Following the announcement that Ottawa would be one of six inaugural franchises in the newly formed Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), details surrounding the future of the club have begun to take shape.
While the team is still without a name, logo, or single roster player, fans now know two key details: the location of the arena, and first General Manager in franchise history.
TD Place, currently home to the Ottawa 67’s will be the venue for the first season of Ottawa’s new PWHL team. The ageing arena is currently undergoing renovations, and will need some long term overhauls to portions of the facility, but currently seats 6,500 fans and will provide an adequately sized venue for what amounts to an expansion team looking to develop a fanbase in 2024. Temporary seating and standing room only tickets can further expand the capacity to roughly 8,000 fans in the arena.
The TD Place staff are currently in the midst of creating new locker rooms to house the PWHL team at the facility, which also hosts the CEBL’s Ottawa BlackJacks during the summer as well.
“This is what we wanted and something a long time coming,” said Olympian Jamie Lee Rattray. “As a player, it’s really exciting. Who knows what’s going to happen? It’s going to be a whirlwind not knowing what city you’re going to end up in, what team, but all in all, I’m just really proud of this group of women.”
The club also announced that Michael Hirshfield would serve as the first General Manager in franchise history. Hirshfield previously served as the executive director of the NHL Coaches’ Association for the past seven years.
Originally a corporate lawyer by trade, the newly minted GM spent 14 years in the investment business world prior to joining the hockey ranks.
“I think I bring a unique skillset, a different perspective,” Hirshfeld said. “I think that could be really valuable to a new league that’s starting up.”
In his inaugural remarks to the media, Hirshfield made note that he’s already reached out to current and former Ottawa hockey minds for advice. A list that includes former 67’s coach Andre Tourigny, Senators coach DJ Smith, and former Sens bench boss Guy Boucher.
The league will kick off its inaugural year with a free agency period, whereby teams can sign a maximum of three players ahead of the first ever PWHL Draft scheduled for later this month.
Between signing players, putting together a draft board, landing on logos, team names and more, Hirshfield will certainly have his hands full for the next several weeks.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner