The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is set to elevate the profile of women’s professional hockey through its newly released schedule for a series of neutral-site games, encompassing venues ranging from Raleigh, North Carolina, to the Pacific Northwest. This initiative, known as the “Takeover Tour,” includes six U.S. cities—Raleigh, Buffalo, Detroit, St. Louis, Denver, and Seattle—alongside Canadian destinations in Vancouver and Quebec City. One additional location is yet to be disclosed. This announcement precedes the league’s second season, which is slated to commence on November 30, with plans for potential expansion by adding two teams by the 2025-26 season.
According to Amy Scheer, the senior vice president of business operations for the PWHL, this venture is essential for reaching a broader audience. She emphasized that this tour will showcase the league’s talent and growth across North America, marking a significant moment for both the players and the league’s business strategy as they prepare for further expansion.
In addition to the North American tour, the PWHL is also contemplating holding neutral-site games in Europe after this season wraps up. The scheduled lineup includes a much-anticipated return to Detroit, where the reigning champions, Minnesota, will face off against New York on March 16. Last season, Detroit hosted one of the league’s neutral-site games, attracting an impressive crowd of 13,736 spectators, which showcased the potential draw of PWHL games in major markets.
Buffalo is also featured in this tour, set to host a match between Boston and New York on February 23. This event marks the return of professional women’s hockey to Buffalo, which lost the Beauts after they were part of the original four-team National Women’s Hockey League established in 2015. The NWHL later transitioned into what became known as the Premier Hockey Federation, which dissolved in June 2023, paving the way for the establishment of the PWHL.
Except for Quebec City, all announced neutral-site games will take place at the arenas of each city’s NHL affiliate. Quebec City, with its NHL-ready venue, the Videotron Centre, has already been making efforts to secure a PWHL expansion team. Each of the six teams in the league is scheduled to play at least two games in neutral sites, contributing to an overall increase in the season’s game count from 24 to 30 per team.
The neutral-site schedule will kick off with a matchup between Montreal and Boston in Seattle on January 5, followed by Montreal taking on Toronto in Vancouver on January 8. Other highlighted games include Montreal facing Minnesota in Denver on January 12, and Ottawa squaring off with Montreal in Quebec City on January 19. Additionally, Raleigh will host Ottawa against Minnesota on March 7, while Ottawa takes on Boston in St. Louis on March 29, rounding out this exciting schedule.