Charge, Frost keep focus on Walter Cup final after expansion draft announcement

On the eve of the Walter Cup final opener between the Ottawa Charge and the Minnesota Frost, the Professional Women's Hockey League announced the dates, rules and procedures surrounding the 2025 expansion draft.

Rather than keeping the focus on the league's showcase event, players and coaches were being asked about expansion and free agency. However, that didn't change the priority and focus for Ottawa head coach Carla MacLeod.

"Obviously, what we're doing is our priority and our only focus," said MacLeod. "So, at the end of the day I can't control those variables. All we can do is control what we've been doing."

MacLeod admitted that obviously her players are aware of what's going on, but she and her coaching staff will continue to ensure the focus remains on the series considering how hard they worked to get there.

Minnesota coach Ken Klee had much of the same mindset.

"You know, it's just one of those things," said Klee. "Again, we're here to play."

The expansion process, to ensure Vancouver and Seattle can be competitive in 2025-26, includes a player protection phase, an exclusive signing window, the expansion draft and the 2025 PWHL Draft.

Each of the six original PWHL teams will ultimately lose four players from their current rosters during the multi-stage process, which starts with teams submitting a list of protected players by June 3.

Beginning June 4, the expansion teams will have a five-day exclusive signing window to sign up to a maximum five unprotected or expiring-contract players. This will be followed by the Expansion Draft on June 9, where Seattle and Vancouver will alternate picks to build 12-player rosters, selecting from remaining unprotected players under contract or whose rights are held for the