PWHL franchise, draft details transform league from concept to reality for players

A professional women's hockey league — the Professional Women's Hockey League — is beginning to feel real to players.

On Tuesday, the PWHL announced six franchises (Canada's include Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa) in addition to details on free agency and a draft.

Yet to be determined is the exact schedule, playoff format and team and league branding, among other things.

Still, two-time Canadian Olympian Jill Saulnier said the announcement was "huge."

"It was so exciting. To see locations for the league is huge for us," she told CBC. "I'm excited to have a draft. You dream of this as a little girl, to have a real full setup and be a professional athlete."

WATCH | PWHL announces 6 franchise locations:

Saulnier was among the many North American national-team members fighting for what they feel is a proper women's hockey league since the dissolution of the Canadian Women's Hockey League in 2019.

With the PWHL, the 31-year-old Halifax native believes she's found just that.

Mikyla Grant-Mentis, a former Premier Hockey Federation MVP, told CBC Sports she is declaring for the PWHL draft.

But unlike Saulnier, Grant-Mentis has played in a pro league for the past few seasons. Her salary, which was set to be $100,000 US next season, is guaranteed to drop if she earns a spot in the PWHL.

Still, she said she's excited now that there's a foundation in place.

"There is still only [about] 150 spots available for over 300 players, so it is still going to be a little kick in the gut for some people, but I definitely think this is going to be a huge step for women's hockey," she told CBC Sports.

WATCH | Jayna Hefford breaks down draft, free agency processes:

The Brampton, Ont., native said that between the bombshell PHF collapse and