| PWHL Vancouver | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| League | PWHL |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Home arena | Pacific Coliseum |
| Colours | Pacific blue, cream |
| Owner(s) | Mark Walter Group |
| General manager | Cara Gardner Morey |
| Head coach | Brian Idalski |
| Captain | TBD |
| Website | www |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 0 |
| Walter Cups | 0 |
PWHL Vancouver is an upcoming professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, that will compete in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They are the league's first announced expansion franchise and will join in the 2025–26 season, part of the league's first round of expansions alongside PWHL Seattle.
History
[edit]Founding
[edit]On April 23, 2025, the PWHL announced that their first expansion franchise would be located in Vancouver and would begin play in the 2025–26 season.[1] The team announced that their home arena will be the Pacific Coliseum, former home of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants and the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.[2]
The announcement came after speculation that the PWHL would expand to both Vancouver and Seattle.[3][4] Rumours of a Vancouver franchise gained momentum after the PWHL Takeover Tour – a series of exhibition games staged at neutral venues across cities in Canada and the United States – drew a record-breaking 19,038 spectators to Rogers Arena, current home of the Vancouver Canucks, on January 8, 2025.[5]
On May 23, 2025, PWHL Vancouver announced that Cara Gardner Morey would be appointed as the club's first general manager.[6]
Team identity
[edit]As part of the expansion announcement, the team's colours were revealed to be Pacific blue and cream. The PWHL also stated that the franchise would operate under the temporary name PWHL Vancouver until a permanent brand identity is announced, following a similar approach taken by the "Inaugural Six" teams during the 2023–24 PWHL season.[7]
Players and personnel
[edit]Current roster
[edit](Note: Player numbers are currently imported from the players' previous teams and are subject to change prior to the start of the 2025-26 PWHL season.)
| No. | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 
|
Sydney Bard | D | R | 24 | 2025 | New Hartford, New York |
| 21 | 
|
Ashton Bell | D | R | 25 | 2025 | Deloraine, Manitoba |
| 24 |
|
Abigail Boreen | F | R | 25 | 2025 | Somerset, Wisconsin |
| 86 |
|
Michela Cava | F | R | 31 | 2025 | Thunder Bay, Ontario |
| 23 |
|
Mellissa Channell-Watkins | D | L | 30 | 2025 | Oakville, Ontario |
| 8 |
|
Izzy Daniel | F | R | 24 | 2025 | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| 12 |
|
Jennifer Gardiner | F | L | 23 | 2025 | Surrey, British Columbia |
| 25 |
|
Emma Greco | D | L | 30 | 2025 | Burlington, Ontario |
| 16 |
|
Sophie Jaques | D | R | 24 | 2025 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 41 | 
|
Denisa Křížová | F | L | 30 | 2025 | Horni Cerekev, Czechia |
| 38 |
|
Emerance Maschmeyer | G | L | 30 | 2025 | Bruderheim, Alberta |
| 3 |
|
Brooke McQuigge | F | L | 25 | 2025 | Bowmanville, Ontario |
| 34 |
|
Hannah Miller | F | L | 29 | 2025 | North Vancouver, British Columbia |
| 20 |
|
Sarah Nurse | F | L | 30 | 2025 | Hamilton, Ontario |
| 15 |
|
Gabby Rosenthal | F | R | 25 | 2025 | Blaine, Minnesota |
| 42 |
|
Claire Thompson | D | L | 27 | 2025 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 13 |
|
Tereza Vanišová | F | L | 29 | 2025 | Strakonice, Czechia |
General managers
[edit]- Cara Gardner Morey, 2025–present
First-round draft picks
[edit]- 2025: Michelle Karvinen (7th overall)
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Professional Women's Hockey League Expands to Vancouver". Professional Women's Hockey League. April 23, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Salvian, Hailey (April 23, 2025). "PWHL announces expansion to Vancouver for 2025-26 season: 'A great day for women's sport'". NY Times. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ Johnston, Patrick (April 17, 2025). "PWHL expected to announce Vancouver expansion team next week".
- ^ Didion, Alex (April 18, 2025). "Report: PWHL 'expected' to announce Seattle team after Vancouver club".
- ^ Kennedy, Ian (March 21, 2025). "PWHL expected to announce Vancouver expansion team next week".
- ^ "PWHL Vancouver Names Cara Gardner Morey as General Manager".
- ^ Salvian, Hailey (March 21, 2025). "Why the PWHL is launching with temporary jerseys — and without team names or logos". The New York Times.
- ^ "24 players have been signed or Drafted as part of the Expansion Roster Building Process. Here's a recap of where things stand!". Threads. June 9, 2025.
- ^ Benwell, Cee (June 9, 2025). "Live Roster Build: PWHL Vancouver". The Hockey News.
