PWHL Brings Takeover Tour Game To Vancouver, BC

The PWHL‘s expansion plans are heating up, and Vancouver is making its case with a sold-out Takeover Tour game at Rogers Arena between the Montreal Victoire and Toronto Sceptres. The arena, with a hockey capacity of 18,910, mirrors the league’s record-breaking attendance of 21,105 set last April in Montreal.

The Takeover Tour, spanning nine cities across North America, kicked off in Seattle with 12,608 fans watching Boston edge Montreal in a shootout. Vancouver’s turnout adds weight to its bid for a future PWHL team.

“We are trying to learn where the interest is,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL’s senior vice-president of hockey operations. “It’s an important time as we continue our trajectory and look to grow as a league.”

Expansion talks have included over 20 potential markets. Vancouver’s strong hockey infrastructure, including its youth programs and talent pipeline, could bolster its case. North Vancouver’s Chloe Primerano, 18, is a standout, captaining Canada at the Under-18 Worlds and excelling in international play.

The question remains where a Vancouver team would play regularly. Smaller venues like UBC’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre (7,000 capacity) or Burnaby’s Bill Copeland Arena (3,500) are possible options. The PWHL has been strategic about balancing large and small venues to optimize fan experience and financial feasibility.

A Vancouver team could also benefit from synergy with the Vancouver Rise, the city’s incoming women’s pro soccer team in the Northern Super League.

With growing interest and local enthusiasm, Vancouver’s bid for a PWHL team appears promising.