TORONTO — Some of the world’s best hockey players will converge on Toronto next year as the Professional Women’s Hockey League announced its first All-Star Game Thursday. The game will take place March 7, 2027. “A big step for our league and women’s hockey,” said Montreal Victoire player Laura Stacey, who was on hand for the announcement. “This is something that’s the first of its kind, the first-ever Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) All-Star Game and I think that’s a huge testament to the growth of this league, the growth of women’s hockey and women’s sports in general.” The event will be a 3-on-3 tournament at Scotiabank Arena featuring four teams: Canada, the United States, International and the Rookies. The matchups will pit established players and long-standing rivals against rookies and up-and-coming stars. “The women’s game is growing so, so quickly and I think the PWHL offers an opportunity to bring the best players together, to continue to grow,” said Jamie Dinsmore, president of the Hockey Hall of Fame, where the All-Star game was announced. The PWHL’s popularity has skyrocketed since the league dropped the puck on Jan. 1, 2024. It has grown from six teams to 12, breaking attendance records along the way. While All-Star games are not universally loved by athletes or fans, league officials hope this one will be different. “We worked closely with the players association, we talked with them about what we would want to see in this, and it was really about skill and competitiveness,” said former player and PWHL Executive Vice-President of hockey operations Jayna Hefford. “This isn’t going to be an All-Star game where people come and don’t try.” More details are still to come, including how players will be selected and whether there will be events such as a skills competition. But the league says it is planning fan events throughout the All-Star weekend. “We all know that sport brings people together in so many different ways,” said Hefford. “In the times we’re in, I think it’s so important to be able to find those moments.” The PWHL’s fourth season gets underway late November, with players reporting to training camp on Nov. 18.
