Experts say expansion of PWHL in Hamilton signals growing demand across region

As the Ottawa Charge ice hockey team hosts the Montréal Victoire in game three of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) finals Monday, the league’s impact in Hamilton is being felt across the region.

Experts say the growth of women’s hockey has surpassed pre-COVID-19 registration numbers, with more teams being added to meet demand.

According to Taylor McKee, the assistant professor of Sports Management at Brock University, the economic and professional infrastructure of the PWHL is showing promise.

He says the reason the two main professional women’s hockey leagues, which came before it failed, was not because the players weren’t good enough or there wasn’t enough interest.

Both leagues needed to think outside the box, McKee says, and that’s what the PWHL is doing.

“The economic impact, or the potential economic impact in Hamilton, is large — this is an underserved market,” said McKee.

WATCH MORE: PWHL officially announces Hamilton expansion Thursday morning

Before the PWHL, there were two main professional leagues for women to play: the National Women’s Hockey League and the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.

McKee said there was too much dependence on the need for NHL support, financial or otherwise, which led to the failure of each league.

He says this fractured the support for a professional women’s league, because there was no balance found between doing what’s always been done, and trying something new — as seen in the PWHL, which has an emphasis on family and a close association with local minor hockey.

“You’re going to see the PWHL as a place to test new ideas,” said McKee. “They’ve shown a willingness to break the very tried and true hockey mold. That’s a good thing.”

Eugene Farago, the President of the Stoney Creek Sabres Girls Hockey Association, agrees.

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He says since the creation of the PWHL, the growth of women’s hockey has been on an incline, as seen in registration and the addition of new teams across the league, including senior women’s teams.

“We’re expecting that we’re probably going to try and add two more teams to the league this season,” said Farago.

Not only is a Professional Women’s Hockey League in Hamilton impacting registration and recruitment to our area, Farago says it creates access to a sport where longevity and goals are changing.

“I think now you’ll see Niagara, St. Catharines, Hagersville, Haldimand — those kids can now come to Hamilton for an easy night out,” said Farago.

With the growing excitement of the PWHL in Hamilton, Farago further notes that his league here is expected to expand this fall.

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