PWHPA eyes launching women's pro hockey league by end of year

The Professional Women's Hockey Player's Association is finalizing plans with corporate sponsors to launch what would be North America's second women's pro league by the end of this year, a key stakeholder said Thursday.

Jayna Hefford, who holds the title of PWHPA lead operations consultant, said it was premature to provide an exact date, but added: "We're very much eyeing next hockey season."

"You know, is that September? Is it November? December? That's hard to predict," Hefford told The Associated Press. "We don't want to compromise on making sure we get it right this time."

Hefford previously declined to provide any sort of timeline while spending the past four years overseeing the PWHPA and its vision of launching a league that would likely be filled with some of the top players in the world.

If established, it would rival the Premier Hockey Federation, which was founded in 2015 and currently features seven teams.

"We are focused on doing the work to continue moving the needle forward for our sport and proud of the established, sustainable, and thriving league that we have built over the last eight seasons," PHF Commissioner Reagan Carey said in response to the PWHPA plans. "Our commitment to a record $1.5 million salary cap per team next season demonstrates our leadership and supports our athletes like never before."

Hefford declined to reveal further details in regards to the number of teams and where they would be based.

The PWHPA has internally proposed several models, including a six-team league with players paid an average salary of $55,000.

Hefford did say the Philadelphia-based PWHPA has completed the steps in establishing itself as a union, which offers players protections and rights — including guaranteed