With draft in rearview, PWHL can begin turning focus to the ice
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) didn’t even exist — at least publicly — until less than a month ago.
In the short time since, the six franchise locations have been announced, general managers were hired, there were landmark free-agent signings, coaches were brought aboard, and the inaugural 15-round entry draft was held in Toronto.
A whirlwind, to say the least. Yet there is still plenty more to be done before the season begins in January 2024.
For now, though, drafted and signed players can take a quick breath, resume training and make relocation plans if needed ahead of November training camp.
Fast, of Burlington, Ont., may not have a major adjustment playing for Toronto next season. But teammate Brittany Howard, who played for the Premier Hockey Federation’s Toronto Six last season but signed with Boston in free agency before being drafted back to the Ontario capital, said she already gave up her living arrangement.
“At this point, not too much of a stress obviously just with the draft happening but I’m sure all those things will align in the next few weeks,” Howard said.
Kali Flanagan, who spent the past two seasons with Boston and won Olympic gold with the U.S. in 2018, has even fewer ties to Toronto.
The defender, who was drafted 35th overall, said she was looking forward to exploring the city.
“I’m just really, really excited to have a new adventure. … Heading into training camp, just trying to make myself as prepared as I can be and the best hockey player I can be so I can help my teammates and help our team fight for a championship at the end of the season,” Flanagan said.
WATCH | Billie Jean King discusses inaugural draft:
Tennis icon and women’s sports advocate Billie Jean King sits down with CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux on the day of the inaugural PWHL draft.
Player movement
But despite the extremely quick player movement, members of Toronto and other squads still don’t know who will be filling out each locker in the dressing room.
Teams currently stand at 18 players apiece, but those initial groups will balloon to 28 for training camp in November.
The remaining eight will be in camps on a tryout basis, with each team set to carry 23 players into the season.
Also yet to be determined is what exactly they’ll be playing for.
There’s some intrigue around what the championship trophy will ultimately be named — a pioneer of the sport like hockey Hall of Famer Angela James could make for a fitting moniker.
There is also unknown about what the path to lifting that trophy might look like. In the inaugural 2024 season, teams will play 24-game schedules.
WATCH | Minnesota makes Taylor Heise No. 1 pick:
History is made as tennis legend Billie Jean King announces University of Minnesota forward and 2022 Patty Kazmaier award-winner Taylor Heise as the first-ever PWHL draft pick.
Still to be determined is how many of those games are at home, away and neutral sites. The league has said it is collaborating with the NHL on the latter, and that it hopes to unveil the full schedule in October.
Stan Kasten, a league board member and president of MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, said in the PWHL’s introductory press conference that future seasons would consist of 32 regular-season games starting in November, plus at least two playoff rounds.
Meanwhile, there’s the fun task of naming the teams that are currently only identified by location.
Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, New York, Boston and Minnesota haven’t yet said how they’ll choose their nicknames, though you can bet that any options left on the cutting room floor will surely turn into trivia fodder years from now.
WATCH | Scenes from the PWHL draft at CBC:
The Professional Women’s Hockey League held its first player draft in Toronto Monday. American Taylor Heise was drafted first overall to her hometown, yet-to-be named team in Minnesota.
League branding
League branding, broadcast rights and venues — teams still haven’t announced where their home games will take place — are also on the PWHL’s to-do list ahead of puck drop in January.
While those tasks shouldn’t be brushed off as mere logistics, the league’s swift coming together make for optimism they will be sorted.
And once that’s done, the focus can truly turn to the ice, and a moment women’s hockey fans will have waited nearly five years for — a unified professional league featuring the world’s best players.
Howard said there’s also already a Toronto team group chat with all the players drafted, but she hasn’t yet spoken in depth with coach Troy Ryan or general manager Gina Kingsbury about what her on-ice role may look like.
Still, players across the league are eager to get going.
“I’m just excited to play hockey again, to be honest,” said Brianne Jenner, who signed with Ottawa. “I just can’t wait to be a part of a team and build towards playoffs and hopefully get a chance to go deep in playoffs and build a fan base.”
What some of that may look remains up in the air. But brick by brick, the PWHL continues to take shape.
;Resize=(620))
