Scrimmages on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday will test new rules
TORONTO, ON (December 4, 2023) – All six Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) teams arrived in Utica, New York on Sunday to commence the league’s pre-season evaluation camp. A series of information and training sessions, practices, and scrimmages are scheduled at the Utica University Nexus Center throughout the week in preparation for the league’s inaugural season.
“Following three weeks of training camps in each of our individual markets, there is a lot of excitement for a centralized event where our teams can compete against each other before the regular season opens on January 1,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations. “Just as our teams will use the scrimmages to evaluate their rosters, the league will use this platform to experiment with various rule adaptations and in-game scenarios that may be considered for our season.”
Scrimmage Format:
All nine scrimmages will feature lineups of 18 skaters and two goaltenders. Three 20-minute periods will be played and, regardless of the final score, will be followed by a 5-minute sudden-victory overtime period played 3-on-3, and 5-player shootout. During the shootout, teams may allow the same shooters.
Rule Adaptations:
During each day of scrimmages, a different variation for penalty-kill situations will be tested. For Monday’s games, all 2-minute minor penalties will be served in their entirety, even if a power play goal is scored. On Tuesday, all ‘traditional’ penalty-kill rules will apply. Then on Thursday, there will be no icing allowed by teams playing shorthanded. If the puck is iced, there will be a face-off in the shorthanded team’s defensive zone and the offending team will not be permitted to change lines. Also of note, teams will have the ‘long change’ for the first and third period in all games instead of during the second period as they would be accustomed to. All rule adaptations will be reviewed by the league and any determination regarding implementation will be made ahead of the season.
Scrimmage Schedule
Monday, December 4
1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Boston vs. Toronto
4:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. – Minnesota vs. Ottawa
7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – New York vs. Montreal
Tuesday, December 5
12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Toronto vs. Minnesota
3:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. – Montreal vs. Boston
7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Ottawa vs. New York (Fan Fest)
Thursday, December 7
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Minnesota vs. Montreal
12:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. – New York vs. Toronto
3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Boston vs. Ottawa
Online Stats:
Lineups, scores, and statistics will be recorded for all nine scrimmages online at thepwhl.com.
Fan Fest:
A highlight of the camp schedule is Tuesday night’s Fan Fest that will provide an exclusive sneak peek at the PWHL. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET, the event offers free limited edition PWHL giveaways, an autograph signing and meet and greets with members of each team, and a full scrimmage between New York and Ottawa. Admission is free with general admission seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hat & Mitten Drive:
Fan Fest attendees can help local kids and families stay warm this winter by donating NEW hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves. The PWHL has partnered up with Assemblywomen Marianne Buttenschon’s annual Hat & Mitten drive and encourage fans coming on Tuesday to take part. The donated winter items will go to Connected Community Schools and Thea Bowman House to give to kids and families involved in their programs. Red collection bins will be in the lobby of the Utica University Nexus Center for fans to donate.
Season Tickets on Sale:
Season ticket memberships will be available for purchase the week of Dec. 4, with early access granted to fans who have placed ticket deposits. Single game and group tickets will be made available in the coming weeks, as well as half season plans in select markets. Fans can sign up to receive the most updated ticket information by subscribing to the PWHL e-newsletter at this link.
Fans can stay connected to the PWHL through the league’s new website at thepwhl.com, and follow the league on all social media platforms @thepwhlofficial plus all six team accounts @pwhl_boston, @pwhl_minnesota, @pwhl_montreal, @pwhl_newyork, @pwhl_ottawa, and @pwhl_toronto.
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