PWHL and the Women’s Worlds Championship
Photo courtesy of Courtney / Wikimedia Commons
As the PWHL pauses for the Women’s Worlds, Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin voices what many are thinking: a month-long break disrupts the league’s rhythm, and better scheduling coordination is long overdue.
With the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) playoffs on the horizon, players should be looking towards and focusing on their game to make a deep postseason run. Instead, many players are shifting their focus to the 2025 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women’s World Championship.
In total, 57 players will compete for their respective countries in České Budějovice, Czechia, from Apr. 9, to Apr. 20. Among them, 18 international players will represent their home countries: nine for the host nation, Czechia, three for Finland, three for Sweden, two for Germany, and one for Switzerland. Combine that with the 23 players already named to Team Canada and the 16 named to Team USA, and that is enough players to call for a halt to the season.
The PWHL will be going on an almost month-long hiatus for the league’s players to compete in the Women’s Worlds. This is not the first time the league has paused play for tournaments, as just this season, there have already been two breaks for international play. The first occurred just days after the season started for the Women's Euro Hockey Tour’s 6-Nations Tournament in Finland. The second was in early February when the league suspended play to allow Team Canada and Team USA to compete in their rivalry series.
The timing of this tournament has prompted conversations about the future of these tournaments and their hopeful scheduling outside the PWHL calendar. The center and captain of the Montreal Victoire, Marie-Philip Poulin, said, “That would make sense, honestly, to not make a break in our season… It's a long three weeks for the PWHL to be on break.” It is difficult to understand why the IIHF and PWHL have not coordinated more closely on schedule; the alignment between the two would benefit players, fans, and the growth of the women’s game alike.
A large problem many players run into regarding the overlap of the regular season and these international tournaments is the injuries. Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse sustained a lower-body injury while representing Canada in the Rivalry Series on Feb. 6, and she was out until Mar. 23. Losing a key player like that in the middle of the season could make or break a team.
While it is true that multiple breaks in the middle of the season could cause problems, it is hard to pass on the opportunity to represent your country. As we saw in the National Hockey League (NHL), the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament brought in new fans and a competitive spirit among players, which the league somewhat lacked. This could help build a larger fanbase and more awareness of the PWHL, which seems like a big win to me.
This is especially true when you remember that these players are used to juggling club and national team duties, and they have competed at the Division I level and in the World Juniors before. New York Sirens forward Sarah Fillier said, “Everyone has been through playing for one team and having to pick up and fly across the globe to play for another team.”
It is clear that players remain committed to both their countries and their PWHL teams, and many have spent years juggling those dual responsibilities. Even so, as the professional landscape evolves, so must the systems that support it. If coordinated scheduling between the IIHF and PWHL could be achieved, it would not only help prevent injuries and reduce player burnout but also provide fans with a smoother, more engaging season. These gaps in the schedule risk stalling momentum for a league still building its fanbase and identity.