Sideblog mainly for professional women’s hockey • posts primarily PWHL, with some SDHL, EWHL, Auroraliiga, and IIHF events • I also write about hockey sometimes
Here we are again, with the PWHL regular season starting this Friday on November 21st. This will look a lot like last years primer, but with updated information, including two new teams.
The sections of this primer are: What is the PWHL, When do they play, Where can I watch, Rules/League Structure, journalists to follow, and an introduction to each team (what they did last year, who's on the team, notable players, you should root for them if you..)
What is the PWHL?
The Professional Women's Hockey League was created in 2023 and launched in January 2024. It is currently the only professional women's hockey league in North America.
The teams are currently all owned by the league itself, though they have individual front offices, they do not have individual ownership at this time.
When do they play?
You can find the full season schedule here. Please note that all times are in local time, and vary between Eastern, Central, and Pacific time. Each team plays 30 regular season games.
The PWHL schedule has a few things to make note of: they do what's called the "takeover tour" where they play games in a neutral market. So even if you don't have a PWHL team yet, if you live in a major American or Canadian market, they may be coming to you! They also occasionally upgrade games to nearby NHL arenas
There are pauses on Jan. 29 to Feb. 25 for the Olympics, as well as a small break from Dec. 8-15 for National Team training.
Where can I watch?
On Television
Canadian fans will have games split between TSN and its affiliates (such as TSN+) and Sportsnet, with Tuesday night games on Amazon Prime and select games in CBC
French broadcasts of Montreal games can be found on RDS, Radio-Canada, on ICI TÉLÉ and ICI TOU.TV
All fans not in Canada, Czechia, and Slovakia are available to stream on the PWHL Youtube for free regardless of location (so if you're "in market" there's no black-outs like there is NHL games. )
Regional broadcasts also show PWHL games on the following channels: Fanduel Sports Network North in Minnesota, NESN/NESN+ in Boston, MSG/MSG+ in New York, Fox 13+ in Seattle, Sportnet Pittsburgh, and select free over-the-air broadcasts for select games in various U.S. markets. Once again, Even if you are in the U.S. and your regional sports network carries it, you should still be able to access it on Youtube, blackouts do NOT apply
Fans in Czechia and Slovakia can watch games on Novasport
All of this information can also be found here if you want to bookmark it
In Person
No changes for the existing teams, except that Boston will have more games at Agganis Arena
Each game is worth three points: 3 for a regulation win, 2 for an overtime win, and 1 for an overtime loss
Four of the eight teams make the playoffs. The number one seed got to choose their opponent between the third and fourth seed. All series were best of five series, the two semi finals and then the finals.
Rules
If you are an NHL fan looking to jump in, here are the differences in the PWHL. The rulebook is also here.
Bodychecking is allowed in the PWHL, so long as it is done in an attempt to play the puck or gain possession. Reverse hits are not allowed. While women's hockey has always been physical, bodychecking at this level is fairly new. This is also not the case in international competition or in the NCAA, so it is a little different from the Olympics or worlds or college games if you are used to watching those.
The PWHL has a "jailbreak rule" which means that if you are shorthanded and score on your penalty kill, the penalty ends.
In shootouts, a player can go as many times as they'd like.
During penalties, teams have a "No Escape" rule, where players of a penalized team who were on the ice when the whistle blew are required to stay on the ice to start the penalty kill.
NEW THIS YEAR: There are no coaches challenges, decisions to review a goal either come from the PWHL Central Situation Room (CSR) or the on-ice officials.
Hits to the head, headbutting, and grabbing an opponents helmet strap, throat protector, or hair is an automatic major penalty and game misconduct.
Who are some good journalists to follow?
News and Journalists:
This is not a comprehensive list, just a starter pack! feel free to add any recommendations in the comments. It's also not in any order
Kyle Cushman: Works for the score, covers the whole league (as well as some nhl), keeps public statistical information. The Score author page / Twitter / Bluesky
The Ice Garden: Long time women's hockey publication. I'd also recommend going through their contributor/author page and following them individually! Website / Twitter / Bluesky
Hailey Salvian: Reporter for the Athletic for women's hockey Twitter
Kenzie Lalonde: TSN reporter based in Montreal covering PWHL among others, also does play by play Twitter
Karissa Donkin: CBC reporter for the PWHL / general women's hockey Bluesky / Twitter
Ben Steiner: Covers really all things Canadian sports, including PWHL Bluesky / Twitter
Rick Menning: Local reporter for the Sirens Twitter
Kelsea Durham: Local reporter for the Boston Fleet for Inside the Rink Linktree
Christine Roger: French-Canadian reporter, who posts in French, mainly about Montreal Twitter
Chris Sinclair: Does a lot of PWHL podcasts with players and some news breaking bluesky / Twitter
The Women's Hockey Report podcast: can be found on Youtube here, it is made by long time women's hockey reporter Erica Ayala (bluesky) and Rachel Donner (Bluesky)
PWHL Report: Content aggregator for if you don't want to follow a bunch individually and really the only one i've seen post stuff to Instagram Twitter / Instagram
Here is also a link to a masterpost I did of resources for various women's hockey leagues related to statistics and roster transactions
Also sorry its my own post so I get to plug my own writing which includes monthly recaps of all major woho leagues!
Who are the Boston Fleet?
The Boston Fleet were the fifth place finishers last year. They're coming into this year with a new coach and without their captain from the last two seasons, so they are undergoing a lot of change!
The roster can be found here
Notable Players/Players you may know: Alina MĂĽller (Switzerland's top player and all time points leader in the NCAA by a European skater), Susanna Tapani (Team Finland forward who was one of the top scorers in the PWHL last year), Aerin Frankel (Team USA Goalie), Megan Keller (Team USA defender and captain of the fleet), Zoe Boyd (stay at home defender who has become quite popular on social media)
You should root for this team if you: value physicality in game play, are a fan of the hockey east division in the ncaa, are interested in a team with a mix of players from different countries (they have players from usa, canada, germany, austria, finland, czechia, switzerland, and france) like a team with a social media presence that's dedicated to getting dogs adopted, want to root for a player who scored the Walter cup clinching goal in both PWHL championships (Liz Schepers), want to root for a defender who runs a podcast literally called no straight answers (zoe boyd), or feel that a team dressing up for neutral site games should go all out
Who are the Minnesota Frost?
The Frost are the two time winners of the Walter Cup, and the only team thus far to win it. They were one of the teams hit hardest by the expansion draft, and are coming into this year with a lot of new faces
Their roster can be viewed here
Notale players/players you may know: Kendall Coyne Schofield (team USA, the Minnesota frost Captain), Taylor Heise (leagues first ever draft pick and the inaugural walter cup MVP, team USA), Lee Stecklein (Team USA defender), Maddie Rooney (olympic gold medal winning goaltender for 2018 Team USA), Grace Zumwinkle (team USA forward and one of the teams young star forwards), Sidney Morin (veteran defender entering eighth pro season)
You should root for this team if you: enjoy a team that prioritizes speed, are interested in elite shutdown defenders (Lee Stecklein and Natalie Buchbinder are two of the best), want the third and fourth line of your team to get decent playing time, are a big team usa fan (NINE players either play or have played for team usa), are interested in a goalie appreciation night, are big on cabbage, and of course, if you want to join a potential dynasty!
You should root for this team if you: like players from Quebec (Poulin, Desbiens, Dubois, Downie-Landry, Labelle, Labad), like skilled players with an edge to their game (Roque, Dubois, Digirolamo), enjoy a top notch forechecking team, appreciate a good dpair mentor narrative (Ambrose and first round pick Nicole Gosling), want your captain and assistant captain to be married (Poulin and Stacey), or value having the leagues best prankster (amanda boulier)
Who are the New York Sirens?
The New York Sirens finished last in the PWHL's first two seasons. They are also coming in with a very different roster this year
The roster can be found here
Notable players: Kristýna Kaltounková (number one overall pick and top Team Czechia player), Sarah Fillier (last years number one overall pick, pwhl rookie of the year and top team Canada player), Casey O'Brien (third overall pick, 2025 patty kaz winner and holds record for most assists in a ncaa season), Micah Zandee-Hart (team captain and team canada defender),
You should root for this team if: you like to watch rookie players develop and a very young team come together, don't want to be accused of bandwagoning, enjoy players from the American midwest (michigan, missouri, minnesota, ohio all represented!), want to root for a player who will probably lead the league in penalty minutes but also has a pet hamster that she loves (Kristýna Kaltounková), enjoy wonderfully silly defenders (jaime Bourbonnais), or are a big fan of jackets like Elle Hartje
Who are the Ottawa Charge?
The Ottawa Charge were the runner up for the PWHL championship last year. This team is kind of chaotic, as they finished second to last the first season, barely squeaked into the playoffs the second season and then made it to the finals.
The roster can be found here
Notable players: Gwyneth Philips (as seen above, won the playoff MVP award last year and is one of team usas goaltenders), Kateřina Mrázová (team czechia forward and one of the best stickhandlers in the sport), Emily Clark (one of Ottawa's core forwards and team Canada player), Ronja Savolainen (one of the leagues top defenders and plays for team Finland)
You should root for this team if: you enjoy some chaotic rush offense, you want to watch the debut of the leagues first russian players (Anna Shokhina and Fanuza Kadirova), like goofy, talented goalies who are prone to taking solo cross country road trips by themselves and making silly videos with their teammates (Philips), tell bad dad jokes like Anna Meixner) or think hockey should have more post game thunderclap circles
Who are the Seattle Torrent?
The Torrent are one of the PWHL's two new expansion teams
The roster can be found here
Notale players/playerrs you may know: Hilary Knight (most famous Team USA player and captain, and tied for most points in the league last year), Jessie Eldridge (one of the leagues top scorers entering her seventh club season), Corinne Schroeder (considered a top goaltender in the league), Aneta Tejralová (shutdown defender and captain of team Czechia), Cayla Barnes (team usa defender known for her small size and great play), Carly (CJ) Jackson (goaltender entering their sixth pro season, openly nonbinary and a lgbtqia+ activist)
You should root for this team if: really enjoy tall forwards (julia gosling, hilary knight, lexie adzija, Danielle Serdachny, jessie eldridge), want to watch two of the leagues top shot blockers (anna wilgren and mariah keopple), enjoy talented players who aren't afraid to hit their captain with a pie (mikyla grant mentis), are into designing your own clothes like Mariah Keopple, or are a film buff and like goalies who are also actors (CJ)
Who are the Toronto Sceptres?
The Toronto Sceptres finished first in the standings in season one, and second in season two.
The roster can be found here
Notable players you may know: Natalie Spooner (season 1 MVP and team canada forward), Daryl Watts (one of the leagues top scorers and most successful NCAA players, team Canada), Elaine Chuli (top goaltender heading into ninth pro season, has played for a toronto team in six of those seasons), Renata Fast (team canada defender and defender of the year in season two), Ella Shelton (team canada and defender of the year in season one)
you should root for this team if: you like a player who is one of the shortest but also one of the most physical in the league (emma maltais), enjoy when a roster has a lot of close ties to the city (spooner, watts, chuli, fast, claire dalton, emma woods, etc.), are a big team canada fan (in addition to their players, coach and management also work with team canada), want your team to have a team dog that's owned by a defense pairing that's also a couple (allie munroe and kali flanagan), have driven a tractor like ella shelton, or fstruggle at photography but are trying your best like jesse compher
Who are the Vancouver Goldeneyes?
The Vancouver Goldeneyes are one of the two expansion teams for the PWHL
The roster can be found here
Notable players you may know: Sarah Nurse (team canada star forward, was on the cover of NHL 23), Sophie Jaques (team Canada defender and scoring leader for PWHL defenders last year), Tereza Vanišová (team Czechia forward who tied for second in goals last PWHL season), Michela Cava (top scorer who has won five championships straight across four different leagues, was finals MVP in three of those), Michelle Karvinen (Finland's all time leading goal scorer at the World Championship)
you should root for this team if: you want to watch two of the best puck moving defenders in the game (Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson), want to root for a player involved in the first PWHL fight (Tereza Vanišová), you appreciate graphic design (Michelle karvinen, who designed a logo for womens worlds), are a coffee lover like Denisa KĹ™ĂĹľová, or want a player who will represent your team at just about every cool event happening (sarah nurse. i tried to find one post to link but honestly youll just have to look at her whole insta because she never sleeps)
Not a cap lawyer and I know the spas only have to be greater than what they were set to make in 2026-2027, which was lower for Clark, but does feel Hamilton is spending a lot up top
Worst argument on earth about people not loving forced player movement is being like “well this is how it works in other sports (and by other sports they primarily mean USA/Canada leagues) if they want to be professional they have to deal with it!” Like okay yes but in the big four they making millions to do it not coordinator level white collar office job salary. I mean we can talk about if it’s even ethical for the millions (I don’t think so) but you can at least argue they’re paid for the inconvenience. And I’ve seen people are repeat that it’s the reality of sports and the privilege of being a pro athlete and honestly like. No it’s not a privilege it’s a job they do something they’re very good at and dedicate more time to than the average person dedicates to their job and their building up the league value which the owners will likely get a new profit off of in 2033 or whenever when the teams sell. It’s not a privilege to work a job you’re qualified for just because it’s an entertainment job lol especially these athletes who aren’t even getting like generational wealth or anything from this
PWHL LAS VEGAS BUILDS BLUE LINE WITH MAE BATHERSON AND KENDALL COOPER AS HISTORIC FIRST SIGNINGS
PWHL Las Vegas today announced that defenders Mae Batherson and Kendall Cooper are the team’s first-ever players, signing the duo to two-year Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Standard Player Agreements ahead of the team’s inaugural 2026-27 season.
Signed through the 2027-28 campaign, Batherson and Cooper are reunited on the blue line after spending the 2025-26 season as teammates with the Minnesota Frost and are the first two of five players to be added to PWHL Las Vegas during Phase 2 of the PWHL’s Expansion Roster Distribution Process.
Interesting note. If she really didn’t want to go there that’s an icky move.
If she chose 2 I think it shows she is willing to make it work but it was probably a thing of like “I’m not going there on an spa so if I’m going it better be for a boat load of cash” which is valid
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle of what Kennedy (guy who runs with very vague rumors) and salvian (league shill) in that she probably was like I’m not looking to leave New York, but If I’m going to leave I’d like it to be for a significant raise + with a coach I’m familiar with
Interesting note. If she really didn’t want to go there that’s an icky move.
If she chose 2 I think it shows she is willing to make it work but it was probably a thing of like “I’m not going there on an spa so if I’m going it better be for a boat load of cash” which is valid
O'Neil's agent is in Kennedy's comments saying he is wrong about her being 2nd on San Jose's EFO list
I guess she could have been first especially if they talked and Ryan knew watts wasn’t coming to San Jose but it took longer to negotiate the details of the contract / the league had them wait to announce things. That said idk how any of this works and I slept three hours last night so I’m jusy going to say 🤷
It was an EFO because O'Neill didn't want to be there unfortunately. They were probably made aware during the window they could talk to players she didn't want to go to San Jose and put her on their 4 player list.
Eek, hope she’s able to work things out and make the best of it, she did sign for two years instead of one so seems once she was given the efo she was willing to stay a little (and I’m sure the upfront signing bonus for signing multiple years played a part in that.)
As a side note, genuinely m could mean nothing, but I do find it interesting that both KO and turnbull were centers in positions to get EFOs and Ryan coached turnbull in Toronto the past few years but listed KO first. Probs just looking to start new more than anything
I was going off assumption. Jenner didn't really have a clear role at the olympics, didn't stand out at all and they need to move on to bring in younger talent.
Got you. Suppose we’ll find out soon enough i was just like did I miss some kind of Instagram post or something
Doing my five depth picks for the draft and stuck between how much I like Hush from UNH and her offensive sense but how much her skating is just not up to PWHL standard. Someone get her a year in the sdhl and then we’ll be cooking
Kind of confused by the EFO offer for O'Neill because if she wanted to come and you offered her 80-90k it would probably have been enough. She did play really well under Troy at the Olympics (even though her ice time was horrific in a couple games) so I'm excited to see her hopefully shine. The talent dispersal also helps her out.
She did also have a hot start to the year before hitting a wall after the Olympics, so maybe a full interrupted season we’ll see more of what we did in the first half
yes jenner is 35 which is getting up there hockey wise but she had a resurgence this year and won't be playing for canada any more. the number of games and training camps that takes off of her legs is huge. she's going to play the least amount of games she's played in 3 years next year. she may not have the level to play for canada anymore but in the league as a center she is still absolutely elite.
Wait excuse my brain which is totally mush because I’ve worked like a 16 hour shift plus a clopen but was there some announcement about Jenner not playing for team Canada anymore that I forgot about or is this just an assumption based on Olympic cycles?
Either way, yeah she’s still one of the best centers in the PWHL. On one hand it’s good to be aware of aging curves and how it may perfect performance, but on the other hand, it’s not like there’s a future you’re building towards. Contracts are primarily 1-3 years and there’s a lot of turnover in the league, every year you’re trying to win now. And even aging curves I think work a little different than in men’s hockey in the sense of like. Okay most of the older vets in this league are national team players that had better access to training and resources pre-PWHL than most players, so a lot of the decline they may experience in aging is offset by just how much more access they had to staying in stop shape and working on their craft over the last decade or so, which is not something that someone like Catherine Dubois had access to by her own account.
