Pwhl Teams Hamilton as first non-NHL market franchise

PWHL teams now include Hamilton, which the league introduced on Thursday as its latest expansion franchise and first non-NHL market. The club will play at TD Coliseum, sharing the building with the New York Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate.

That puts professional hockey back in Hamilton for the first time in more than a decade. It also gives the league a foothold in a market it believes can stand apart from Toronto rather than compete directly with it.

TD Coliseum and Hamilton

The venue carries a hockey capacity of 16,400, giving the franchise a sizeable home for a market the league has been testing since January. During the 2026 Takeover Tour, the Toronto Sceptres played the Seattle Torrent at TD Coliseum and drew 16,012 fans.

Jayna Hefford said the league is focused on the Golden Horseshoe area because of its concentration of girls’ and women’s hockey. She added that the data suggests there is a large fan base in the region that does not necessarily cut into Toronto.

Horwath, Bonhomme and Tidridge

Tessa Bonhomme tied the announcement to the league’s growth on stage in Hamilton, saying, "It represents the continued momentum of women’s hockey" and "It represents a new opportunity for athletes and for young fans, and the next generation growing up in this community."

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said, "We’re thrilled," and added, "I was a little bit thinking this wasn’t going to happen because of the proximity [to Toronto], but bring it on."

Elyse Tidridge, a 14-year-old player from Hamilton, said, "The rink is my happy place" and "It’s where I go to improve my life skills and hockey skills." After the announcement, she said, "I get to have an example now" and added that she can look up to Sarah Nurse and other big names from Hamilton.

Golden Horseshoe reach

The league said more than 15 per cent of its players hail from the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, a number that matches the local pipeline the franchise is stepping into. More than 70 per cent of the people at the January game were first-time ticket purchasers, a sign the league will point to as it settles into the city.

For Hamilton, the change is immediate: a new PWHL identity, a shared home at TD Coliseum and a team built around a market the league says is already deep in hockey. For fans, the clearest next step is simple — a new place to watch professional women’s hockey in a city that has not had it for more than a decade.