Sudbury hockey players thrilled about New Professional Women's League announcement

Three Canadian cities will now have professional women's hockey teams in 2024. 

The new Professional Women's Hockey League was revealed this week that Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto are being added to the franchise. 

The league will have six teams and 24 games in 2024.

It's exciting news for all female hockey players, including those with Sudbury's U18 Lady Wolves.

"You're not just opening doors for athletes — you're opening doors for coaches, for volunteers, for timekeepers, referees, and so it's going to impact a lot of people, so I think it's just rallying around it and supporting it so that it can continue to grow," said assistant coach Stephanie Pascal.

She added that in the past, women looking to play hockey professionally had limited opportunities. 

"For most girls in women's hockey, if you were not at the top like on the Olympic level, pretty much after post-secondary there weren't a lot of options." 

She added that most players who wanted to play past post-secondary were driven to relocate to play in Europe and other countries. 

For former hockey player and Olympic gold medallist Tessa Bonhomme, this announcement comes as a massive sigh of relief. 

"It is like working so hard for something your entire life and finally watching it come to fruition." 

Bonhomme said that growing up, she had dreames of being part of a national hockey league.

She said things would be different today if the opportunity was there for her. 

"It just would have meant that my dream of playing true professional hockey would've come true," she said. 

"I would have been lacing up for a professional team, making a living wage and playing the game that I love."

In comparison to previous professional leagues, Bonhomme said, the new league seems