With draft in rearview, PWHL can begin turning focus to the ice

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) didn't even exist — at least publicly — until less than a month ago.

In the short time since, the six franchise locations have been announced, general managers were hired, there were landmark free-agent signings, coaches were brought aboard, and the inaugural 15-round entry draft was held in Toronto.

A whirlwind, to say the least. Yet there is still plenty more to be done before the season begins in January 2024.

For now, though, drafted and signed players can take a quick breath, resume training and make relocation plans if needed ahead of November training camp.

"Ultimately it will just be about continuing to practise and train in the gym so that we're ready for November and also the January start date of the league," Toronto defender Renata Fast told CBC Sports.

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But despite the extremely quick player movement, Fast and others still don't know who will be filling out each locker in the dressing room.

Teams currently stand at 18 players apiece, but those initial groups will balloon to 28 for training camp in November.

The remaining eight will be in camps on a tryout basis, with each team set to carry 23 players into the season.

Also yet to be determined is what exactly they'll be playing for.

There's some intrigue around what the championship trophy will ultimately be named — a pioneer of the sport like hockey Hall of Famer Angela James could make for a fitting moniker.

There is also unknown about what the path to lifting that trophy might look like. In the inaugural 2024 season, teams will play 24-game schedules.

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Still to be determined is how many of those games are