For some women in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), playing hockey professionally has brought about a shift in their perception of the game. The third season of the PWHL kicks off with the Vancouver Goldeneyes facing the Seattle Torrent, and the Minnesota Frost, last year’s Walter Cup champions, hosting the Toronto Sceptres.
Since its inception on January 1, 2024, the league has undergone significant changes, impacting the players’ aspirations for increased game time, better pay, and the competitive environment akin to their male counterparts. This transformation has prompted players like forward Sarah Nurse, who recently joined the Goldeneyes after playing two seasons with the Sceptres, to reassess their relationship with the sport.
Formerly feeling like hockey was more of a pastime, Nurse now acknowledges the professional demands that come with the league, including increased travel, competitive games, and heightened media and fan pressures.
Top players from Canada are no longer solely focused on winning world championships and Olympic Games; the pressure to perform well in the PWHL has become equally significant. The league’s intensity has forced players to reexamine their preparation, discipline, and overall readiness for each game.
The PWHL’s allowance of body-checking for puck possession has introduced a new level of physicality to the game, enabling players like Renata Fast to showcase their prowess in this aspect. Fast, recognized as the league’s top defender, credits the PWHL for honing her skills and expanding her role on the ice.
Ann-Renée Desbiens, goaltender for the Victoire team, has noticed a positive shift in her emotional stability and performance since joining the PWHL, emphasizing the league’s role in fostering consistency and self-improvement.
The league’s expansion with the addition of the Goldeneyes and Torrent has introduced 46 new players and six reserves to the PWHL, promising an exciting season ahead with each team competing in 30 regular-season games followed by playoffs. The PWHL will pause during the Olympic Games from January 29 to February 5.