The promotional period for PWHPA players under contract is set to end August 31, which will open the door for player movement to begin with the new league.
The promotional period for PWHPA players under contract is set to end August 31, which will open the door for player movement to begin with the new league.
In January, members of the PWHPA signed contracts with PWHL Holdings LLC, the corporation formed by new ownership who will launch a new professional women's hockey league in January.
The contract paid PWHPA players $24,000 for "promotional activities and certain related tasks" from the date of signing, until August 31, 2023. All PWHPA players signed these contracts last season.
When August 31 hits, PWHPA players will become free agents preparing them to sign new contracts with teams in the professional women's hockey league, or if they are not successful in securing a roster spot, heading to Europe.
The contracts paid players who participated in the final season of the PWHPA's Dream Gap Tour this year, which was won by Team Harvey's.
The conclusion of the promotional period contracts will open the door for the new league to begin signing, drafting, and placing players, as the remainder of the player pool are either unsigned college free agents, or former PHF players who had their contracts voided in mid-July following the acquisition of the league by the Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises.
When the PHF was acquired, new ownership committed to a 60 day window to begin announcing details including player dispersement and market locations. In interviews with prospective staff, the Hockey Operations department of the new league has been informing candidates that Montreal, Toronto, Boston, and Montreal were markets nearing confirmation. The interviewers also informed candidates other markets in the final stages of negotiation included Washington, New York City, and London, Ontario.
When the August 31 contract date passes, player movement will become possible with training camps slated to start in November, and the league officially launching in January of 2024.