For Blayre Turnbull, the captain of the Toronto Sceptres, the aftermath of the Walter Cup final loss was emotionally charged, leading her to describe the experience as upsetting, sad, and stressful. Similarly, Emily Clark, a forward for the Ottawa Charge, expressed that the event was "a lot to process" as players across the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) came to grips with the implications of expansion within the league.
The introduction of the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent as expansion teams marked a significant shift in the PWHL landscape, resulting in many players finding new homes. Notable names such as Hilary Knight and Sarah Nurse made high-profile moves to Seattle and Vancouver, respectively. Nurse, who had previously played for the Sceptres during the league's inception in 2023, was particularly affected by the changes, highlighting that the evolution of the team was a challenge as it altered their on-ice identity.
"It was hard," Turnbull noted, reflecting on the impact of roster changes throughout the season. "When your team is different than at the beginning, you kind of have to think about rebuilding all of those things." She acknowledged the necessity of expansion for the league’s growth but emphasized the emotional toll it took on the players. Clark echoed these sentiments, sharing her experience of watching her teammates get picked during the draft process, calling it a "crazy" and overwhelming situation.
The expansion's formal process initiated with a five-day exclusive signing window from June 4-8, 2025, where the new teams could select five players each from existing rosters. The original six PWHL teams could only protect three players, with an option for a fourth if they allowed two players to be picked in the signing window or expansion draft. This left many players vulnerable, either as unprotected assets or those with contracts nearing expiration.
The expansion draft on June 9, 2025, enabled Vancouver and Seattle to select an additional seven players each. Retaining top talent was a significant concern for the original teams, particularly for the Sceptres, where the loss was felt deeply after the departure of key players. Star defender Renata Fast lamented the tough decisions general managers had to make regarding player protection, emphasizing that most rosters would have benefitted from safeguarding at least five or six players.
Another prominent defender, Sophie Jaques, who transitioned from the Minnesota Frost to Vancouver, observed the swift nature of the changes: "You have these players from these teams that you were just playing against, and now they’re your teammates," she remarked. This phenomenon underscored the reality of the league as a business, where player relocations are commonplace but also brought excitement in witnessing great talents unite in new markets.
Toronto general manager Gina Kingsbury described the entire expansion process as challenging for all GMs, testing their attachment to the rosters they’d cultivated over two years. She stressed the importance of focusing on player development rather than impending future expansions. "If you’re constantly worrying about that, I think you’re missing also what you’re able to do for these athletes," Kingsbury stated, reaffirming her commitment to the growth and success of players within the Toronto organization.
Following the turbulence of the expansion, the overall sentiment among players is a mixture of apprehension for the future and excitement for the new opportunities that lie ahead in the PWHL. The league's evolution signifies a pivotal moment, as it works to establish deeper roots across North America while simultaneously fostering the talent and development of its athletes.
