The PWHL is going to have an impact on the Rivalry Series, Olympics, and international competition as a whole. But it's those outside competitions that will need to bend for the PWHL, not the other way around.
In a conversation with media, PWHL senior vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford was asked multiple questions about the future of the Rivalry Series, and how the league will approach international play moving forward.
The question was initially posed related to the long term injury suffered by PWHL star and first overall pick in the exhibition Rivalry Series in February. The Rivalry Series remained part of the planned breaks this season for the PWHL, and Hockey Canada recently announced they will host Rivalry Series games in Calgary in the 2027 season, showing they intend to continue running the event, but it may have to evolve around the PWHL.
"The conversations are ongoing with both USA Hockey and Hockey Canada," said Hefford. "We'll continue to work alongside those federations along with our players and what they want to do to continue to grow our game."
That doesn't mean the Rivalry Series will stay the same, nor does it guarantee how the PWHL will approach the Series moving forward. Hefford believes the Series is still a special event between Team Canada an Team USA, but acknowledges that the PWHL has also taken up space in the conversation of best-on-best women's hockey in North America.
That Rivalry is still really special," said Hefford. "I think it's something people still want to see...I also think we've taken up a space that the fans want to see as well. At the end of the day, we're all committed to growing the game."
One thing that will continue is breaks for the World Championship Hefford confirmed. But there will also be changes, including a centralization for Olympic years, including the upcoming 2026 Games in Italy that will not span months. As Hefford says, she expects federations around the globe to begin working around the PWHL.
"For the Olympic year, there won't be a traditional centralization like we've seen in the past," she said. "My expectation is that federations around the world will work around the PHWL's season with the exception of the international breaks that we do not schedule games during, centralization will certainly look different than it's looked in the past."
As more international players continue to join the PWHL, which is expected to accelerate next season, the impact on international play and the growth of the global game will continue. How the PWHL navigates the Rivalry Series and Olympic years will soon be seen, but much like the NHL, it will be other organizations moving to accommodate the PWHL, not the other way around.