Historic Expansion: Meet the New Teams in the PWHL

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) made waves on Thursday by announcing the names of its exciting new expansion teams based in Seattle and Vancouver. The Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Goldeneyes are set to make their debut in the league during the upcoming 2025-26 season, with the opening match scheduled for November 21.

Teams & Locations

First revealed as expansion franchises in April, the addition of the Torrent and Goldeneyes marks a significant milestone as the first expansion teams in PWHL history. The Seattle Torrent will call Climate Pledge Arena home, sharing the venue with the NHL’s Seattle Kraken. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Goldeneyes will play at the Pacific Coliseum, a venue that has seen its share of hockey history with past tenants like the WHA’s Vancouver Blazers and WHL’s Vancouver Giants.

Leadership and Star Power

Former Oshawa Generals head coach Steve O'Rourke takes the helm for the Torrent. They will feature the talents of veteran forward Hilary Knight and fellow star Alex Carpenter on the ice. Knight, at 36, is a powerhouse in women's hockey, having led the PWHL in points last season while with the Boston Fleet. Her resume boasts ten gold medals from world championships as well as one gold and three silver medals from the Olympics. Alex Carpenter, 31, is no stranger to success either, with seven world championship gold medals and two Olympic silver medals to her name.

On the other side, the Goldeneyes are led by Brian Idalski, a former head coach at North Dakota and St. Cloud State. They are powered by standout Canadian players such as forward Sarah Nurse and goalie Emerance Maschmeyer. Nurse, known as the cousin of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, has earned three gold medals at the world championships and one at the Olympics. Maschmeyer, meanwhile, combines her skills with an impressive four gold medals from both world championships and Olympic competitions.

First Matchup

It’s fitting that the Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Goldeneyes will go head-to-head in their inaugural PWHL game, setting the stage for an intense rivalry right from the start. The match, taking place in Vancouver on November 21, promises to be a thrilling opener for both teams and their fans.