Next season is crucial for many players. Not only as another full season in the PWHL, but also as an Olympic year. With the Olympics approaching, national teams will be ramping up their preparation, and some international players might be thinking twice about coming to North America to play in the PWHL, or remaining in the PWHL, unless expansion occurs.
Currently, many Europeans who have made the trip to North America are seeing limited ice time in the PWHL. The transition from Europe to the PWHL has proven more difficult for some players than others. Looking at the PWHL’s group of players seeing less than 10 minutes of ice per game, or finding themselves buried on rosters not getting special teams, a group of European players emerges, and without expansion, the likelihood of more European players coming or staying will decrease.
Among those players seeing limited ice time are Czechia’s Noemi Neubauerova, Klara Hymlarova, Daniela Pejsova and Klara Peslarova, France’s Chloe Aurard, Austria’s Anna Meixner and Theresa Schafzahl, Sweden’s Anna Kjellbin and Emma Soderberg, Germany’s Sandra Abstreiter, and Finland’s Noora Tulus.
Many of those players, like Hymlarova, Pejsova, and Tulus are signed through next season which will guarantee they stay. And another season in the league will certainly help with their transition, but others may consider at returning to Europe to play top line minutes.
Some of the Europeans anticipated to join the PWHL this coming season including Kristyna Kaltounkova, Natalie Mlynkova, and Viivi Vainikka, will certainly earn time. As would veterans like Michelle Karvinen and Michaela Pejsova if they declare. Others like Sara Hjalmarsson, Jenniina Nylund, Nina Jobst-Smith, Emma Forsgren, Millie Sirum, and Elin Svensson should be able to crack the league, but in bottom six roles. The goaltending situation is even more difficult with Switzerland’s Andrea Brandli and Finland’s Sanni Ahola ready to enter the league. Having a season playing limited minutes leading into the Olympics however, will not help their nations.
The PWHL’s expansion announcement cannot come soon enough for European players who will soon see their seasons ending and begin planning for the future. It will also give players in Europe a better idea of the opportunities to play and develop in the PWHL next season, or wait until more roster spots become available the year after.