When the PWHPA's Dream Gap Tour ends, the same system could be used to help an existing professional league(s) grow a development system.
With the PWHPA promising a league for this year, it looks like the era of the Dream Gap Tour is coming to a close....but perhaps it shouldn't.
When the dust settles on this offseason, there will be hundreds of women without hockey jobs in the new professional women's hockey league. Some of those women will head to Europe, but a larger number will leave hockey forever, or make the premature shift to coaching or other careers.
For the new combined professional women's hockey league, a development league could be years away. It remains an issue on the forefront of discussions for both groups, and among media. Eventually, there needs to be a North American option for players who have finished their NCAA and USports eligibility, or want to return from Europe, but can't find a roster spot in the new league.
With the Dream Gap Tour disappearing, perhaps a continuation of the system is the simplest path for a stop 'gap' development program.
A tour, supported by the existing professional women's group, could host development weekends for prospective players. These players in a gap year, either after graduating NCAA or USports, losing their contract due to incoming talent, or returning from Europe, can continue to get into games, and team practices from time to time, on top of independent training.
It would not replace a league, much like the PWHPA's Dream Gap Tour did not replace a league, but it would provide opportunities, and it would allow for scouting.
Teams dealing with injuries, or looking for future roster additions could attend these weekends to scout the games, run practices for players, and continue the pathway.
Returning to regional hubs could be one way to minimize travel. Minnesota, Ontario, Western Canada, the Midwest, and East Coast could all host events.
There are many options to make this work. Teams in the new professional women's hockey league could "affiliate" a handful of players, sponsoring them to attend, or they could allow any signed players with less than a certain percentage of games to attend to help in their development. Perhaps, NCAA and USports teams or players could attend for the opportunity to be scouted.
The options are endless, but a development tour could be one simple way to bridge the gap until a new league is started for prospects.