PWHL's 3rd season features growth and Olympics as league grows to 8 teams

The puck drops on the PWHL's third season on Friday, officially beginning the league's eight-team era.

The Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent were built from scratch through an expansion draft process that pulled stars from the existing six teams.

But will the riches gleaned through generous expansion rules, designed to maintain the league's competitive balance, yield fruit for Vancouver and Seattle right away? Or will it take some time to build a foundation?

Each PWHL team will play 30 regular-season games, with a lengthy break in the middle for the Olympics. Friday night's games feature the Toronto Sceptres visiting the Walter Cup champions Minnesota Frost (7 p.m. ET), while the Goldeneyes host the Torrent (10 a.m.).

You can watch 17 games across this season on CBC and CBC Gem, including weekly Saturday games. The first CBC game will air on Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. ET, when the Toronto Sceptres host the Boston Fleet.

What to expect from PWHL expansion teams Vancouver, Seattle

There's lots of hockey ahead, so let's look at how the PWHL's eight teams rank heading into the new season. For existing teams, there's also a list of who's in and who's out after the busiest PWHL off-season yet.

In: Abby Roque (F), Shiann Darkangelo (F), Hayley Scamurra (F), Jade Downie-Landry (F), Nicole Gosling (D), Jessica DiGirolamo (D), Maggie Flaherty (D)

Out: Kristin O’Neill (F), Jenn Gardiner (F), Abby Boreen (F), Claire Dalton (F), Clair DeGeorge (F), Mikyla Grant-Mentis (F), Cayla Barnes (D), Anna Wilgren (D), Mariah Keopple (D), Dominika Lásková (D), Elaine Chuli (G)

Unsigned 2025 draft picks: Natálie Mlýnková (F), Skylar Irving (F), Maya Labad (F), Tamara Giaquinto (D)

No team weathered the blow of expansion better than the