ST PAUL, Minn. — The new year is often accompanied with resolutions, optimism and cheer. But when the calendar turns over to 2024, it will also mark the beginning of a new hockey league.
The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) will drop the puck on its inaugural season Monday, Jan. 1, beginning with New York facing off against Toronto. The league unveiled its 72-game schedule on Thursday, including Minnesota's 24 games.
Minnesota will open the season Jan. 3 on the road against Boston before hosting its first game on Jan. 6 against Montreal. All of Minnesota's home games will be played at the Xcel Energy Center.
“Our inaugural season schedule features games being played at exceptional venues, at a variety of times, across all seven days of the week – offering multiple options for our fans,” said PWHL advisory board member Stan Kasten in a release. “We are excited to drop the puck on New Year’s Day and launch a new era of professional women’s hockey.”
The league is bringing together the top women's players in the world and will have yet-to-be-named teams based in Minnesota, Boston, New York, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. Three-time U.S. Olympian and Eagan native Natalie Darwitz will oversee Minnesota's team, which will feature a handful of players from the State of Hockey, including former University of Minnesota standout Taylor Heise.
Minnesota will play play five games against Boston, New York, Montreal and Ottawa. Minnesota will play Toronto four times, twice in St. Paul and twice in Toronto. The top players in the league will be invited to compete in a 3-on-3 showcase on Feb. 1 in Toronto during the NHL's All-Star Weekend. The schedule also pauses in February for an IIHF National Team break, and in April for the IIHF Women’s World Championship.
Here is Minnesota's complete schedule:
Jan. 3: at Boston, 6 p.m.
Jan. 6: Montreal, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 10: Toronto, 7 p.m.
Jan. 14: New York, 3 p.m.
Jan. 17: at Ottawa, 6 p.m.
Jan. 24: Montreal, 7 p.m.
Jan. 28: at New York, noon
Feb. 3: at Toronto, 11 a.m.
Feb. 14: Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Feb. 17: at Ottawa, 1 p.m.
Feb. 18: at Montreal, noon
Feb. 25: Boston, 3 p.m.
Feb. 27: Toronto, TBA
Mar. 3: at New York, 11:30 a.m.
Mar. 5: Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Mar. 13: Boston, 7 p.m.
Mar. 16: New York, 2:30 p.m.
Mar. 24: Montreal, 3 p.m.
Apr. 20: at Ottawa, TBA
Apr. 24: at Montreal, 6 p.m.
Apr. 27: Boston, TBA
May 1: at Toronto, 6:30 p.m.
May 4: at New York, TBA
*BOLD: Home games
Watch more coverage of Minnesota sports:
Watch the latest reports from the KARE 11 sports team in our YouTube playlist:
