The PWHL Effect: Breaking Barriers and Redefining Hockey On and Off the Ice
- karinnaleonard
- 3 minutes ago
- 6 min read
As the PWHL enters its third season, the league is no longer just proving it belongs. It is now building momentum and influencing hockey across all levels. With two new teams and further expansion on the horizon, there has never been a better time to buy into the PWHL. Alongside its growth, the league has introduced unique rules that keep the game fast-paced, competitive, and entertaining all season long. More importantly, the PWHL has created a truly viable pathway for young women to pursue professional hockey. In response to this shift, the NCAA is now exploring making checking legal in women's college hockey, with the goal of better preparing players for the physical reality of the professional level. Checking is already legal in all the top professional leagues across Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, much of Eastern Europe, and the PWHL, signaling a global standard of fast and physical play. Since the PWHL's inception, it has redefined what is possible for women's hockey. With record-breaking crowds, world-class talent, and growing franchises, the league is transforming the sport by reshaping expectations at every level of the game.
Penalty Innovations: No Escape and Jailbreak
Some of the most innovative rules in the PWHL revolve around penalties and the penalty kill. The No Escape rule prevents players from the offending team who were on the ice when the penalty was committed from changing lines until after the next face-off. This creates added pressure, forcing tired players to remain on the ice and maintain disciplined, structured play while shorthanded. The jailbreak rule takes things one step further—if the shorthanded team scores while killing a penalty, the penalized player is immediately released from the box and the penalty ends. This encourages teams to be aggressive and play more high-risk hockey by incentivizing players to attack and create scoring chances rather than sitting back in a purely defensive structure.
What NHL Players Want: Insights from the Annual Player Poll
Each year, the NHL Players' Association releases a Player Poll in which NHL players share their thoughts on an array of league-related questions. This past year, 505 players were asked which PWHL rule they would most like to see adopted by the NHL. Of those surveyed, 29.7% selected the jailbreak rule, citing its dynamic and aggressive impact on special teams play. Meanwhile, 24.4% of players chose the PWHL's standings point format, further reinforcing interest in the league's innovative approach to competition.
The 3-2-1 Point System: A Model for the Future
The rule that garners the most attention—and the rule most likely to be adopted by the NHL—is the 3-2-1 point system. Under this format, teams earn three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, and one point for a loss that extends beyond regulation. This standings structure encourages teams to push harder at the end of regulation to earn the most points per game rather than settling for overtime. Additionally, it keeps the standings engaging throughout the season, as the wider point distribution allows more teams to remain in playoff contention, preventing late-season games from becoming meaningless. NHL players, analysts, and fans alike have taken notice, intrigued by the format's potential to create more urgency and competition across the league.
The NHL has already tested this model, trialing the 3-2-1 system at the Four Nations Tournament last year. Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk echoed its value on his podcast, saying, "3-2-1 right? That's how the league should be. That's my number one rule I would change. We're just trying to grow the game, leave it in a better place than what we came in." His comments highlight a growing belief that the PWHL's point system may represent the future of how professional hockey should reward winning in the standings.
Balancing Depth and Development for Goaltenders
This season, the PWHL introduced another new rule: each team must have three goaltenders on its active roster, with two dressed and available in the lineup at all times. As women's hockey writer Ian Kennedy explained, "The moment a goalkeeper is injured and incapacitated and therefore unable to play further, she shall be immediately replaced by the second goalkeeper on the listed playing roster for that game. The injured goalkeeper shall be retired from the playing roster and will no longer be eligible to return to play. A new substitute (third goalkeeper) should be immediately replaced on the players bench with full goalkeeper privileges."
This rule strengthens the league's goaltending depth while protecting player safety, preventing goalies from feeling pressured to play through injury to avoid forcing teams to rely on an emergency backup goalie. While EBUG stories often provide entertaining moments, the NHL could benefit from a system that prioritizes player welfare over spectacle.
However, the rule is not without its drawbacks. Carrying a third goaltender means that the goalie may see limited ice time, which could hinder their development. In the NHL, young goaltenders often benefit from regular minutes at the AHL level, but the PWHL does not yet have a formal development league. As a result, goalies signed as permanent third options risk missing valuable playing opportunities elsewhere. Players must weigh whether remaining in this role is worth it or if pursuing consistent playing time in European leagues would better support their long-term development.
Additional Rule Innovations
Other notable rules include the PWHL's shootout format, which allows a single player to take an unlimited number of the team's attempts. This could be especially beneficial for a team like the Philadelphia Flyers, who possess a human cheat code in Trevor Zegras. He has converted 17 of his 25 career shootout attempts, giving him an astounding 68% success rate. The absence of the trapezoid rule is another intriguing change. In the NHL, goaltenders are restricted to playing the puck behind the net only within a small trapezoid, limiting their role in puck distribution. This rule was introduced following the 2004-2005 lockout to aid offensive dump-and-chase tactics, as teams had grown frustrated with goaltenders disrupting plays in the corners. Many fans and analysts have since advocated for the removal, as the freedom could lead to more dynamic and entertaining sequences. Finally, the league's playoff format has also drawn attention, with the first-place team granted the power to choose whether they face the third or fourth-place team in the opening round. This system rewards top-regular-season performance and could help prevent the repetitive matchups often seen in the NHL.
Record-Breaking Momentum
The Vancouver Goldeneyes' first home game set a new PWHL record for the highest-attended home venue game in league history, drawing 14,958 fans. The excitement extended beyond the stands, with Canucks centre Aatu Räty so eager to support the new team that he ordered an Uber to deliver a Goldeneyes jersey so he could wear it, while walking into his own game the night before their inaugural matchup. This moment reflects a growing trend across the league, as many NHL players have shown their support by repping PWHL merch arriving at their own games. Just days later, the Seattle Torrent broke Vancouver's record at their home opener with a crowd of 16,014 fans. With momentum building in every arena, the PWHL is shaping what the future of hockey will look like.
Expanding Reach and Representation
On a larger scale, the PWHL also set the global attendance record for a women's hockey game when 21,105 watched the Montréal Victoire host the Toronto Sceptres, filling the Bell Centre on April 20th, 2024. With fan engagement continuing to rise, the league is expanding its reach through the return of the Takeover Tour, which will feature 16 neutral-site games across the United States and Canada during the 2025-2026 season. Beyond numbers, the PWHL is also fostering greater inclusivity within the hockey world. The league proudly features many openly queer athletes, helping contribute to more visible representation in professional sports. Viral moments, like the now iconic "she's gay, Marcus" comment section referring to Montréal teammates and now wives, Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey, have highlighted and celebrated visibility in an authentic and joyful way.
This representation matters not only for the athletes but for fans who feel empowered to show up as themselves in hockey spaces. That impact was evident at the Ottawa Charge's November 26th game, where two women got engaged in the crowd, symbolizing the welcoming and inclusive environment the league continues to create.
Now in its third season, the PWHL has moved from proving it belongs to shaping the future of women's hockey. With innovative rules, record-breaking attendance, and ever-growing fan engagement, the league is redefining what professional hockey can look like. Young women can now grow up knowing there is a legitimate pathway for them to pursue professional hockey careers, while LGBTQ+ athletes and fans are welcomed into a space where they are truly represented. With the creation and development of the PWHL, the future of hockey is faster, more competitive, and more inclusive than ever before.
Edited by: Kelly Cassette