Last week, speculation ran wild when the PWHL revealed it would be making “a major announcement” later in the week. The league noted the announcement would “mark a significant milestone for professional women’s hockey.”
When it comes to professional women’s hockey, a “significant milestone” could be any number of things. Higher salaries, an updated collective bargaining agreement, new ownership or a major TV deal come to mind. Instead, the league announced its first All-Star Game.
First off, let’s get one thing straight: this is a good thing! A great thing, even. Now that the PWHL has a few seasons under its belt, it makes sense to try out an All-Star Game. It offers fans another chance to see some of the league’s top players in a fun, engaging event. It’s also another way for players to earn money.
But does this really mark a significant milestone for professional women’s hockey?
Though the PWHL touted it as such, it’s unclear to me — a 10+ year veteran of covering professional women’s hockey — exactly what milestone for the sport the news marked.
The History
Predecessor leagues held All-Star events on numerous occasions. That includes the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL), the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL), and the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF).
The CWHL held its first All-Star event in 2008, when the league’s top players suited up against NHL alumni. It then held its first intraleague All-Star Game in 2014. That game featured several players now in the PWHL: Hilary Knight, Jocelyne Larocque, Natalie Spooner, and Jamie Lee Rattray. The CWHL went on to hold All-Star Games in 2016, 2017, and 2019, before the league folded.
The NWHL/PHF held its first All-Star Game in its inaugural season in 2016, then continued to hold annual All-Star events through 2019. After skipping some time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league again held All-Star Games in 2022 and 2023.
So, it’s not the first professional women’s hockey league to have an All-Star Game. It’s also not the first one at an NHL arena, or even Scotiabank Arena. The CWHL hosted multiple there — including as early as 2014.
The Format
The format of the 2027 PWHL All-Star Game is unique, but also … not really a first. Formats like “Team Canada” vs. “Team USA” and even a generic “Team International” have been used before. Yes, there are components of the PWHL’s format — like an all-rookie team — that are unique, but I don’t think you can say that marks a significant milestone for the sport.
Personally, I’m not super excited by the roster format. We have seen so many iterations of Team Canada vs. Team USA over the years. Save it for the Olympics, Women’s World Championships, and the Rivalry Series. Is it still entertaining? Yes, but the PWHL has space to do so much more — and have some fun with it!
Additionally, the PWHL’s collective bargaining agreement has always allowed space for an All-Star Game, though the announced roster size doesn’t align with what’s outlined in the CBA. It’s unclear if there will be any changes to the financial/bonus payouts structured for All-Star participants in the CBA, or if the only adjustment would be to the number of players:
Final Thoughts
Is there something else that we don’t know about the PWHL All-Star Game that would truly make it a significant milestone for professional women’s hockey? Otherwise, the framing of this announcement was off. It’s important to put it into context around the history of professional women’s hockey. The All-Star Game may be a significant milestone for the PWHL, but that doesn’t inherently make it one for the sport at large.
The PWHL has accomplished some truly great things in its infancy: a collective bargaining agreement, higher salaries, more structured benefits than prior leagues. Recognizing the history of leagues like the CWHL and NWHL doesn’t take anything away from the PWHL. In fact, without the groundwork those leagues laid, the PWHPA would never have been formed and the PWHL would not exist.
Let’s find a way to celebrate the accomplishments of the PWHL without downplaying or otherwise completely disregarding the accomplishments of leagues past.
