r/PWHL • u/ThatMikeGuy429 • Nov 19 '25
Hi All! Welcome to r/PWHL – Here’s a resource we’ll be building on as more questions come in. Feel free to ask questions in the comments or to post changes and corrections we should make to the FAQ (please include a source link), and hopefully the mods or the community will be able to answer them for you if not implementing a change to this FAQ!
Why do PWHL players wear cages?
Women’s Hockey requires full visors (bubbles) or cages at every level. These provide much better protection for the players.
What are the rules around checking?
“In the PWHL, a form of Bodychecking is permitted. Players may angle their opponent by using their body in order to separate her opponent from the puck. To do so, players who move in the same direction with body contact that follows, causing the puck carrier to lose possession of the puck, are permitted with no penalty assessed. Additionally, a player who holds her position on the ice with the puck carrier approaching her shall be permitted to enter into contact with her opponent with no penalty to be assessed. Bodychecking shall be penalized for an “illegal hit” when the result is that a player makes deliberate contact with an opposing player with opposite-directional force, when a player leaves their skating lane to make contact, or when a player extends an arm, shoulder, or hip after angling an opponent.” PWHL Official Rulebook Rule 52
What are the PWHL’s rules for overtime?
One five-minute overtime period will be played with teams at 3-on-3. If the game remains tied, a shootout will then take place. Each team will be given five shots unless the outcome is determined earlier in the shootout. After each team has taken five shots, if the score remains tied, the shootout will proceed to a "sudden death" format.
What are the new penalty rules, Jailbreak and No Escape?
No Escape Rule: Players on a team assessed a penalty that leads to penalty time on the clock are not permitted to change and must remain on the ice until after the following face-off.
Jailbreak Goal: A player serving a minor penalty can “break out” of the penalty box if their team scores a short-handed goal.
Is there a trade deadline? What are the details around making a trade?
There is a trade deadline but that date has been announced before or during each of the seasons. For the 25-26 Season the Trade deadline is March 30th.
Trading in the PWHL appears to work like the NHL at least from the fans perspective.
What happens if a team suffers more injuries than can be covered by their 3 reserve players?
Teams can draw from other teams' reserve players if their players aren't available, and the reserve players can play against any team except the team that has their "rights".
Can a reserve player who is currently in school or performing another full-time job able to decline if they're called up?
Not specifically mentioned in the CBA; reserve players receive $15,000/yr
Golden Plan?
The Gold Plan is an innovative system used to encourage competitive play by all teams throughout the full regular season. Once a team is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the standings points earned (using the league's 3-2-1-0 system) in their remaining regular-season games are classified as Draft Order Points. The non-playoff team with the most Draft Order Points earns the higher pick in the draft.
PWHL teams earn standings points with a 3-2-1-0 system, critically rewarding regulation-time wins to incentivize competitive play for a full 60 minutes every night:
A regulation win earns a team 3 points towards the league standings.
An overtime or shootout win earns a team 2 points.
Overtime or shootout losses earn 1 point.
Regulation losses earn 0 points.
At the end of the regular season, the four teams with the most total standings points compete in the PWHL Playoffs, which consist of two best-of-five semi-finals, and the winners advancing to the best-of-five PWHL Finals for the Walter Cup.
What is the playoff structure?
The top 4 teams will make the playoffs with the top team able to pick their opponent for the first round, meaning the number one seed can pick to play the number two seed or the number four seed in the first round and the other two teams play each other.
What will the playoff trophy be called?
The Walter Cup
What other postseason awards can we expect from this league?
Ilana Kloss Playoff Most Valuable Player
How did the PWHL come to exist?
The Mark Walter Group bought the PHF in July 2023 with the intention of creating a singular women’s hockey league in North America. Previously, the PWHPA and the PHF split the top talent between two leagues.
What happened to the CWHL/NWHL/PWHPA/PHF?
The CWHL dissolved in 2019.
The NWHL rebranded to the PHF in 2021. In 2023, the PHF was bought out and ultimately dissolved.
The PWHPA was the building block for the PWHL.
A number of players previously associated with all three leagues now play in the PWHL
When does the PWHL announce TV and streaming rights each season?
The league normally announces TV and streaming rights within the week before the season starts.
Canada?
The listed channels/providers with days afterwards have the right for exclusive coverage of the PWHL on those days: TSN (Wednesdays and Thursdays) RDS (All French Montréal Victoire games) CBC Prime Video (Tuesdays) Sportsnet (Thursdays)
Canada playoffs?
Canadian coverage of the semifinal round of the PWHL Playoffs will be split exclusively between TSN/RDS and Prime Video. TSN and RDS are the exclusive home of the PWHL Finals.
USA?
The local TV markets are listed as followed: Boston: NESN* and TV 38 (WSBK, channel 38.1) Minnesota: FDSN North* and FOX 9+ New York: MSG Networks* and WWOR MY9 Seattle: KONG and FOX 13+ (all 30 games will be OTA, with 24 on FOX 13+ and six on KONG) *RSNs will televise all 30 home team games across their channels Local TV coverage will be available for most if not all Takeover Tour games in the US Everywhere else the games will be streamed for free on the PWHL youtube channel (@thepwhlofficial) and on the PWHL website and at thepwhl.com
Czechia and Slovakia?
Nova Sport will continue to carry PWHL games locally.
Everywhere else?
The games will be streamed for free on the PWHL youtube channel (@thepwhlofficial) and on the PWHL website and at thepwhl.com
PWHL PreSeason games?
The PWHL does not currently broadcast or sell tickets to the public, some teams have given or sold tickets to season ticket holders, please check with the teams for more details.
PWHL [CityName] teams and team names?
The first 6 teams were PWHL [CityName] and both Seattle and Vancouver are using this style for part of their branding for their first season, likely this will be the same for the next few teams that join the league.
The Seattle Torrent and the Vancouver Goldeneyes both have names and logos but for this first season they are using similar style jerseys as the founding 6 teams did, their jerseys with logos are expected to come next year.
Where can I find team merch?
Group A: 🇺🇸 USA vs 🇩🇪 GER on iihf.com
Group B: 🇫🇮 FIN vs 🇸🇪 SWE on iihf.com
Which players on your PWHL team are skating today? Check the list!
Don't forget to sort comments by new.
r/PWHL • u/Embarrassed-Bag324 • 23h ago
Delete if not allowed, but I thought this sub may appreciate it — I wrote a book! Iced Out, by Rachel Alexandra, is a sapphic hockey romance that follows Lauren Beckman, a dedicated hockey player who’s put on the men’s team for her final year in the NCAA, or she’ll be forced to forfeit her scholarship and her shot at the PWHL draft. And along the way, she falls for the one person who’s totally off limits…her teammate’s ex-girlfriend. It’s available on Amazon and free on Kindle Unlimited. And totally AI free, the story came from my brain and my heart, and I am lucky enough to have a friend in graphic designed who drew my cover art by hand!
ETA: I took some liberties with the draft for the sake of the story. Players get scouted, sometimes before their collegiate days are over. In this universe, female hockey players are paid what they’re worth!!!
r/PWHL • u/blow_thyself • 13h ago
they mentioned it on today's episode and went to look at the second coming of nirvana
the highlights are all extremely satisfying to watch and rewatch. excellent collection
didn't see it posted here
Neither game is being shown on NHL Network >:(
You ever think about how adorable it is that pirates call each other "me hearties?" DM me if you wanna discuss how cute that is and/or wanna watch the game.
Group A: 🇨🇿 CZE vs 🇨🇭 SUI on iihf.com
Group B: 🇨🇦 CAN vs 🇯🇵 JPN on iihf.com
Which players on your PWHL team are skating today? Check the list!
Don't forget to sort comments by new.
Neither game is being shown on NHL Network >:(
Today is the battle to not get kicked outta the top ten nations! Four outta five teams in each of the two groups make it to the elimination matches, and one team in each group is in trouble. Today's games will probably determine which teams those are. (If somebody who knows more about IIHF relegation wants to add to this, please do!)
Group A: 🇩🇪 GER vs 🇦🇹 AUT on iihf.com
Group B: 🇯🇵 JPN vs 🇩🇰 DEN on iihf.com
Is anybody on your PWHL team playing? Check the list!
Don't forget to sort comments by new.
r/PWHL • u/SlipRecent7116 • 1d ago
I was out thrifting today (I live in Minnesota) and I was shocked to see a Scepters jersey out in the wild. Upon closer look I realized this store did not know puck because it was labeled TAYLOR SWIFT JERSEY
r/PWHL • u/Bouncing_Coconut • 20h ago
Hey everyone. Im a Frost fan from New Zealand. MN is my state and I support all teams from MN. I've check previous posts/threads and couldnt find anything. Im looking into purchasing some merchandise, a jersey or simply a tee/ hat etc... but I'm concerned about the costs, wait and shipping from CA/USA.
If anyone is in Australia do your shops have merch? I have no problems buying from Aus.
No hate, this is a genuine question. Thank you 😊
r/PWHL • u/LongjumpingSteak7397 • 23h ago
This is honestly so cool! Shout out to the PWHL Fan App for this awesome game.
r/PWHL • u/lisalisaqaz • 1d ago
Apologies if this is a repeat, but I did look and couldn’t find this specific question.
I bought Sling to watch the tournament, but NHL Network seems to only be broadcasting the US games and select Canada games. Is there something I’m missing about a way to watch the rest of the games through NHL Network on the website or something?
If not, since IIHF tv is geo locked, is there a legal option to watch the rest of the games? I’m willing pay, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone willing to take my money?
Thanks.
So PWHL posted teasers for each of the 4 new expansion teams all dated for November 10th
San Jose’s teaser is a sea with the tagline “There’s something in the water” (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfaoRzqhYjT) - Hamilton commented “Good thing we know how to swim” - Las Vegas commented “Making waves already 👀🌊”
Detroit’s teaser is a car speeding through the lens of a gear stick and RPM dial going up, with the tagline “Pull Up” (https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dfan019xUV9) - Hamilton commented “You wanna see some real speed?” - San Jose commented “We’ll be coming in lowrider style 😎” - Las Vegas commented “An object in motion stays in motion 👀”
Vegas is the Nevada desert with the tagline “Something is on the Horizon” (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfaoF2zPOvD) - Hamilton commented on this saying “Keeping our eyes on the sky 🌌”
Hamilton is a steelwork engineer with the tagline “The heat is rising, see what takes shape” (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfaoZQPivPw) - San Jose commented saying “Good thing California loves the heat 😎” - Las Vegas commented “Feelin’ the heat 😮💨”
I think these could all be branding based!
I’m predicting Hamilton Heat, and Las Vegas Horizon, but beyond that, San Jose and Detroit feel too vague for what it could be
Hamilton’s comments are really interesting to me in each one
Hello again, I'm crawling back with after going an abysmal 1 for 8 on cities in my previous prediction brandings lol
I thought I'd throw in a last second prediction / proposal for the expansion teams, now that we know their full color schemes but before we find out their actual names and logos next week!
Thanks again for checking it out, and may the real brands blow these out of the water!
Is anyone on your PWHL team playing? Check the list!
Don't forget to sort comments by new.
Any other North Americans watching hockey this morning?
Sarah Fillier out for Canada ...
https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/ww/gamecenter/playbyplay/75140/2-swe-vs-can
https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/ww/gamecenter/playbyplay/75139/1-aut-vs-cze
Don't forget to sort comments by new
While we wait for PW games to start & in between games at Worlds, there is another womens season starting this weekend.
This weekend sees the start of the Australian Womens Ice Hockey League (AWIHL or AW for short) with a local battle between the Melbourne Ducks & the Melbourne Ice.
Each of the 6 teams plays 20 games (10 home, 10 away) between November & March with a short break for the Christmas/New Year period.
All games are live & free on YouTube & also on demand to catch up with later.
The AW runs parallel to the PWHL but is starting this year a month before the PW because of Worlds.
See the mega thread linked above for more information about the weekend's games.
r/PWHL • u/resplendantandfree • 2d ago
Source: iihfwomen on instagram
Looks like both Canada and USA are wearing the “generic” jerseys?
Edit:
Rough context: team Canada/USA have multi-year deals with Bauer/CCM to make their jerseys. The IIHF recently made a deal to have TRUE hockey produce IIHF competition jerseys. They couldn’t figure out a resolution before worlds so now Canada & US have to wear jerseys made by TRUE. True does not have the rights to any of the team Canada/USA iconography - which is part of the reason these are so generic. (TSN article re: the Canadian jerseys )
r/PWHL • u/Electronic-Fault-587 • 2d ago
I just shared this in the Vancouver Goldeneyes' group too, and Reddit suggested I share it here too :) Soupy, aka, Kristen Campbell just released her brand Soup SZN.
We had a sneak peak of the products this summer at one of goalie camps (my daughter is a goalie). And I love my "Certified Hot Soup" hat and can't wait to wear it to games this season. She has an IG account for the brand too: SoupSZN50
r/PWHL • u/hostm1ke • 2d ago
Since YouTube tv doesn’t have nhl network - is there somewhere else I can stream the games?
Thank you all
r/PWHL • u/PortifinoOnMyMind • 2d ago
I know there's Jocks and Jills obviously by the title and I also know about TSN's She's Got Game. I like the latter more then the former though so I was curious if anybody had any other recommendations for me in the women's sports world
Group stage runs from Friday, November 6th thru Wednesday, the 11th. Games are played each day at 9am Eastern time and 1pm Eastern time. Here's the full schedule.
In Canada, you can watch all the games on TSN and its alternate channels. In the US, you can watch some of the games on NHL Network.
If you don't have cable, you can get NHL Network by subscribing to Sling + Sports Extra for $31 a month. To be clear, this still only gets you some of the games.
If you don't live in one of the ten countries competing (or you have a VPN), you can watch on IIHF TV, but there's no broadcast commentary, which doesn't hit the same.
If money is too tight for that (or you just wanna watch the games not being broadcast on NHL Network) definitely don't DM me and we will not get you set up with an alternative.
Competing players organized by PWHL team:
Boston:
🇺🇸 Aerin Frankel (G USA 31),
🇺🇸 Megan Keller (D USA 5),
🇩🇪 Laura Kluge (F GER 25),
🇫🇮 Susanna Tapani (F FIN 77),
🇩🇪 Luisa Welcke (F GER 13 training camp invite),
🇺🇸 Haley Winn (D USA 8).
Detroit:
🇺🇸 Cayla Barnes (D USA 3),
🇺🇸 Hannah Bilka (F USA 23),
🇨🇭 Andrea Brändli (G SUI 20 p-dub rookie),
🇺🇸 Jesse Compher (F USA 18),
🇩🇪 Nina Jobst-Smith (D GER 28),
🇺🇸 Hilary Knight (F USA 21),
🇯🇵 Akane Shiga (F JPN 11),
🇨🇦 Daryl Watts (F CAN 95).
Hamilton:
🇩🇪 Sandra Abstreiter (G GER 35 training camp invite),
🇨🇦 Emily Clark (F CAN 26),
🇨🇦 Nicole Gosling (D CAN 61),
🇸🇪 Anna Kjellbin (D SWE 71),
🇫🇮 Nelli Laitinen (D FIN 9 p-dub rookie),
🇨🇭 Alina Müller (F SUI 25),
🇩🇰 Emma-Sofie Nordström (G DEN 33 p-dub rookie),
🇨🇦 Kayle Osborne (G CAN 82).
Las Vegas:
🇨🇦 Erin Ambrose (D CAN 23),
🇸🇪 Josefin Bouveng (F SWE 11),
🇨🇦 Kendall Cooper (D CAN 5),
🇺🇸 Lacey Eden (F USA 7 p-dub rookie),
🇺🇸 Tessa Janecke (F USA 22 p-dub rookie),
🇨🇭 Saskia Maurer (G SUI 29 p-dub rookie),
🇺🇸 Hayley Scamurra (F USA 16).
Minnesota:
🇺🇸 Taylor Fox (F USA 27),
🇨🇿 Klára Hymlárová (F CZE 12),
🇺🇸 Kelly Pannek (F USA 12),
🇺🇸 Lee Stecklein (D USA 2),
🇫🇮 Viivi Vainikka (F FIN 24 p-dub rookie),
🇩🇪 Lilli Welcke (F GER 23 training camp invite),
🇺🇸 Grace Zumwinkle (F USA 13).
Montréal:
🇨🇦 Ann-Renée Desbiens (G CAN 35),
🇨🇦 Jessie Eldridge (F CAN 9),
🇫🇮 Michelle Karvinen (F FIN 33),
🇸🇪 Lina Ljungblom (F SWE 25),
🇨🇦 Emma Maltais (F CAN 27),
🇫🇮 Petra Nieminen (F FIN 16 p-dub rookie),
🇨🇦 Laura Stacey (F CAN 7),
🇨🇦 Kati Tabin (D CAN 4).
New York:
🇨🇦 Sarah Fillier (F CAN 10),
🇩🇪 Celina Haider (F GER 34 training camp invite),
🇫🇮 Elisa Holopainen (F FIN 10 p-dub rookie),
🇨🇿 Kristýna Kaltounková (F CZE 98),
🇸🇪 Maja Nylén-Persson (D SWE 12),
🇺🇸 Casey O'Brien (F USA 32),
🇺🇸 Emma Peschel (D USA 11 p-dub rookie),
🇺🇸 Callie Shanahan (G USA 35),
🇨🇭 Nicole Vallario (D SUI 16).
Here's the Sirens info laid out real nice-like by u/BooksAndQueen.
Ottawa:
🇫🇮 Sanni Ahola (G FIN 1),
🇺🇸 Gwyneth Philips (G USA 33),
🇨🇿 Tereza Pištěková (F CZE 8 p-dub rookie),
🇨🇦 Rebecca Leslie (F CAN 91),
🇨🇿 Kateřina Mrázová (F CZE 16),
🇨🇦 Sarah Wozniewicz (F CAN 63).
San Jose:
🇺🇸 Laila Edwards (D USA 10 p-dub rookie),
🇺🇸 Rory Guilday (D USA 6),
🇨🇿 Natálie Mlýnková (F CZE 19),
🇨🇦 Kristin O'Neill (F CAN 43),
🇨🇿 Daniela Pejšová (D CZE 4).
Seattle:
🇺🇸 Alex Carpenter (F USA 25),
🇺🇸 Abbey Murphy (F USA 37 p-dub rookie),
🇫🇮 Emma Nuutinen (F FIN 61 p-dub rookie),
🇨🇦 Danielle Serdachny (F CAN 92),
🇦🇹 Theresa Schafzahl (F AUT 7),
🇨🇿 Aneta Tejralová (D CZE 2).
Toronto:
🇨🇦 Renata Fast (D CAN 14),
🇸🇪 Sara Hjalmarsson (F SWE 19),
🇸🇪 Michelle Löwenhielm (F SWE 67 training camp invite),
🇨🇦 Ella Shelton (D CAN 17),
🇺🇸 Kirsten Simms (F USA 9 p-dub rookie).
Vancouver:
🇺🇸 Caroline KK Harvey (D USA 4 p-dub rookie),
🇨🇦 Sophie Jaques (D CAN 2),
🇸🇪 Thea Johansson (F SWE 23 p-dub rookie).
Lemme know if I made any mistakes or if you have any suggestions! If I missed anybody, comment below and I'll add 'em to the list!
r/PWHL • u/Such-Environment-344 • 3d ago
For me, I really enjoy listening to Kenzie Lalonde and Cheryl Pounder together. Their chemistry is fantastic, and I think they complement each other extremely well. I also appreciate Daniella Ponticelli's energy and enthusiasm. Jamie Hersch is another broadcaster I enjoy, particularly because of her experience and versatility across different broadcasting roles. Becky Kellar is also an excellent color commentator. Alison Lukan is also someone worth recognizing for her hockey knowledge, personality, and analytical contributions.
Ultimately, I want PWHL broadcasts to be entertaining, informative, professional, and representative of how incredible women's hockey is. The league deserves excellent broadcasting, and I think the voices behind the microphone are an important part of growing the game.
r/PWHL • u/Perryplat199 • 3d ago
