Eight Dates to Watch in the first half of the PWHL Schedule

Like most hockey fans, we were all ecstatic when the PWHL schedule was released earlier this month. We know every PWHL game is an intense affair, as do PWHL players...

...but eight dates in the pre-Olympic break portion of the schedule stand out as extra spicy. Working off of what we know about PWHL rosters at this point in the preseason and in honor of the now-eight team league, please check out the first-half dates we’ve got circled on our calendars for must-watch games (in chronological order).

November 21 – Opening Night (Toronto at Minnesota, Seattle at Vancouver)

There’s no bigger way to start a season than with a celebration. The 2025–26 campaign begins with Minnesota raising the second straight PWHL championship banner in front of their home crowd at Grand Casino Arena. Expect an emotional crowd as the defending champs take the ice for the first time since hoisting the Walter Cup last May. The home opener, against the always tough Sceptres, also offers a first look at the Frost's new additions and their attempt to repeat again in a league that’s only gotten deeper.

Later that night, the league’s two newest teams —Seattle and Vancouver—will write a new chapter in PWHL history as they square off in Vancouver’s home debut at Pacific Coliseum. With both expansion clubs eager to make an early impression, this game will mark the beginning of a Pacific Coast rivalry that’s sure to grow quickly.

November 28 – First Home Game for PWHL Seattle (Minnesota at Seattle)

Just one week later, hockey officially arrives in the Emerald City. Seattle’s first home game, held at 1 pm local on Black Friday, will be a day to remember, no matter the score. From the crowd energy at Climate Pledge Arena to the debut of the team’s home uniforms, everything about this night will feel like a milestone.

Fittingly, it comes against the reigning champs from Minnesota—an early measuring stick and a test of how quickly Seattle’s roster, which includes a mix of experienced pros and young talent, can gel. Expect a lively atmosphere, a few historic “firsts,” and a glimpse of how the city’s passionate fan base will embrace pro women’s hockey.

November 29 – Home Openers for two rebuilt Inaugural Six Teams (Vancouver at New York, Boston at Toronto)

The following afternoon, the attention shifts east, where both New York and Toronto open their home schedules with plenty to prove.

The Sirens, who overhauled their roster during the offseason with new on-ice leadership and a retooled forward group featuring first-round picks Kristýna Kaltounková and Casey O’Brien, will look to make an early statement against Vancouver in front of a home crowd eager for a fresh start. Meanwhile, in Toronto, the Sceptres’ opener versus Boston will showcase a team that’s coming off a strong finish to last season and hungry to climb even higher in the standings with the addition of rookie power forward Emma Gentry.

December 2 – PWHL Walter Cup Finals Rematch (Minnesota at Ottawa)

Circle this one in red. When Ottawa and Minnesota meet for the first time since their epic Walter Cup Final, the memories will still be fresh. Last spring’s championship series was a hyper-competitive showcase of speed, teamwork and clutch performances.

Both teams may have lost some talent to the expansion draft, but key figures from last spring’s nail-biting series who are back include Minnesota’s Taylor Heise and Britta Curl-Salemme and Ottawa goalie Gywneth Philips, who merely won MVP of the Walter Cup despite the Charge not winning the series. Ottawa enters this season determined to flip the ending, led by a core that knows what it takes to get back to the biggest stage. Beyond the storylines, this matchup will also be a measuring stick for how both teams have adapted to offseason changes and how early-season chemistry is forming. Expect playoff-level intensity, even in December.

January 7 – Hilary Knight’s Return to Boston (Seattle at Boston)

U.S. hockey legend Hilary Knight joined the ranks of Boston sports heroes during two pre-PWHL stints as a player in Boston and then especially with two straight standout seasons in Boston. As such, few first-half storylines will draw as much attention as her return to Beantown after she was left unprotected by the Fleet and subsequently became the first player to sign with expansion Seattle.

Knight’s return to her old home rink will be emotional, and the matchup itself promises plenty of star power. The home crowd for this one at Boston’s cozy Agganis Arena will surely show its appreciation for one of the game’s greats, while also backing their current core of Aerin Frankel, Megan Keller and Alina Müller and new head coach, Kris Sparre. Add in Seattle’s mix of speed and veteran leadership, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a memorable night.

January 13 – Rematch of an Epic Playoff Series (Ottawa at Montréal)

If last season’s playoff series between Ottawa and Montréal taught us anything, it’s that these two teams don’t need much to spark drama. Montréal entered the postseason as the top regular-season team but famously chose to face Ottawa in the semifinals—a decision that led to a gripping four-game series in which every game was decided by a goal and Game Two went viral for lasting four overtimes and introducing mustard as a performance enhancer.

Now, with both teams eyeing another deep run, this January rematch carries plenty of intrigue. Ottawa will look to prove last year’s postseason success wasn’t a one-off, while Montréal—led by its by returning 2025 award-winning quadrant of Forward of the Year and MVP Marie-Philip Poulin, Goaltender of the Year Ann-Renée Desbiens, “hockey for all” award recipient Laura Stacey, and Coach of the Year Kori Cheverie—aims to reprise its role as regular season champs.

January 16 – The #1 Picks Game (Minnesota at New York)

Fans of hockey’s brightest young stars will want a piece of this Friday Night special. When Minnesota visits New York in mid-January, all three of the league’s No. 1 overall draft picks—Taylor Heise (2023), reigning Rookie of the Year Sarah Fillier (2024) and Kristýna Kaltounková (2025)—will be on the same ice.

Expect offensive fireworks and a mid-season read on what type of expectations these two organizations should carry into the second half of the season. There should also be a few on-ice moments that remind fans just how deep and talented the PWHL has become in only its third year thanks to the young talent that keeps streaming into the league.

January 28 – All Eight Teams in Action (New York at Boston, Vancouver at Minnesota, Toronto at Montréal, Seattle at Ottawa)

The final game date before the Olympic break offers a PWHL first: all eight teams in action on the same day. With the international window about to open and players preparing to join their national teams, this Wednesday evening slate will be a celebration of league-wide talent and depth.

Expect high energy, emotional moments and highlight-level performances from players about to take center stage on the Olympic stage—as well as those non-Olympians who want to end the first half with a bang!

Mark your calendars now. The first half of the 2025–26 season offers everything fans love about the PWHL: intense rivalries, historic firsts, and some of the best players in the world taking the game to new heights. With eight teams and dozens of storylines unfolding, these are just a few of the can’t-miss moments that will shape the season ahead. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON HOW TO BUY SINGLE-GAME TICKETS TO THESE OR ANY OTHER MATCHUPS.