The 2026-27 PWHL Opening Weekend Schedule is official, and it’s unlike anything the league has done before.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League will open the 2026-27 regular season on the weekend of December 5-6 with six games and all 12 teams in action. Four expansion teams make their debuts. New conferences begin. National broadcast partners take the stage.
This isn’t a soft launch. It’s a full-league statement.
2026-27 PWHL Opening Weekend Schedule
PWHL 2026-27 Opening Weekend Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presented by Canadian Tire | ||||
| Saturday | vs Seattle Torrent at Vancouver GoldeneyesPacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC | 3:00pm ET | ||
| First-ever expansion team home game · ION Game of the Week | ||||
| Saturday | vs Minnesota Frost at PWHL San JoseSAP Center, San Jose, CA | 7:00pm ET | ||
| Saturday | vs PWHL Hamilton at Montréal VictoirePlace Bell, Laval, QC | 7:00pm ET | ||
| Hockey Night in Canada | ||||
| Sunday | vs Toronto Sceptres at Ottawa ChargeCanadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON | 2:00pm ET | ||
| Sunday | vs Boston Fleet at New York SirensPrudential Center, Newark, NJ | 3:00pm ET | ||
| First all-expansion matchup in league history | ||||
| Sunday | vs PWHL Detroit at PWHL Las VegasT-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV | 8:00pm ET | ||
Saturday, Dec. 5: Three Games, Two Expansion Debuts
The weekend opens at 3:00 p.m. ET when the Seattle Torrent travel to Vancouver to face the Goldeneyes at Pacific Coliseum.
Then at 7:00 p.m. ET, two games tip off simultaneously:
- Minnesota Frost visit PWHL San Jose at SAP Center
- PWHL Hamilton heads to Montréal to face the reigning Walter Cup champion Victoire at Place Bell
PWHL San Jose becomes the first expansion team to play on home ice when they host the Minnesota Frost. That is a real marker for the league’s growth.
Sunday, Dec. 6: Rivalries and a Historic First
Sunday shifts the spotlight east.
At 2:00 p.m. ET, Ontario rivals Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres meet at Canadian Tire Centre. At 3:00 p.m. ET, the New York Sirens host the Boston Fleet at Prudential Center.
The weekend closes with something the league has never had before. At 8:00 p.m. ET, PWHL Las Vegas hosts PWHL Detroit at T-Mobile Arena in the first all-expansion matchup in league history.
A New Broadcast Era
Opening weekend also marks a new chapter in national coverage.
CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada returns for a women’s professional league, while ION debuts its Saturday Game of the Week with the San Jose–Minnesota matchup. Fans in both Canada and the United States will have clear national windows for the first time.
The Bigger Picture
This opening weekend sits inside a larger structural shift. With 12 teams now in the league, the PWHL is using Eastern and Western Conference alignments for the first time. Each team will play 30 regular-season games.
Preseason begins November 22, with every club playing two games before all 12 teams take the ice together on December 5-6.
Why This Weekend Matters
Four expansion teams making their debut inside a 48-hour window. A new conference structure. The return of Hockey Night in Canada.
The PWHL Opening Weekend Schedule 2026-27 carries more weight than any previous season opener. San Jose gets the first expansion home game. Vegas and Detroit close the weekend with the first all-expansion matchup in league history.
Season 4 doesn’t ease in. It opens with all 12 teams on the ice at once.
More PWHL Coverage
FAQ
When does the PWHL 2026-27 season start?
The PWHL 2026-27 Opening Weekend Schedule begins Saturday, December 5, with the final game on Sunday, December 6 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Which PWHL expansion team plays first on home ice?
PWHL San Jose is the first expansion team to play a home game, hosting the Minnesota Frost on December 5 at SAP Center.
Where can I watch PWHL opening weekend games?
CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and ION’s Saturday Game of the Week both debut during opening weekend.
How many PWHL teams are there in 2026-27?
Twelve — the original eight teams plus four expansion franchises, split into Eastern and Western Conferences.
