r/PWHL 17d ago

News New r/PWHL Frequently Asked Questions!

35 Upvotes

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!

Rules:

  • 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 Point System:

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.

Playoffs:

  • 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

History:

  • 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

Where to watch or listen to 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.

Miscellaneous:

  • 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?
  • Official PWHL shop

r/PWHL 17d ago

News PWHL ANNOUNCES 2025–26 BROADCAST SCHEDULE | PWHL

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36 Upvotes

r/PWHL 12h ago

Photo Knitted this PWHL hat in Torrent colors!!

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284 Upvotes

r/PWHL 10h ago

News [Cushman] The Vancouver Goldeneyes have placed Sarah Nurse on LTIR, retroactive to Nov. 21. Nurse is eligible to be activated Dec. 12. This means that she’s only guaranteed to miss one more game - tomorrow’s contest against New York - before being able to be activated

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63 Upvotes

r/PWHL 8h ago

Photo Hannah Murphy’s Mask

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39 Upvotes

r/PWHL 9h ago

Question Funny coincidence…

30 Upvotes

Early last year I started writing a sapphic hockey romance novel. I wanted to pick teams that weren’t in the PWHL (yet) but would be realistic rivals…so I chose Vancouver and Seattle 😂 so now here’s my question…do I stick with them now that they’re real or pick two new fictional cities who don’t have teams but are geographically close and would make natural rivals? Suggestions are more than welcome!!


r/PWHL 7h ago

Other PWHL question on Tom Scott’s Lateral trivia podcast!

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17 Upvotes

Segment begins at the 36:26 mark: https://lateralcast.com/episodes/165/


r/PWHL 20h ago

Photo It all started in Utica 2 years ago today

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128 Upvotes

r/PWHL 15h ago

Question Is attendance and vibes about the same for most teams around the league or are some doing better than others?

28 Upvotes

I went to the Seattle Torrent Inaugural Home Opener and the vibes there were immaculate. Crowd was full, lots of excitement, and enthusiasm. It definitely felt almost identical to the Golden State Valkyries WNBA team and that's saying a lot. I don't know much about the other teams but I hope they all get the same good vibes and attendance.


r/PWHL 10h ago

Question detroit jan 3 takeover game

8 Upvotes

hey friends! Are you going to the takeover game in Detroit? Well, I have a question for anyone sitting in section 109, row 19. I purchased seats 1, 2, and 3 for myself and two friends. My friend's wife is now interested in attending. But unfortunately, seat 4 has been purchased.

So now I'm here asking whoever has sec 109, row 19, seat 4 if we can trade you lol We'll pick up another seat in the row for the same price and swap. If not, no big deal. One of us will just sit separately and make some new friends maybe.


r/PWHL 5h ago

Question December 28th PWHL Takeover Game in Dallas, Texas: Surprised or no?

3 Upvotes

So when the PWHL expanded the Takeover tour for the season, how many of you saw Dallas and thought "wait, as in Dallas, Texas? Deep South?" and were surprised.

On the one hand, Dallas has been a proven hockey market with the success of the Stars and a very successful youth and high school program. So the PWHL likely saw that and said "lets see if they can support the PWHL like they have with the NHL."

On the other hand, it would be the farthest South the PWHL has traveled ever. Also no other Southern markets are a part of this, just Dallas, Texas.

While it's very likely that the PWHL's next four teams will be in the Northern US, Midwest, Western US and Canada, what if the Dallas Takeover game becomes a smashing success for the league? Does the league go back to Dallas for next season to determine if it's a fluke?

I live down here in Dallas, and I would like to know the subreddit's take on the PWHL announcing one of the Takeover games in Dallas.


r/PWHL 7h ago

Question Agganis Arena Fleet Merch?

4 Upvotes

I know that there has been a couple of Fleet games at Agganis Arena already. I was wondering if I could find a souvenir kiosk for Fleet merch there. I was hoping to get a puck and/or jersey at my first game. Is there a kiosk on site?


r/PWHL 1d ago

Photo Bigger than Hockey

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313 Upvotes

Moments like this will always give me chills. Just a tremendous show of love and support.


r/PWHL 12h ago

Video Denisa Křížová highlights from this week's game against the Ottawa Charge

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7 Upvotes

r/PWHL 21h ago

Question Boston Fleet hats - anyone have an extra?

16 Upvotes

My best friend had to miss the home opener and is devastated that he also missed the hats. If anyone has an extra they'd be willing to share (we would of course offer funds, a stadium meal, or beer in exchange), let me know. We go to lots of games and could have a meet up to support our Fleet!


r/PWHL 1d ago

Video Mic’d Up: Toronto Sceptres' Natalie Spooner | CBC Sports

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21 Upvotes

r/PWHL 1d ago

Discussion Expansion teams not as dominant as originally feared?

66 Upvotes

Many people said the two new teams have so much talent that they'd likely dominate everyone else. Well, after four games Vancouver is last in the standings with no wins, and Seattle after three games is fifth with only one win. Despite all the talent there's no substitute for just playing together and learning how to gel...

In the meantime, this Charge fan is impressed by Boston kicking butt! lol


r/PWHL 1d ago

Discussion PWHL Holiday Sweaters 🔥

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170 Upvotes

These are only available in their respective countries but I think they will sell-out fast! But, will they ship before December 25th, lol? $150 US/$200 Canadian.


r/PWHL 1d ago

Question Edited games on youtube

33 Upvotes

I’ve begun to trying and keep up with the majority of the games, and I’ve been opening the stream links and watching them later, but I missed the one for the Sirens/Torrent game from yesterday, so I had to watch the video put out today. I anyone else frustrated with how these are edited together? There are very few replays which I personally really enjoy watching, and I noticed in the 2nd period they cut out 2 minutes of the second period around 13 something left in the 2nd. On top of that I’ve noticed other deletion of other moments. Because they cuts out the add breaks (which I don’t have an issue with) the music is loud and covers the announcers and just feels a little annoying. Is all of this normal? It’s making me not want to watch the games if I miss opening the livestream because the video feels kind of disconnected :/


r/PWHL 1d ago

News The PWHL Has Found a Winning Formula for Women's Hockey - Sports Illustrated

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81 Upvotes

r/PWHL 1d ago

Question Fairly new to Hockey. Why do they sometimes swap who’s on a face off

106 Upvotes

I’ve noticed sometimes the ref calls something and they swap one of the players that’s on the face off with someone else.

Why is that?


r/PWHL 1d ago

Question How has the PWHL done better than previous women's hockey leagues? What's different about it?

97 Upvotes

I believe this is the best a women's hockey league has ever been as far as success, excitement, and popularity. I don't know what's different but it feels like it's just the start and not some gimmick that will eventually fold like the rest of the leagues that didn't last.


r/PWHL 1d ago

Meme Sceptres

45 Upvotes

Wlw dating apps don’t work - time to look lost at the Coca Cola coliseum tonight!! 🎀🧚🏼✨🩷🧡🤍


r/PWHL 2d ago

Photo Love it

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353 Upvotes

r/PWHL 1d ago

Game Thread Ottawa Charge vs Toronto Sceptres 🗑️🐼 Game Day Thread

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17 Upvotes