PWHL: Professional Women’s Hockey Leauge

Description of the league

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is a North American women’s professional ice hockey league, launched on January 1, 2024. It consists of six teams based in Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto, showcasing top-tier women’s hockey talent.

In 2024, the PWHL was recognized as the Sports Breakthrough of the Year by Sports Business Journal and topped the first-ever Canadian edition of the Harris Poll. Teams compete in a regular season to earn spots in the postseason tournament for the Walter Cup.

The Original 6 team

  1. Boston Fleet Learn more about the team
  2. Minnesota Frost Learn more about the team
  3. Montreal Victoire Learn more about the team
  4. New York Sirens Learn more about the team
  5. Ottawa Charge Learn more about the team
  6. Toronto Sceptres Learn more about the team
Graphic representing the six founding teams of the PWHL.

Rules

PWHL rules closely follow National Hockey League and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) standards, with some notable innovations.

The special rules of PWHL

Jailbreak Goal
Rule

A player serving a minor penalty can “break out” of the penalty box if their team scores a short-handed goal.

No Escape Rule
Rule 15.5

Players on a team assessed a penalty that leads to penalty time are not permitted to change and must remain on the ice until after the following face-off.

Player Safety
Rules 47, 48, 51

Starting in 2024/25, the PWHL assesses a major penalty and game misconduct as default for all illegal checks to the head.

the founding six team's jerseys hanging.

The Point System

Result Points
Regulation Win 3
Overtime or Shootout Win 2
Overtime or Shootout Loss 1
Regulation Loss 0

Top 4 move on to battle for The Walter Cup in the Playoffs in May.

PWHL team jerseys lined up on display.