PWHL Rumblings: Commissioner, Players to China, and More

Will there be a PWHL commissioner? Who is headed to play in China? Lacasse takes on a job with the PWHL...and more.

PWHL training camps are creeping closer, but there's much to be done on the league side before then. Globally, the hockey machine continues to march on as well with developments beginning to occur overseas that could open new opportunities for players, who otherwise may have found themselves in the PWHL.

Here's a look at what we're hearing this week related to the PWHL and the world of women's hockey.

If you've noticed Jayna Hefford completing the roles typically conducted by a commissioner, it's because the PWHL has no imminent plans to hire a commissioner. The league confirmed this week that there is no intent to hire a commissioner before the January start for the league.

Speaking of commissioners...where is Reagan Carey?

When the PHF was acquired by the Mark Walter Group, it was communicated that most PHF staff would take on similar roles in the new league. Many believed that meant PHF commissioner Reagan Carey would take on the same role or serve as a deputy commissioner with the new league. That however, didn't happen. There are plenty of theories for why Carey was assigned a role as an advisor to the board, instead of in a role guiding the development of the league, particularly following the rapid progress and significant impact Carey had on lifting the PHF to new levels prior to the sale. 

The leading believe among many players and staff is that key members of USA's national team did not want Carey involved due to her role in negotiating on behalf of USA Hockey during a 2017 wage dispute. 

Regardless of the reason for Carey's absence, for the time being, the PWHL advisory board, Hefford, and other senior staff members including Annie Camins, and Chris Burkett will continue guiding the league.

When Minttu Tuominen and Tatum Skaggs didn't appear on the PWHL training camp invitations, it raised eyebrows. Skaggs chose to step away this season due to personal reasons, but could return to Boston next season as her playing rights are still owned by the team.

Tuominen on the other hand, was already playing overseas with Finland's Kiekko-Espoo, and she'll be staying overseas...but heading to China. Tuominen will return to her former team KRS Shenzhen. 

She may not be the only player headed to China as the nation looks to bolster their domestic league now that KRS Shenzhen is not competing in Russia's ZHL.

There were multiple members of KRS entered into the PWHL Draft who went unselected including Kaitlyn Tougas and Kiana Wilkinson. Another name that has floated around as potentially heading to China is former Metropolitan Riveters forward Kennedy Ganser. Time will tell as those signings begin to be announced.

Minttu Tuominen won't be the only player headed to China this season. China is running a six team domestic league this season, and it's expected some players who are on camp invites, or who did not receive camp invites may be targets of the loop.

Alongside Tuominen, fellow former Metropolitan Riveters blueliner and Finn Anna Kilponen will also make the jump to China. She is current playing for the ZSC Lions in Switzerland, but as of now, it sounds as though her time in the SWHL will soon come to an end.

Staying on the topic of ex-Riveters heading to China, there's some belief Kennedy Ganser could be another name headed to the league. Originally, there was talk Ganser would try out for PWHL New York given her connection to head coach Howie Draper from the University of Alberta, but the reported wages in China's league are far superior to what most will make in the PWHL. 

Another name who didn't throw her hat into the PWHL Draft, and is expected to stay in China this season is Ryleigh Houston, and given the absence of Kaitlyn Tougas' name from PWHL invite lists, it would seem logical to see her return to China this season as well. Who knows what other former members of the KRS Vanke Rays and Kunlun Red Star could end up in the league as well?

Many thought Genevieve Lacasse, 34, would be goaltender in the PWHL this season. Looking at the list of netminders who ended up in the league, and the absence of another goalie in Toronto, Lacasse could have certainly played. Instead, as was first reported by Christine Roger at Radio-Canada, the former Team Canada netminder has been hired by the PWHL.

In Lacasse's own words describing her new role with the PWHL, "I am responsible for sales and corporate sponsorships. My role is to promote the league, meet a lot of people and convince companies to invest."

Lacasse is married to PWHL Ottawa netminder Emerance Maschmeyer. The duo have been long time members of the PWHPA and Canada's national women's team. For Lacasse however, it was time to step away from playing hockey, to embark on a new career.

"People don't realize how much we put everything aside for hockey," she told Radio-Canada. "I've had great experiences, but on the job market, I have a 10-year gap to make up for."