Could Edmonton ever see its own professional women’s hockey team?

The Professional Women's Hockey League has grown again, expanding to Detroit. CTV News Edmonton's Evan Kenny looks at the appetite for a team in Edmonton.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) will be growing next season, jumping from eight teams to as many as 12 – which begs the question of whether Edmonton has an appetite to join in.

The addition of a Detroit team was confirmed Wednesday, with the league previously announcing it would add two to four teams this off-season. Hamilton, Ont., is also a front-runner for the expansion.

Kylee Quinn of Hockey Edmonton says the city is sitting on untapped potential.

“I think that sort of passion for a local franchise would just explode if we were to get one,” she told CTV News Edmonton. “We have seen such incredible growth in the girls’ game over the last couple of years. Not just in number, but in visibility, opportunity and excitement.”

And Edmonton, which has, to date, hosted three PWHL takeover games and packed crowds for the Team Canada and Team U.S.A. rivalry series in December, does have a track record of supporting the women’s game.

Quinn Phillips of Edmonton-based The Bits podcast says PWHL leadership would be keen on such an avid sports city having its own team – but Rogers Place is often booked and busy.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, (but) I don’t think that there’s a chance that we get a whole team any time soon, as of right now. There just really isn’t somewhere for them that’s a proper-sized venue for them,” she said.

Between the Edmonton Oilers, Oil Kings and concerts most nights of the week, the city may need new infrastructure, Phillips added.

But Hockey Edmonton proponents are staying hopeful.

“When you go in the buildings and you’ve seen the excitement and the energy, the takeover tours, it’s just undeniable that Edmonton wants a team and Edmonton needs a team,” Quinn said.

“I think it’s just a matter of time before we get one.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Evan Kenny