Sources: Hamilton next in line for PWHL team

One day after the PWHL introduced Detroit as the ninth franchise in League history, set to hit the ice next season, sources have told IW that one of the next three clubs to be announced will be housed north of the border.

IW has learned that Hamilton, Ontario, is set to join the PWHL and has been in the process of finalizing details this week.

An official announcement is expected this month, with the PWHL’s expansion phase scheduled to begin May 28.

Hamilton has been among the speculated markets vying for a PWHL team, while San Jose has gained significant traction recently, additional sources have told IW. There is some belief a California-based team is expected as one of the League’s four new franchises and while rumours have tied a team to Southern California, San Jose may have leapfrogged them.

Las Vegas, Quebec City, Denver, Calgary, Halifax, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, San Diego and Raleigh have also been rumoured to be under consideration for a franchise.

Edmonton was also under consideration for a new team, but as IW reported earlier this week, they are out of the running for this round of expansion.

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Hamilton’s franchise is slated to play out of the newly renovated TD Coliseum, which is also home to the city’s new AHL team that relocated from Bridgeport, Connecticut and will start the 2026-27 season in Steeltown. The organization will officially unveil the AHL team’s name and logo Thursday, May 21 at TD Coliseum.

Hamilton hosted a PWHL game on January 3, 2026, as part of the PWHL Takeover Tour, between the Toronto Sceptres and Seattle Torrent. More than 16,000 fans attended the first professional hockey game at TD Coliseum, witnessing the first road victory in Torrent history, beating the Sceptres 3-2 in a shootout.

The PWHL is poised to add four new expansion teams next season. With Detroit already announced and Hamilton ready to enter the League, two more cities remain. Speculation has increased over a team in Las Vegas, while momentum has picked up in California and Quebec City.

More news will trickle through over the coming days and IW will continue to report on the impressive growth of the PWHL.