The PWHL is set to hold neutral-site matches in six different Canadian cities this season, with plans underway to introduce new teams as early as next season. Continuing from last season, the eight-team league will feature games in Quebec City (Vancouver vs. Montreal on Jan. 11) and Edmonton (Minnesota vs. Vancouver on Dec. 27 and Boston vs. Vancouver on April 6).
Moreover, the league’s Takeover Tour will include visits to four new Canadian cities this season: Halifax (Toronto vs. Montreal on Dec. 17 and Ottawa vs. Boston on Jan. 11), Hamilton (Seattle vs. Toronto on Jan. 3), Winnipeg (Montreal vs. Ottawa on March 22), and Calgary (Toronto vs. Ottawa on April 1).
During the previous season’s nine-stop Takeover Tour, over 123,000 fans attended games, including those in Vancouver and Seattle, selected by the league as its two expansion franchises for the upcoming season. This time, the league will hold 16 neutral-site games across 11 locations in North America.
Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s executive vice president of business operations, revealed plans to expand the league by two to four teams next season. The league’s objective is to increase its presence, with Vancouver and Seattle serving as the initial expansion markets.
Last season, games in Quebec City and Edmonton were sold out. Quebec City officials have expressed interest in hosting a PWHL team at the Videotron Centre, emphasizing the city’s infrastructure as a crucial factor in team placement. The game in Quebec City last season attracted over 18,000 fans, mostly supporting the Montreal Victoire, a potential natural rival for a PWHL Quebec City team.
Edmonton, previously home to a women’s hockey team in the Western Women’s Hockey League until 2011, is strategically located between the new west coast teams like the Minnesota Frost and the league’s east coast base. A game at Edmonton’s Rogers Place last season drew over 17,500 fans.
Halifax, one of the two Canadian cities hosting two games this season, has never housed a professional women’s hockey team. However, a match between the Canadian and American national teams at the Scotiabank Centre last winter drew a large crowd. Halifax and Edmonton will both host games at the Scotiabank Centre, suggesting it may be an ideal venue for a PWHL team.
The PWHL’s Takeover Tour will also include stops in Denver, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. Games in Denver and Detroit have set U.S. attendance records in recent years, positioning them as potential host cities for PWHL teams in the future. Scheer expressed excitement about the growing support and fan enthusiasm driving the league’s expansion plans for the upcoming season.
For the full PWHL Takeover Tour schedule, visit the league’s official website.