Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will be the Official Host of the PWHL Draft and Awards
The PWHL will begin announcing the finalists for six of its regular-season awards on Tuesday, May 13. Announcements will continue throughout the PWHL Playoffs, culminating with the finalists for the Billie Jean King MVP Award on Thursday, May 22. In addition to the Billie Jean King MVP Award, finalists for Forward of the Year, Defender of the Year, Goaltender of the Year presented by Rogers, Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year will all be disclosed.
NEW YORK AND TORONTO (May 12, 2025) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced that the 2025 PWHL Awards Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 25 at 11:30 a.m. ET at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in the Hard Rock Live theatre in Ottawa, Ontario. The event will be part of a two-day celebration of the league’s future and current stars with the 2025 PWHL Draft Presented by Upper Deck taking place at the venue on June 24.
PWHL Awards Finalists – Schedule of Announcements:
- Tuesday May 13: Forward of the Year
- Awarded to the forward who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season.
- Wednesday May 14: Defender of the Year
- Awarded to the defender who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season.
- Thursday May 15: Goaltender of the Year presented by Rogers
- Awarded to the goaltender who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season.
- Tuesday May 20: Coach of the Year
- Awarded to the head coach whose contributions most impacted their team’s on-ice success throughout the regular season.
- Wednesday May 21: Rookie of the Year
- Awarded to player who showcases the most outstanding ability throughout their first regular season of professional play. Players eligible for the Rookie of the Year Award must be competing in their first season of professional hockey in North America and begin the season in their 25th birth year or younger. For Season Two, 1999-born players are eligible for the Rookie of the Year Award.
- Thursday May 22: Billie Jean King MVP Award
- Awarded to the player considered most valuable to their team’s success throughout the regular season.
PWHL Awards Selection Committee:
This year’s awards selection committee features a cross-section of representatives and a weighted model for tabulating votes:
- 50% of voting points to media across North America, including in the six team markets
- 25% of voting points to PWHL General Managers and Head Coaches
- 15% of voting points to PWHL broadcast talent
- 10% of voting points to the PWHLPA
The selection committee submitted their ballots between the conclusion of the regular-season and the commencement of the playoffs. Voters were asked to submit their top three choices for each award, with five points awarded for a first-place vote, three points for a second-place vote, and one point for a third-place vote. Media members were provided ballots in consultation with the Women’s Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Additional Awards:
In addition to the six awards, the selection committee also cast votes for the league’s First and Second All-Star Teams and an All-Rookie Team. The league’s Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP, awarded to the player considered most valuable to their team’s success throughout the playoffs, will be presented at the conclusion of the PWHL Finals as determined by the committee. The league’s Top Goal Scorer Award (Marie-Philip Poulin) and Points Leader Award (Sarah Fillier and Hilary Knight) will be formally presented during the awards ceremony.
The PWHL’s “hockey for all” award presented by Scotiabank, is awarded to the player who made the greatest impact in their community during the 2024-25 regular season. Scotiabank will donate $10,000 to a Canadian charity of the winner’s choice that supports youth or grassroots hockey, with a focus on accessibility, diversity, and inclusion. The winner will be selected by PWHL executives based on nominations submitted by all six teams.
About the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL)
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that features the best women’s players in the world. It is comprised of eight teams: Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver. Launched on Jan. 1, 2024, the PWHL has broken multiple attendance records and holds the worldwide all-time record for a women’s hockey game. In 2024, the PWHL was recognized by Sports Business Journal as the Sports Breakthrough of the Year and received the top position in the first-ever Canadian edition of the Harris Poll, which ranks companies’ reputations. Visit thepwhl.com to purchase tickets and merchandise, and subscribe to the PWHL e-newsletter to receive the latest league updates. Follow the league on all social media platforms @thepwhlofficial.
PWHL, the PWHL Logo, and PWHL team names and logos are trademarks of the PWHL. © PWHL 2025. All Rights Reserved.
About Hard Rock®:
Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in nearly 77 countries spanning more than 300 locations including owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia with more than 88,000 pieces displayed at locations around the globe. The Unity by Hard Rock™ global loyalty program rewards members for doing the things they love across participating properties. In addition, Hard Rock Digital spotlights the sports betting and iGaming experience with products remixed in the spirit of Hard Rock for players worldwide.
HRI has received numerous industry and destination awards across the travel, hospitality, gaming, entertainment and food & beverage sectors. HRI currently holds investment grades from primary investment-grade rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings (BBB) and Fitch Ratings (BBB). For more information on Hard Rock International, www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.