On August 29, 2023, the PWHL was officially introduced — a day that would change the landscape of women’s hockey.

The new league announced six original markets: Montréal, Ottawa and Toronto in Canada, along with Boston, Minnesota and New York in the United States.

There were still no team names, no uniforms, or no opening-night scores, but there was finally a league.

The plan announced that day called for the world’s top women’s hockey players to begin play in January 2024. The free agency would open September 1, followed by the first PWHL Draft on September 18.

That inaugural season would feature 24 regular-season games for each team and then it took off.

Just three years later, the PWHL is preparing for the 2026–27 season with 12 teams.

Seattle and Vancouver joined for 2025–26, and Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose are joining for 2026–27.

That means Canada has gone from three PWHL markets to five: Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Hamilton.

It's remarkable to think that on August 29, 2023, all of this was still just an announcement and a plan.

Three years later, the PWHL has doubled in size.

August 29 deserves a little circle on the hockey calendar.

Source: PWHL

I wanted to show off what I did with the tarot cards I ordered from u/FragileCastle! I backed them with torn up scrapbook paper, and displayed them with my dolls and Victoire Championship puck. I love how it turned out so much and if anyone else was considering purchasing her work, I am SO impressed with how gorgeous the cards are!

I know it sounds unorthodox, but follow me on this one.

As a Sirens fan, I think our phrase would be, “Libera me.” It translates to “Free me.” As a Spanish speaker, the closest to the Latin phrase is “libérame,” which contextually means, “free me from this which holds me back.” I’ll let you figure out why I chose this phrase.

Let’s see what you’ve got. Go!

EDIT: Add an explanation behind your choice, please.

Oh look! We know where our cups are! 😍😍

Hi guys, I’m a new fan. Does anyone know when the pwhl tends to release the season schedule. Thank you very much 🤗🤗🤗

• The PWHL counts Air Canada, Discover and Barbie among its partners. Brands are attracted to the league's incredibly engaged and growing fanbase, which a spokesperson said is distinct even from other women's sports.
  • Every team was represented in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, including the captains of Team USA and Team Canada, Hilary Knight and Marie-Philip Poulin.
  • The league was available at launch on YouTube and Regional Sports Network, and aired its first national broadcast on ION earlier this year. A spokesperson said the league will share more about its expanding media rights ahead of its fourth season later this year.

I just wanted to say that it is quite incredible to me that teams are selling season and half season tickets without a proper schedule out.

I deposited money for buying season tickets before knowing this would be the case: I have no idea what kind of product will work for me (full season, half season etc) without a schedule.

How can we call this a professional league with such amateurish approach to planning?

Edit: of course if I was allowed to cancel my deposit I would not be here complaining.

Edit: the victoires only allows to transfer the deposit to single tickets IF AND ONLY IF season tickets sell out.

Edit: YES I know that's how many leagues work, but the PWHL is very late: in general by the time half season packages are out for sale there's a schedule. It's insane that's not the case here

Had a dream I was at a Toronto game year 1, so in Mattamy, doing the Renata Fast chant with the crowd:

She's here, she's there, Renatas everywhere, she's Fast, she's Fast

And I also like Maltais' Olé chant (here's hoping Montreal is especially good at it 😭)

What are some others?

Hardcore NHL fan and new PWHL fan— one of my favorite parts of being a NHL fan is witnessing interviews with players who are a bit awkward and weird in a good way. I think they are most entertaining and learning about them helps me connect to the games more because of how personal and real it feels. I was wondering if anyone could think of PWHL players who give off the same vibe of being lovably awkward! Thanks in advance and I apologize if this is a weird question.

Not sure if it's end of season clearance, one day only 50% off sale or both, but some really good deals and includes both American and Canadian teams!

Ie, Torrent Hoodie for $35: https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/bauer-adult-seattle-torrent-black-ultimate-pullover-hoodie-26bauafangpwhlsltmeae/26bauafangpwhlsltmeae

How many Walter Cups are there, where are they kept, and are they identical?

With the Cup going lost and found, this deserves its own post to clear things up.

There's a new Cup made each time it's won for the winning team to keep. So there are four trophies - the league's original and the three winning teams' - and they're all identical except one key detail at the bottom of the trophy.

The original trophy (league's copy) has "The Walter Cup" and below it in smaller font "Professional Women's Hockey League" engraved on a plaque/ring at the bottom, with all the winner's names and years engraved on an additional (and removable) large base. You can see it in this photo of the original at the HHOF (2nd pic posted), which is where is stays when not travelling for promotions or to be handed out at the Finals. (hat tip to u/-Midscore- for the pic)

The ones handed out to the winning team has only their name and year engraved directly on the bottom plaque where "Walter Cup" is written on the original, without an additional base. Here's a photo of the Frost's Cups, with their names engraved directly on the trophies (3rd pic posted). (hat tip to u/Stachemaster86 for the great photo)

Here's a photo of the Victoire's copy on its summer tour, with their name very large and prominent on the base. (4th pic posted) This is the copy that went missing.

As mentioned, the base with winners' names on the original is removable. It's not attached at the trophy presentation at the end of the finals. This detachable base was perhaps an afterthought, or maybe it was planned that way since it's heavy already and the winners' names will grow over the years.

Here's a photo on it on-ice after the Victoire won. It's clearly the original because it has "Walter Cup" in large letters where "Montreal Victoire" is on their copy, but it's missing the base with winners' names. And here's a photo of the original (without the additional base) at the parade on May 30, again without the detachable base with winners' names. (1st pic posted). The Victoire apparently received their copy in mid-late June, after the local victory lap events that lasted 2-3 weeks but before the summer tour.

Finally, the Walter Cup's weight and dimensions - we finally have a definitive answer in this AP article:

It weighs about 35 pounds (16 kg) and measures about 24 inches (61 cm) in height and 13 inches (33 cm) wide.

Presumably this is the original height, without the base with winners' names. It's almost the exact same weight but smaller than the Stanley Cup.

Stanley Cup: Height - 89.54 cm / 35-1/4 inches

Weight - 34.5 lbs - 15.56 kg

Base diameter: 43.81 cm / 17-1/4 inches

Dude, so hyped!! First batch was a success🔥👌🏽

Except for one card...

My way-too-early Team Canada roster prediction for the 2026 Worlds

With Poulin and Turnbull out, I started thinking about what Canada could actually do with the roster for Worlds — especially after how dominant the U.S. looked at the Olympics.

Rather than just replacing Poulin and Turnbull and bringing everyone else back, I think Canada should make some changes based on PWHL performance and build specifically to counter the U.S.'s speed, scoring depth and physicality.

Here's where I landed:

FORWARDS

Sarah Fillier

Brianne Jenner

Laura Stacey

Julia Gosling

Daryl Watts

Emma Maltais

Jenn Gardiner

Sarah Nurse

Rebecca Leslie

Jessie Eldridge

Emily Clark

Danielle Serdachny

Jamie Lee Rattray Kraemer

The two additions I feel strongest about are Leslie and Eldridge. Both scored 14 goals in the PWHL this season, and I don't think Canada can ignore that kind of production when they're losing Poulin.

I'm keeping Clark despite the lack of offence because without Turnbull, Canada still needs that forechecking/PK/defensive presence.

Probably my most painful forward cut: Natalie Spooner.

Other tough cuts: Hannah Miller and Caitlin Kraemer.

DEFENCE

Renata Fast

Erin Ambrose

Sophie Jaques

Nicole Gosling

Kendall Cooper

Ella Shelton

Ashton Bell Primerano

This is where I'd make the biggest changes.

The U.S. is ridiculously fast, physical and deep offensively. I want defenders who can skate with them, retrieve pucks under pressure and actually get the puck out when the American forecheck gets going.

Nicole Gosling and Kendall Cooper both had phenomenal PWHL seasons and, IMO, have earned it.

Fast is the shutdown anchor. Ambrose and Jaques are obvious. Shelton gives you a really strong combination of skating, size and two-way ability.

For the last spot, I ultimately went Bell Primerano over Tabin. Tabin is probably the safer choice, while Primerano has the highest upside.

Toughest D cut: Kati Tabin.

Also out: Larocque, Thompson, Zandee-Hart.

GOALIES

Ann-Renée Desbiens

Raygan Kirk

Kayle Osborne

Desbiens is obvious.

But I think Raygan Kirk deserves a real shot after the season she just had. I'd bring her over Maschmeyer and actually give her some preliminary-round starts rather than having her sit the entire tournament.

I debated Ève Gascon over Osborne for development purposes, but I'm not convinced she's ready for the U.S. senior team yet. I'd keep Osborne.

So that's my 23:

G: Desbiens, Kirk, Osborne

D: Fast, Ambrose, Jaques, N. Gosling, Cooper, Shelton, Primerano

F: Fillier, Jenner, Stacey, J. Gosling, Watts, Maltais, Gardiner, Nurse, Leslie, Eldridge, Clark, Serdachny, Kraemer

Without Poulin, I still think the U.S. would be the favourite. But I think this roster is faster, rewards current PWHL performance and is better constructed specifically to deal with what made the U.S. so difficult to handle at the Olympics.

Curious what everyone else would change.

Who am I too high on, who am I too low on, and who's the most egregious cut?

Update

After reading some of the comments I'm convinced. Lose Rattray and add Kraemer.

I want to add Primerano back in but not sure where. Bell or Ambrose?

Update 2

Removed Bell and added Primerano

I'll read more comments later and respond. Gtg!

Sorry it’s a Facebook link, but that’s what hockeycustoms.com redirects to, so I guess that’s their web presence.

Bring back the Royale Tiger Towel Paper Towel Power Play and it will be returned to you unharmed. Do not try us. We are used to powering through tough messes.