From left: Hilary Knight and Claire Thompson.Photo:Getty
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The Professional Women’s Hockey League is here!The puck is set to drop for the new women’s hockey league on Jan. 1 when Team New York visits Team Toronto for the PWHL’s first regular season matchup.
ThePWHLwas announced this past summer after the previous Premier Hockey Federation was dissolved following eight seasons. The PWHL marks the third time a women’s hockey league has been launched in North America since 2007; this one sets itself apart with billionaire backer Mark Walter and other pioneering sports minds behind the new effort.
The PWHL advertises itself as “a first-of-its-kind women’s hockey league,” according to its website, and says it aims to bring together the best players in the world. Want to know more? PEOPLE’s got your guide for what to know, who to watch out for and how to view the PWHL games, ahead.
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Why is there a new women’s hockey league?
In 2019, some of the top women’s hockey players in the world began boycotting existing leagues that refused to compensate their players. About 200 players said they wouldn’t play in any North American hockey league until they received “the resources professional hockey demands and deserves,” according toThe Athletic.
“We may have represented different teams, leagues, and countries – but this sport is one family. And the time is now for this family to unite,” read the statement from the players, who united as the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association in 2019. “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for – our moment to come together and say we deserve more. It’s time for a long-term viable professional league that will showcase the greatest product of women’s professional hockey in the world.”
TheAthletic’s Hailey Salvianreportedin June that the players' association came to a partnering agreement with Walter, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who began to form the plans for a new league in 2022. The new league was announced this summer at the same time the former Premier Hockey Federation folded.
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Who is involved with the PWHL?
Which teams are competing in the PWHL?
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When Does the Regular Season Begin?
The first game of the season will take place in Toronto on Jan. 1, between Team Toronto and Team New York. A playoff format will be announced soon, the league said.
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Who are some of the best players in the PWHL?
“She’s one of the best players in the world right now,” Minnesota general manager Natalie Darwitztoldthe CBC. “Every time she’s on the ice, she garners attention and is dynamic.”
Kendall Coyne Schofield, an Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion, adds even more firepower to Team Minnesota’s roster.
Elsewhere in the league, Team Toronto forward Sarah Nurse is often regarded as one of the best women’s hockey players today. An Ontario native, the 28-year-old goal scorer has won both gold and silver medals at the Olympics and was one of the faces of EA Sports’ NHL ‘23 video game.
Where can I watch PWHL games?
The PWHL has yet to officially announce its streaming partners, though Kasten, one of the league’s advisory board members, has said its the league’s goal to have every game broadcast on television, according toThe Hockey News.
TheCBChas published a scheduled with plans to stream most regular season games for its Canadian viewers. The PHL, the women’s hockey league that preceded the PWHL, had streamed its games in the U.S. on the ESPN+ app.
source: people.com
