It’s an all-Canadian final for the Skilled Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and players and advocates for more women in sport say it could have a long-lasting impression.
The Montreal Victoire solidified the Walter Cup coming to Canada after their victory on Tuesday night against the two-time defending champions, the Minnesota Frost.
They’ll face off against the Ottawa Charge starting Thursday.
“It’s going to be something that the fans haven’t seen yet, it’s going to be a great rivalry,” said Kori Cheverie, head coach of the Victoire.
“I believe our league continues to grow the sport on either side of the border and I believe that folks are really excited that the Walter Cup may have a brand new home this yr.”
However it’s greater than just having two Canadian teams playing for the Cup.
Advocates like Ainka Jess say it’s also what it means for Canadian women and girls.
“If you happen to can see it, you then can dream it,” said Jess, the founding father of She’s4Sports. “I believe for a lot of children that come from different communities and different backgrounds, they’re actually seeing a pathway now and seeing someone that appears like them on the ice and seeing that it’s viable in the event that they wish to play at that skilled level that there might be a pipeline and a pathway.”
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The PWHL began its run in 2024 and has expanded since its inaugural yr, adding more games played and more teams.
Following a lot of its players competing within the 2026 Olympics, ticket sales have skyrocketed.
In March, the league told Global News that between Feb. 22 and 28, it saw its largest home venue ticket sales week because it expanded to eight teams in April 2025.
As well as, the PWHL’s website traffic was almost “six times higher” throughout the Olympic period compared with a typical non-PWHL game period. YouTube video views also “increased 200 per cent over the Olympic period.”
Three of its first 4 games in its Canadian markets post-Olympics also witnessed sold-out crowds.
The Ontario Women’s Hockey Association says that boost, coupled with an all-Canadian final, could lead on to further investment.
“We’d like to get more sponsors on and we guarantee every major sponsor that comes into the ladies’s game, you’re going to get them greater than you expected because there’s a fantastic loyalty and it’s such a values-based sport,” said Fran Rider, president and CEO of the OWHA.
That loyalty and the values behind the PWHL may also create a “realistic dream” for ladies and a strategy to feel proud about playing the game.
“A young, six-year-old girl can go to highschool now and say, ‘I play on a girls hockey team,’ and she will say that with confidence, with strength and equality,” Rider added.
Three more teams were announced this past week as a part of the league’s expansion, including one other Canadian team in Hamilton.
A reputation has not been revealed, but games might be played out of the TD Coliseum, which might seat as much as 19,000 fans.
Expansions mean more spots for ladies to play, Jess said.
“Once you discuss expansion across any league, that just means more roster spots, means more opportunities for our Canadian women who’re, , going through that pipeline to wanting to play pro, could potentially have the chance to play skilled,” she said.
She added it’s not only players, though. There are opportunities across sport, from playing and training to working within the front office or in players’ health.
With a puck drop set for Thursday at 7 p.m. for Game 1 of the Walter Cup final, Ottawa Charge captain Brianne Jenner says she hopes it gives women and girls inspiration and a fantastic game to look at.
“I believe there’s going to be lots of young girls which are watching these playoffs that might be inspired for years to come back and, , in consequence, dream of playing within the PWHL,” she said.
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