey-league-game |archive-date=2024-01-06 |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=PWHL |language=en-CA}}</ref> The next day, a game hosted by Ottawa at [[TD Place Arena]] against [[PWHL Montreal|Montreal]] was played in front of a crowd of 8,318, setting a new attendance record for a professional women's ice hockey match.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Don |date=2024-01-02 |title=A Night to Remember: Montreal scores OT win in Ottawa's historic PWHL opener |url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/a-night-to-remember-montreal-scores-ot-win-in-ottawas-historic-pwhl-opener |url-access= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104225658/https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/a-night-to-remember-montreal-scores-ot-win-in-ottawas-historic-pwhl-opener |archive-date=2024-01-04 |access-date=2024-01-02 |work=[[Ottawa Sun]] |language=en}}</ref> That record would be broken four days later, when Minnesota hosted Montreal at the [[Xcel Energy Center]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]], winning the game in front of a crowd of 13,316.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=PWHL breaks professional women's hockey attendance record |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/pwhl-breaks-professional-womens-hockey-attendance-record-2024-01-06/ |website=[[Reuters]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116022016/https://www.reuters.com/sports/pwhl-breaks-professional-womens-hockey-attendance-record-2024-01-06/ |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |date=January 7, 2023 |quote=[The] game between host Minnesota and Montreal on Saturday set an attendance record for the most-watched professional women's ice hockey game with 13,316 people at Xcel Energy Center, the league said. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=January 7, 2023 |title=PWHL game in Minnesota sets attendance record with 13,316 fans |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/jan/06/pwhl-minnesota-montreal-game-ttendance-record |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118154007/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/jan/06/pwhl-minnesota-montreal-game-ttendance-record |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |access-date=January 18, 2024 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
 == Organization ==
-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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Warren |first1=Ken |date=2023-08-29 |title=Ottawa signs on as part of new professional women's hockey league |work=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-signs-on-as-part-of-new-professional-womens-hockey-league |access-date=2023-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903120521/https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-signs-on-as-part-of-new-professional-womens-hockey-league |archive-date=2023-09-03}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Salvian |first1=Hailey |date=2023-02-23 |title=PWHPA organize formal union, negotiating CBA with their investor group |language=en |work=[[The Athletic]] |url=https://theathletic.com/4245465/2023/02/23/pwhpa-union-negotiating-cba/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224004458/https://theathletic.com/4245465/2023/02/23/pwhpa-union-negotiating-cba/ |archive-date=2023-02-24}}</ref> Unique to professional women's hockey, the PWHL established an eight-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the players' union.<ref>{{cite news |date=2023-09-06 |title=Sarah Nurse, Blayre Turnbull and Renata Fast sign with Toronto's PWHL franchise |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |publisher=[[The Canadian Press]] |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-sarah-nurse-blayre-turnbull-and-renata-fast-sign-with-torontos-pwhl/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907190655/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-sarah-nurse-blayre-turnbull-and-renata-fast-sign-with-torontos-pwhl/ |archive-date=2023-09-07}}</ref> The CBA establishes that each team must sign at least six players to a minimum salary of $80,000, and no more than nine players to a league minimum salary of $35,000, with teams instructed to achieve an average salary of $55,000; the base salary is slated to increase 3% per season through the end of the agreement in 2031.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Ian |date=2023-07-03 |title=CBA Compensation Details: New Professional Women's Hockey League |url=https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/cba-compensation-details-new-professional-womens-hockey-league |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001051031/https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/cba-compensation-details-new-professional-womens-hockey-league |archive-date=2023-10-01 |access-date=2024-01-17 |work=The Hockey News}}</ref> The CBA further outlines performance and team bonuses, including a $63,250 bonus for the championship-winning team, and other financial incentives, including housing stipends.<ref name=":6" /> [[Brian Burke (ice hockey)|Brian Burke]] acts as the executive director of the players' union.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-29 |title=Brian Burke named executive director of pro women's hockey players' union |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/brian-burke-named-executive-director-of-pro-womens-hockey-players-union/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003021745/https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/brian-burke-named-executive-director-of-pro-womens-hockey-players-union/ |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |access-date=2023-10-18 |work=Sportsnet}}</ref>
+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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Warren |first1=Ken |date=2023-08-29 |title=Ottawa signs on as part of new professional women's hockey league |work=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-signs-on-as-part-of-new-professional-womens-hockey-league |access-date=2023-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903120521/https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-signs-on-as-part-of-new-professional-womens-hockey-league |archive-date=2023-09-03}}</ref> The PWHPA organized a formal player's union in early 2023—the [[PWHL Players Association]] (PWHLPA)—that became the players' union representing all PWHL players.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Salvian |first1=Hailey |date=2023-02-23 |title=PWHPA organize formal union, negotiating CBA with their investor group |language=en |work=[[The Athletic]] |url=https://theathletic.com/4245465/2023/02/23/pwhpa-union-negotiating-cba/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224004458/https://theathletic.com/4245465/2023/02/23/pwhpa-union-negotiating-cba/ |archive-date=2023-02-24}}</ref> Unique to professional women's hockey, the PWHL established an eight-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the players' union.<ref>{{cite news |date=2023-09-06 |title=Sarah Nurse, Blayre Turnbull and Renata Fast sign with Toronto's PWHL franchise |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |publisher=[[The Canadian Press]] |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-sarah-nurse-blayre-turnbull-and-renata-fast-sign-with-torontos-pwhl/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907190655/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-sarah-nurse-blayre-turnbull-and-renata-fast-sign-with-torontos-pwhl/ |archive-date=2023-09-07}}</ref> The CBA establishes that each team must sign at least six players to a minimum salary of $80,000, and no more than nine players to a league minimum salary of $35,000, with teams instructed to achieve an average salary of $55,000; the base and average salaries are slated to increase 3% per season through the end of the agreement in 2031.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Ian |date=2023-07-03 |title=CBA Compensation Details: New Professional Women's Hockey League |url=https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/cba-compensation-details-new-professional-womens-hockey-league |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001051031/https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/cba-compensation-details-new-professional-womens-hockey-league |archive-date=2023-10-01 |access-date=2024-01-17 |work=The Hockey News}}</ref> The CBA further outlines performance and team bonuses, including a $63,250 bonus for the championship-winning team, and other financial incentives, including housing stipends.<ref name=":6" /> [[Brian Burke (ice hockey)|Brian Burke]] acts as the executive director of the players' union.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-29 |title=Brian Burke named executive director of pro women's hockey players' union |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/brian-burke-named-executive-director-of-pro-womens-hockey-players-union/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003021745/https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/brian-burke-named-executive-director-of-pro-womens-hockey-players-union/ |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |access-date=2023-10-18 |work=Sportsnet}}</ref>
 == Format and rules ==
@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 |}
-The Professional Women's Hockey League's [[Season (sports)|regular season]] is played as a 24-game [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] lasting from January to May, during which each team faces the other five opponents at least four times.<ref name="format-cbc">{{Cite news |last=Donkin |first=Karissa |date=2023-11-30 |title=PWHL releases full 72-game schedule ahead of inaugural season |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-2024-schedule-details-1.7045387 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106104930/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-2024-schedule-details-1.7045387 |archive-date=2024-01-06 |access-date=2024-01-14 |work=CBC Sports}}</ref> From the 2024–25 season, 32 games will be played by each team from November to May, facing their opponents at least six times.<ref name="ESPN-Inaugural">{{cite news |last=Wyshynski |first=Greg |date=2023-08-29 |title=New Professional Women's Hockey League reveals six franchises |publisher=[[ESPN]] |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/38282089/new-professional-women-hockey-league-reveals-six-franchises |url-status=live |accessdate=2023-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829164016/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/38282089/new-professional-women-hockey-league-reveals-six-franchises |archive-date=2023-08-29}}</ref> A mid-season break during the annual [[IIHF World Women's Championship]] in April is also instituted.<ref name="format-cbc"/> A [[Three points for a win#Ice hockey|3-2-1-0]] points system is used for classification, 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.<ref name=":5" /> At the end of the regular season, the best four teams qualify for a [[Single-elimination tournament|single-elimination]] [[playoff|postseason tournament]] that determines the champion, consisting two semi-finals and a final; all three are played as a [[Playoff format#Best-of-five playoff|best-of-five]] series.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morhardt |first=Meghann |date=December 14, 2023 |title=PWHL Playoffs To Feature Top Four Teams, Best-of-Five Series |url=https://themessenger.com/sports/pwhl-playoffs-to-feature-top-four-teams-best-of-five-series |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=TheMessenger.com |publisher=[[The Messenger (website)|The Messenger]] |quote=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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=BVM Sportsdesk |date=December 14, 2023 |title=PWHL Playoffs Set for May: Top 4 Teams in Best-of-Five Series |url=https://bvmsports.com/2023/12/14/pwhl-playoffs-set-for-may-top-4-teams-in-best-of-five-series/ |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=bvmsports.com |publisher=BVM Sports}}</ref>
+The inaugural PWHL season consists of a 24-game schedule lasting from January to May, during which each team faces the other five opponents at least four times.<ref name="format-cbc">{{Cite news |last=Donkin |first=Karissa |date=2023-11-30 |title=PWHL releases full 72-game schedule ahead of inaugural season |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-2024-schedule-details-1.7045387 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106104930/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-2024-schedule-details-1.7045387 |archive-date=2024-01-06 |access-date=2024-01-14 |work=CBC Sports}}</ref> From the 2024–25 season, the schedule will be expanded to 32 games played from November to May, each team facing their opponents at least six times.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-29 |title=PWHL confirms launch with three Canadian, three American teams |url=https://www.tsn.ca/womens-hockey/pwhl-confirms-launch-with-three-canadian-three-american-teams-1.2001255 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003062437/https://www.tsn.ca/womens-hockey/pwhl-confirms-launch-with-three-canadian-three-american-teams-1.2001255 |archive-date=2023-10-03 |access-date=2024-01-25 |work=TSN |agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref> The schedule includes a mid-season break during the annual [[IIHF World Women's Championship]] in April.<ref name="format-cbc"/> A [[Three points for a win#Ice hockey|3-2-1-0]] points system is used for classification, 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.<ref name=":5" /> At the end of the regular season, the best four teams qualify for a [[playoff|postseason tournament]] that determines the champion, comprising two semi-finals and a final played as a [[Playoff format#Best-of-five playoff|best-of-five]] series.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morhardt |first=Meghann |date=December 14, 2023 |title=PWHL Playoffs To Feature Top Four Teams, Best-of-Five Series |url=https://themessenger.com/sports/pwhl-playoffs-to-feature-top-four-teams-best-of-five-series |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=TheMessenger.com |publisher=[[The Messenger (website)|The Messenger]] |quote=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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=BVM Sportsdesk |date=December 14, 2023 |title=PWHL Playoffs Set for May: Top 4 Teams in Best-of-Five Series |url=https://bvmsports.com/2023/12/14/pwhl-playoffs-set-for-may-top-4-teams-in-best-of-five-series/ |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=bvmsports.com |publisher=BVM Sports}}</ref>
-PWHL match rules closely follow NHL and [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] (IIHF) standards, with some notable innovations.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2024-01-01 |title=PWHL tweaks penalty, short-handed goal, shootout in rule book |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-rule-book-tweaks-1.7072145 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104075531/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-rule-book-tweaks-1.7072145 |archive-date=2024-01-04 |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=CBC Sports |agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref> A "jailbreak" rule allows a team to terminate their [[Penalty (ice hockey)|minor penalty]] by scoring a [[short-handed]] goal.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=2024-01-01 |title=PWHL to feature new shorthanded goal rule, three-point standing system |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/pwhl-to-feature-new-shorthanded-goal-rule-three-point-standing-system/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115202907/https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/pwhl-to-feature-new-shorthanded-goal-rule-three-point-standing-system/ |archive-date=2024-01-15 |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=Sportsnet}}</ref> During [[Overtime (ice hockey)#Shootout|shootouts]], which are played as best-of-fives, any player is eligible to shoot at any time and take multiple attempts; concepts new to professional ice hockey.<ref name=":3" /> Like the [[Swedish Women's Hockey League]], the PWHL breaks with women's ice hockey and IIHF conventions and allows [[Checking (ice hockey)#Body checking|body checking]], though only "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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Donkin |first=Karissa |date=2024-01-06 |title=PWHL showcases physicality of women's game, with full approval from players |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-physicality-officiating-2024-1.7076009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106093359/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-physicality-officiating-2024-1.7076009 |archive-date=2024-01-06 |access-date=2024-01-07 |work=CBC Sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Greg Wyshynski |date=March 20, 2022 |title=Swedish Women's Hockey League to OK bodychecking for 2022–23 season |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/hockey/story/_/id/33951467/swedish-women-hockey-league-ok-body-checking-2022-23-season |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530214244/https://www.espn.com/olympics/hockey/story/_/id/33951467/swedish-women-hockey-league-ok-body-checking-2022-23-season |archive-date=May 30, 2022 |access-date=May 31, 2022 |website=espn.com |publisher=ESPN}}</ref>
+PWHL rules closely follow National Hockey League and [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] (IIHF) standards, with some notable innovations.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2024-01-01 |title=PWHL tweaks penalty, short-handed goal, shootout in rule book |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-rule-book-tweaks-1.7072145 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104075531/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-rule-book-tweaks-1.7072145 |archive-date=2024-01-04 |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=CBC Sports |agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref> A "jailbreak" rule allows a team to terminate a [[Penalty (ice hockey)|minor penalty]] against by scoring a [[short-handed]] goal.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=2024-01-01 |title=PWHL to feature new shorthanded goal rule, three-point standing system |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/pwhl-to-feature-new-shorthanded-goal-rule-three-point-standing-system/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115202907/https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/pwhl-to-feature-new-shorthanded-goal-rule-three-point-standing-system/ |archive-date=2024-01-15 |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=Sportsnet}}</ref> During best-of-five [[Overtime (ice hockey)#Shootout|shootouts]], any player is eligible to shoot at any time, including taking multiple attempts.<ref name=":3" /> Like the [[Swedish Women's Hockey League]], the PWHL breaks with women's ice hockey and IIHF conventions and allows [[Checking (ice hockey)#Body checking|body checking]], with the rule-book outlining that checking is permissible "when there is a clear intention of playing the puck or attempting to 'gain possession' of the puck", allowed principally along the boards.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Donkin |first=Karissa |date=2024-01-06 |title=PWHL showcases physicality of women's game, with full approval from players |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-physicality-officiating-2024-1.7076009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106093359/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-physicality-officiating-2024-1.7076009 |archive-date=2024-01-06 |access-date=2024-01-07 |work=CBC Sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Greg Wyshynski |date=March 20, 2022 |title=Swedish Women's Hockey League to OK bodychecking for 2022–23 season |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/hockey/story/_/id/33951467/swedish-women-hockey-league-ok-body-checking-2022-23-season |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530214244/https://www.espn.com/olympics/hockey/story/_/id/33951467/swedish-women-hockey-league-ok-body-checking-2022-23-season |archive-date=May 30, 2022 |access-date=May 31, 2022 |website=espn.com |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> League executive Jayna Hefford has stated that body checking was included at the behest of the players.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Donkin |first=Karissa |date=2024-01-06 |title=PWHL showcases physicality of women's game, with full approval from players |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-physicality-officiating-2024-1.7076009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106093359/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-physicality-officiating-2024-1.7076009 |archive-date=2024-01-06 |access-date=2024-01-07 |work=CBC Sports}}</ref>
 == Teams ==
@@ Line 98: / Line 98: @@
 }}
-As of the [[2023–24 PWHL season|2023–24 season]], six teams compete in the Professional Women's Hockey League. [[PWHL Montreal]], [[PWHL Ottawa]] and [[PWHL Toronto]] from Canada, and [[PWHL Boston]], [[PWHL Minnesota]] and [[PWHL New York]] from the United States.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schram |first1=Carol |title=New Pro Women's Hockey League Will Launch In January With 6 Teams |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolschram/2023/08/29/new-womens-pro-hockey-league-will-launch-in-january-with-6-teams/?sh=6a8ef9e95d2e |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831140500/https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolschram/2023/08/29/new-womens-pro-hockey-league-will-launch-in-january-with-6-teams/ |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |date=August 29, 2023 |quote=Boston, New York and Minnesota on the U.S. side and Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal in Canada. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="teams-nyt">{{cite web |last1=Mather |first1=Victor |title=With Feud Over, New Women's Ice Hockey League Is Set to Begin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/29/sports/hockey/pwhl-womens-hockey.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141157/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/29/sports/hockey/pwhl-womens-hockey.html |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=August 29, 2023 |quote=The six teams in the new Professional Women's Hockey League will be evenly divided between the United States and Canada, with teams in Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, the New York metropolitan area, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. With the start of the new league, Buffalo and Connecticut are losing their teams, while Ottawa is gaining one. |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="teams-cbc">{{cite web |last1=Clipperton |first1=Joshua |title='An amazing thing for hockey': NHL players excited for PWHL puck drop |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockey-nhl-excited-for-pwhl-1.6987557 |website=[[CBC Sports]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118143323/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockey-nhl-excited-for-pwhl-1.6987557 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=October 6, 2023 |quote=Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul and the New York City area have been tabbed as the new league's Original Six. |url-status=live}}</ref> Described as the league's own "[[Original Six]]",<ref name="teams-cbc"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hornby |first1=Lance |title=A new set of Original Six rivalries ready to rock the PWHL |url=https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/a-new-set-of-original-six-rivalries-ready-to-rock-the-pwhl |website=[[Toronto Sun]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118140022/https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/a-new-set-of-original-six-rivalries-ready-to-rock-the-pwhl |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=November 16, 2023 |quote=All are great NHL Original Six rivalries that endure. "When you add Ottawa into the mix, as an Original Six, there's a lot of old rivalries that will be renewed." |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="teams-ap1">{{cite web |last1=Wawrow |first1=John |last2=Whyno |first2=Stephen |title=Professional Women's Hockey League unveils its Original 6: 3 teams based in the US and 3 in Canada |url=https://apnews.com/article/pwhl-womens-hockey-original-six-7efee8e1781d78528842ae9f2ed8c904 |website=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118135937/https://apnews.com/article/pwhl-womens-hockey-original-six-7efee8e1781d78528842ae9f2ed8c904 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=August 30, 2023 |quote=The new league unveiled its Original Six franchises on Tuesday, putting each one of them in NHL markets with track records of supporting hockey and, specifically, the women's game. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="teams-ap2">{{cite web |last1=Wawrow |first1=John |last2=Whyno |first2=Stephen |title=New Professional Women's Hockey League is getting support from the NHL, just not the financial kind |url=https://apnews.com/article/new-professional-womens-hockey-league-723b8ac65dc7d34705c5457723b1a96b |website=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118143435/https://apnews.com/article/new-professional-womens-hockey-league-723b8ac65dc7d34705c5457723b1a96b |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=August 30, 2023 |quote=The newly founded Professional Women's Hockey League unveiled its Original Six franchises [...] based in NHL markets [...] with track records of supporting the women's game. |url-status=live}}</ref> the teams' locations were chosen for being markets of [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) franchises with "track records of supporting hockey and, specifically, the women's game."<ref name="teams-ap1"/><ref name="teams-ap2"/> The teams represented five of the seven markets the [[Premier Hockey Federation]] had franchises in at its dissolution; the [[Buffalo Beauts]] and [[Connecticut Whale (PHF)|Connecticut Whale]] were not given PWHL replacements, while Ottawa gained a franchise.<ref name="teams-nyt"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=deSimas, Jr. |first1=Gerry |title=Connecticut isn't one of six locations selected for PWHL's first season |url=https://collinsvillepress.com/2023/08/whale-isnt-one-of-the-six-teams-selected-for-pwhls-first-season/34719/ |website=Collinsville Press |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141312/https://collinsvillepress.com/2023/08/whale-isnt-one-of-the-six-teams-selected-for-pwhls-first-season/34719/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=29 August 2023 |quote=Connecticut and the Buffalo Beauts, both charter members of the National Women's Hockey League in 2015, were the only two Premier Hockey Federation cities not selected to continue playing. |url-status=live}}</ref> Franchises in [[London, Ontario]], [[Pittsburgh]], and [[Washington, D.C.]] were also considered for the original six.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Salivan |first1=Hailey |title=Six teams, one draft and loads of Ikea furniture: How the PWHL was made in six months |url=https://theathletic.com/5173302/2024/01/02/pwhl-womens-hockey-league-inaugural-season/ |website=[[The Athletic]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141246/https://theathletic.com/5173302/2024/01/02/pwhl-womens-hockey-league-inaugural-season/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=January 2, 2024 |quote=That wasn't the original "original six," either. According to multiple PWHL sources, the league looked at Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and London, Ont., among others. |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Though all of the teams currently lack [[nickname]]s, [[Crest (sports)|crests]], and stylized [[Jersey (clothing)#In sports|jerseys]], unique club identities will eventually be adopted in the future.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morhardt |first1=Meghann |title=PWHL Toronto GM Says Nailing Down Team Name and Logo Are 'Low on Priority List' |url=https://themessenger.com/sports/pwhl-logos-team-names-gina-kingsbury |website=[[The Messenger (website)|The Messenger]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118121037/https://themessenger.com/sports/pwhl-logos-team-names-gina-kingsbury |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=December 21, 2023 |quote=When the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) starts its inaugural season on Jan. 1, the league's six teams won't have names and logos. For now, the players will be wearing simple jerseys that have the city name across the front. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ibrahim |first1=Abdulhamid |title=PWHL sorting out missing pieces like team names and logos as it goes along |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-pwhl-sorting-out-missing-pieces-like-team-names-and-logos-as-it-goes/ |website=[[The Globe and Mail]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118121106/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-pwhl-sorting-out-missing-pieces-like-team-names-and-logos-as-it-goes/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=January 2, 2024 |quote=However there are some missing pieces, such as names and logos for the six teams.  "I don't, I don't," PWHL advisory board member Stan Kasten said Monday on whether he has a timeline for those key elements to be included. |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>
+As of the [[2023–24 PWHL season|2023–24 season]], six teams compete in the Professional Women's Hockey League: [[PWHL Montreal|Montreal]], [[PWHL Ottawa|Ottawa]] and [[PWHL Toronto|Toronto]] from Canada, and [[PWHL Boston|Boston]], [[PWHL Minnesota|Minnesota]] and [[PWHL New York|New York]] from the United States.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schram |first1=Carol |title=New Pro Women's Hockey League Will Launch In January With 6 Teams |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolschram/2023/08/29/new-womens-pro-hockey-league-will-launch-in-january-with-6-teams/?sh=6a8ef9e95d2e |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831140500/https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolschram/2023/08/29/new-womens-pro-hockey-league-will-launch-in-january-with-6-teams/ |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |date=August 29, 2023 |quote=Boston, New York and Minnesota on the U.S. side and Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal in Canada. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="teams-nyt">{{cite web |last1=Mather |first1=Victor |title=With Feud Over, New Women's Ice Hockey League Is Set to Begin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/29/sports/hockey/pwhl-womens-hockey.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141157/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/29/sports/hockey/pwhl-womens-hockey.html |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=August 29, 2023 |quote=The six teams in the new Professional Women's Hockey League will be evenly divided between the United States and Canada, with teams in Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, the New York metropolitan area, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. With the start of the new league, Buffalo and Connecticut are losing their teams, while Ottawa is gaining one. |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Described as the league's own "[[Original Six]]",<ref name="teams-cbc">{{cite web |last1=Clipperton |first1=Joshua |date=October 6, 2023 |title='An amazing thing for hockey': NHL players excited for PWHL puck drop |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockey-nhl-excited-for-pwhl-1.6987557 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118143323/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockey-nhl-excited-for-pwhl-1.6987557 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |access-date=January 18, 2024 |website=[[CBC Sports]] |quote=Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul and the New York City area have been tabbed as the new league's Original Six.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hornby |first1=Lance |title=A new set of Original Six rivalries ready to rock the PWHL |url=https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/a-new-set-of-original-six-rivalries-ready-to-rock-the-pwhl |website=[[Toronto Sun]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118140022/https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/a-new-set-of-original-six-rivalries-ready-to-rock-the-pwhl |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=November 16, 2023 |quote=All are great NHL Original Six rivalries that endure. "When you add Ottawa into the mix, as an Original Six, there's a lot of old rivalries that will be renewed." |url-status=live}}</ref> the teams' locations were chosen for being markets of National Hockey League franchises with "track records of supporting hockey and, specifically, the women's game."<ref name="teams-ap1">{{cite web |last1=Wawrow |first1=John |last2=Whyno |first2=Stephen |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Professional Women's Hockey League unveils its Original 6: 3 teams based in the US and 3 in Canada |url=https://apnews.com/article/pwhl-womens-hockey-original-six-7efee8e1781d78528842ae9f2ed8c904 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118135937/https://apnews.com/article/pwhl-womens-hockey-original-six-7efee8e1781d78528842ae9f2ed8c904 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |access-date=January 18, 2024 |website=[[Associated Press]] |quote=The new league unveiled its Original Six franchises on Tuesday, putting each one of them in NHL markets with track records of supporting hockey and, specifically, the women's game.}}</ref><ref name="teams-ap2">{{cite web |last1=Wawrow |first1=John |last2=Whyno |first2=Stephen |date=August 30, 2023 |title=New Professional Women's Hockey League is getting support from the NHL, just not the financial kind |url=https://apnews.com/article/new-professional-womens-hockey-league-723b8ac65dc7d34705c5457723b1a96b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118143435/https://apnews.com/article/new-professional-womens-hockey-league-723b8ac65dc7d34705c5457723b1a96b |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |access-date=January 18, 2024 |website=[[Associated Press]] |quote=The newly founded Professional Women's Hockey League unveiled its Original Six franchises [...] based in NHL markets [...] with track records of supporting the women's game.}}</ref> The markets cover five of the seven cities the Premier Hockey Federation had franchises in at its dissolution; the [[Buffalo Beauts]] and [[Connecticut Whale (PHF)|Connecticut Whale]] were not given PWHL replacements.<ref>{{cite web |last1=deSimas, Jr. |first1=Gerry |title=Connecticut isn't one of six locations selected for PWHL's first season |url=https://collinsvillepress.com/2023/08/whale-isnt-one-of-the-six-teams-selected-for-pwhls-first-season/34719/ |website=Collinsville Press |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141312/https://collinsvillepress.com/2023/08/whale-isnt-one-of-the-six-teams-selected-for-pwhls-first-season/34719/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=29 August 2023 |quote=Connecticut and the Buffalo Beauts, both charter members of the National Women's Hockey League in 2015, were the only two Premier Hockey Federation cities not selected to continue playing. |url-status=live}}</ref> Franchises in [[London, Ontario]], [[Pittsburgh]], and [[Washington, D.C.]] were also considered for the original six.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Salivan |first1=Hailey |title=Six teams, one draft and loads of Ikea furniture: How the PWHL was made in six months |url=https://theathletic.com/5173302/2024/01/02/pwhl-womens-hockey-league-inaugural-season/ |website=[[The Athletic]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118141246/https://theathletic.com/5173302/2024/01/02/pwhl-womens-hockey-league-inaugural-season/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=January 2, 2024 |quote=That wasn't the original "original six," either. According to multiple PWHL sources, the league looked at Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and London, Ont., among others. |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Though all of the teams currently lack [[nickname]]s, [[Crest (sports)|crests]], and stylized [[Jersey (clothing)#In sports|jerseys]], unique club identities will eventually be adopted in the future.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morhardt |first1=Meghann |title=PWHL Toronto GM Says Nailing Down Team Name and Logo Are 'Low on Priority List' |url=https://themessenger.com/sports/pwhl-logos-team-names-gina-kingsbury |website=[[The Messenger (website)|The Messenger]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118121037/https://themessenger.com/sports/pwhl-logos-team-names-gina-kingsbury |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=December 21, 2023 |quote=When the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) starts its inaugural season on Jan. 1, the league's six teams won't have names and logos. For now, the players will be wearing simple jerseys that have the city name across the front. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ibrahim |first1=Abdulhamid |title=PWHL sorting out missing pieces like team names and logos as it goes along |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-pwhl-sorting-out-missing-pieces-like-team-names-and-logos-as-it-goes/ |website=[[The Globe and Mail]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118121106/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-pwhl-sorting-out-missing-pieces-like-team-names-and-logos-as-it-goes/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=January 2, 2024 |quote=However there are some missing pieces, such as names and logos for the six teams.  "I don't, I don't," PWHL advisory board member Stan Kasten said Monday on whether he has a timeline for those key elements to be included. |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>
-Of the six teams, two share their [[Home (sports)|home ice]] with an NHL team. PWHL Minnesota play all their home games at the [[Minnesota Wild]]'s [[Xcel Energy Center]], the largest-capacity venue in the league at 17,954,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shipley |first1=John |title=Minnesota's PWHL team set to play home games at Xcel Energy Center |url=https://www.twincities.com/2023/09/24/minnesotas-pwhl-team-set-to-play-home-games-at-xcel-energy-center/ |website=[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118123555/https://www.twincities.com/2023/09/24/minnesotas-pwhl-team-set-to-play-home-games-at-xcel-energy-center/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=September 25, 2023 |quote=Xcel Energy Center officially seats 17,954 for Minnesota Wild games... |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Minnesota's Professional Women's Hockey League announces 2024 season at Xcel |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/11/30/minnesotas-professional-womens-hockey-league-announces-2024-season-at-xcel |website=[[Minnesota Public Radio|MPR News]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118123919/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/11/30/minnesotas-professional-womens-hockey-league-announces-2024-season-at-xcel |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=November 30, 2023 |quote=Minnesota’s first game will be at home at the Xcel Energy Center [...] 2024 PWHL Minnesota regular season schedule at Xcel Energy Center... |url-status=live}}</ref> and PWHL New York plays some of their home games at the [[New York Islanders]]' [[UBS Arena]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barron |first1=James |title=Women's Hockey Team Breaks Into the New York Market |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/10/nyregion/womens-hockey-pwhl-new-york.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118123940/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/10/nyregion/womens-hockey-pwhl-new-york.html |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=January 10, 2024 |quote=P.W.H.L. New York plays tonight at Belmont Park [...] when the team plays its first game at UBS Arena at Belmont Park tonight. |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="teams-wpix">{{cite web |last1=Mocker |first1=Greg |title=New York pro women's hockey team ready for inaugural season |url=https://pix11.com/sports/new-york-pro-womens-hockey-team-ready-for-inaugural-season/ |website=[[WPIX|PIX11]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118123855/https://pix11.com/sports/new-york-pro-womens-hockey-team-ready-for-inaugural-season/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=December 21, 2023 |quote=New York's team has two home arenas: UBS Arena in Elmont and Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. |url-status=live}}</ref> PWHL New York also share [[Total Mortgage Arena]] with the [[American Hockey League]]'s (AHL) [[Bridgeport Islanders]].<ref name="teams-wpix"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gorman |first1=Denis P. |title=New York team in new Professional Women's Hockey League eager to drop puck on first season |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/womens-sports/womens-professional-hockey-wl1tq9c5 |website=[[Newsday]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118124927/https://www.newsday.com/sports/womens-sports/womens-professional-hockey-wl1tq9c5 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=December 21, 2023 |quote=PWHL New York will split its home games between UBS Arena and Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn., the home of the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League. |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> PWHL Montreal similarly splits its home games between two venues, the [[Verdun Auditorium]] and [[Place Bell]]; the latter they share with the AHL's [[Laval Rocket]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Houpt |first1=Simon |title=The PWHL has built a new pro league for women's hockey. But will the fans tune in? |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-pwhl-womens-hockey-pro-league-first-game/ |website=[[The Globe and Mail]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118130533/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-pwhl-womens-hockey-pro-league-first-game/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=December 22, 2023 |quote=...Montreal playing seven of its home games at the Verdun Auditorium and four at Place Bell in Laval... |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=PWHL releases inaugural season schedule |url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-releases-inaugural-season-schedule |website=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|The Montreal Gazette]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118130527/https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-releases-inaugural-season-schedule |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=November 30, 2024 |quote=Montreal's team [...] will split its 12 home games between the 4,100-seat Verdun Auditorium and 10,000-seat Place Bell in Laval, which will host at least four games. |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> PWHL Boston plays at the [[Tsongas Center]] at the [[University of Massachusetts Lowell]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Healy |first1=Emma |title=PWHL Boston will play home games at Lowell's Tsongas Center, including home opener Jan. 3 |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/28/sports/pwhl-boston-home-opener/ |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118131736/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/28/sports/pwhl-boston-home-opener/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=November 28, 2023 |quote=...the PWHL announced Tuesday that its Boston team will play home games at UMass Lowell's Tsongas Center... |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hurley |first1=Christopher |title=Boston GM Danielle Marmer excited about inaugural PWHL season in Lowell |url=https://www.lowellsun.com/2023/12/24/boston-gm-danielle-marmer-excited-about-inaugural-pwhl-season-in-lowell/ |website=[[The Sun (Lowell)|The Lowell Sun]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118131739/https://www.lowellsun.com/2023/12/24/boston-gm-danielle-marmer-excited-about-inaugural-pwhl-season-in-lowell/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=December 24, 2023 |quote=The 24-game regular season schedule will feature a dozen home games at the Tsongas Center... |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> PWHL Ottawa play at [[TD Place Arena]] in [[Lansdowne Park]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Ottawa's pro women's hockey team to share TD Place Arena with junior 67's |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawas-pro-womens-hockey-team-to-share-td-place-arena-with-junior-67s |website=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118132927/https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawas-pro-womens-hockey-team-to-share-td-place-arena-with-junior-67s |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=September 2, 2023 |quote=The as-yet-unnamed hockey team will play at the TD Place Arena (formerly Civic Centre Arena) in the Lansdowne Park complex. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pringle |first1=Josh |title=New women's pro hockey team in Ottawa will play at TD Place |url=https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/new-women-s-pro-hockey-team-in-ottawa-will-play-at-td-place-1.6544817 |website=[[CTV News|CTV News Ottawa]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118132831/https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/new-women-s-pro-hockey-team-in-ottawa-will-play-at-td-place-1.6544817 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=September 2, 2023 |quote=Ottawa's new professional women's hockey team will play its games at TD Place this season. |url-status=live}}</ref> and PWHL Toronto play at the [[Toronto Metropolitan University]]'s Mattamy Athletic Center in [[Maple Leaf Gardens]], the smallest-capacity venue in the league at 3,850.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=Ian |title=Canada's PWHL Teams Are Sold Out For Openers, Ottawa Smashes Record |url=https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/canadas-pwhl-teams-are-sold-out-for-openers |access-date=January 18, 2024 |website=[[The Hockey News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118133434/https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/canadas-pwhl-teams-are-sold-out-for-openers |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=December 23, 2023 |quote=PWHL Toronto will fill Mattamy Athletic Centre with 3850 fans per game. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dove |first1=Abigail |title=New beginnings for women's hockey: PWHL to play at MAC |url=https://theeyeopener.com/2023/11/new-beginnings-for-womens-hockey-pwhl-to-play-at-mac/ |website=[[The Eyeopener]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118133405/https://theeyeopener.com/2023/11/new-beginnings-for-womens-hockey-pwhl-to-play-at-mac/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=November 14, 2023 |quote=Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) will see a professional sports team at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC). Toronto’s team will play their home games out of the MAC... |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Donkin |first1=Karissa |title=Toronto to host New York in PWHL's 1st regular-season game on New Year's Day |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-2024-home-opener-details-1.7042321 |website=[[CBC Sports]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118133540/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-2024-home-opener-details-1.7042321 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=November 28, 2023 |quote=Toronto's primary venue, Mattamy Athletic Centre, has the smallest capacity of the six teams... |url-status=live}}</ref>
+Of the six teams, two share their [[Home (sports)|home ice]] with an NHL team: Minnesota play all their home games at the [[Minnesota Wild]]'s [[Xcel Energy Center]], the largest-capacity venue in the league at 17,954, and New York plays some of their home games at the [[New York Islanders]]' [[UBS Arena]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shipley |first1=John |date=September 25, 2023 |title=Minnesota's PWHL team set to play home games at Xcel Energy Center |url=https://www.twincities.com/2023/09/24/minnesotas-pwhl-team-set-to-play-home-games-at-xcel-energy-center/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118123555/https://www.twincities.com/2023/09/24/minnesotas-pwhl-team-set-to-play-home-games-at-xcel-energy-center/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |access-date=January 18, 2024 |website=[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]] |quote=Xcel Energy Center officially seats 17,954 for Minnesota Wild games...}}</ref><ref name="teams-wpix">{{cite web |last1=Mocker |first1=Greg |title=New York pro women's hockey team ready for inaugural season |url=https://pix11.com/sports/new-york-pro-womens-hockey-team-ready-for-inaugural-season/ |website=[[WPIX|PIX11]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118123855/https://pix11.com/sports/new-york-pro-womens-hockey-team-ready-for-inaugural-season/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=December 21, 2023 |quote=New York's team has two home arenas: UBS Arena in Elmont and Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. |url-status=live}}</ref> New York also shares [[Total Mortgage Arena]] with the [[American Hockey League]]'s (AHL) [[Bridgeport Islanders]].<ref name="teams-wpix"/> Montreal similarly splits its home games between two venues, the [[Verdun Auditorium]] and [[Place Bell]]; the latter shared with the AHL's [[Laval Rocket]].<ref>{{cite web |title=PWHL releases inaugural season schedule |url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-releases-inaugural-season-schedule |website=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|The Montreal Gazette]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118130527/https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/pwhl-releases-inaugural-season-schedule |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=November 30, 2024 |quote=Montreal's team [...] will split its 12 home games between the 4,100-seat Verdun Auditorium and 10,000-seat Place Bell in Laval, which will host at least four games. |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> Boston plays at the [[Tsongas Center]] at the [[University of Massachusetts Lowell]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Healy |first1=Emma |title=PWHL Boston will play home games at Lowell's Tsongas Center, including home opener Jan. 3 |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/28/sports/pwhl-boston-home-opener/ |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118131736/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/28/sports/pwhl-boston-home-opener/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=November 28, 2023 |quote=...the PWHL announced Tuesday that its Boston team will play home games at UMass Lowell's Tsongas Center... |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> Ottawa play at [[TD Place Arena]] in [[Lansdowne Park]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ottawa's pro women's hockey team to share TD Place Arena with junior 67's |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawas-pro-womens-hockey-team-to-share-td-place-arena-with-junior-67s |website=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118132927/https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawas-pro-womens-hockey-team-to-share-td-place-arena-with-junior-67s |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=September 2, 2023 |quote=The as-yet-unnamed hockey team will play at the TD Place Arena (formerly Civic Centre Arena) in the Lansdowne Park complex. |url-status=live}}</ref> Toronto play at the [[Toronto Metropolitan University]]'s Mattamy Athletic Center in [[Maple Leaf Gardens]], the smallest-capacity venue in the league at 3,850.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=Ian |title=Canada's PWHL Teams Are Sold Out For Openers, Ottawa Smashes Record |url=https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/canadas-pwhl-teams-are-sold-out-for-openers |access-date=January 18, 2024 |website=[[The Hockey News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118133434/https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/canadas-pwhl-teams-are-sold-out-for-openers |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=December 23, 2023 |quote=PWHL Toronto will fill Mattamy Athletic Centre with 3850 fans per game. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dove |first1=Abigail |title=New beginnings for women's hockey: PWHL to play at MAC |url=https://theeyeopener.com/2023/11/new-beginnings-for-womens-hockey-pwhl-to-play-at-mac/ |website=[[The Eyeopener]] |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118133405/https://theeyeopener.com/2023/11/new-beginnings-for-womens-hockey-pwhl-to-play-at-mac/ |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |date=November 14, 2023 |quote=Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) will see a professional sports team at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC). Toronto’s team will play their home games out of the MAC... |url-status=live}}</ref>
 '''List of teams'''
@@ Line 126: / Line 126: @@
 === All-Stars ===
-Called the "PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase", it was announced on New Year's Day 2024 that the PWHL would entertain an All-Star game connected with the NHL. The PWHL plans to hold its own All-Star game but even had to select the players for the 2024 iteration based on notoriety, not by their on-ice performance, due to the league only being a month old at the time. Team King (in honor or [[Billie Jean King]]) had [[Cassie Campbell-Pascall]] coaching while Team Kloss ([[Ilana Kloss]]) saw [[Meghan Duggan]] coaching.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=2024 NHL All-Star Weekend: Brianne Jenner among 24 PWHL players set to participate in women's 3-on-3 showcase |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/2024-nhl-all-star-weekend-brianne-jenner-among-24-pwhl-players-set-to-participate-in-womens-3-on-3-showcase/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref>
+For its inaugural season, the PWHL announced that it will collaborate with the National Hockey League on its All-Star festivities, intending to host its own All-Star game in future seasons.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-15 |title=Poulin, Knight highlights PWHL representatives at NHL All-Star weekend |url=https://www.tsn.ca/marie-philip-poulin-hilary-knight-highlights-pwhl-representatives-at-nhl-all-star-weekend-1.2063013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116004206/https://www.tsn.ca/marie-philip-poulin-hilary-knight-highlights-pwhl-representatives-at-nhl-all-star-weekend-1.2063013 |archive-date=2024-01-16 |access-date=2024-01-17 |work=TSN |agency=CP}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Ayala |first=Erica L. |date=2024-01-16 |title=2024 NHL All-Star Weekend: Brianne Jenner among 24 PWHL players set to participate in women's 3-on-3 showcase |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/2024-nhl-all-star-weekend-brianne-jenner-among-24-pwhl-players-set-to-participate-in-womens-3-on-3-showcase/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117193832/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/2024-nhl-all-star-weekend-brianne-jenner-among-24-pwhl-players-set-to-participate-in-womens-3-on-3-showcase/ |archive-date=2024-01-17 |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=[[CBS Sports]] |language=en}}</ref> PWHL All-Stars will participate in the "PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase" on February 1 during the [[2024 NHL All-Star Game|2024 NHL All-Star weekend]] in Toronto. The game will feature Team King and Team Kloss—named after Billie Jean King and [[Ilana Kloss]], respectively—coached by [[Cassie Campbell-Pascall]] and [[Meghan Duggan]].<ref name=":7" />
 == Broadcasting ==

v t e Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)
Teams	PWHL Boston PWHL Minnesota PWHL Montreal PWHL New York PWHL Ottawa PWHL Toronto
Seasons	2023–24 2024–25
Drafts	2023 2024
Personnel	Players Association
Trophies	Walter Cup