Approximately 200 young people, primarily girls, gathered inside T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday afternoon. This created an energetic and enthusiastic atmosphere as they came together for a special event centered around hockey.
The Las Vegas franchise of the Professional Women’s Hockey League will experience even greater excitement when the 2026-27 season begins this November. There will be an expected crowd of 10,000. Anticipate a lively and spirited hockey environment.
Recently, it was officially announced that the PWHL will establish a permanent hockey team in Las Vegas as the league’s 10th franchise. Meanwhile, Hamilton, Ontario will become the 11th team on Thursday. Additionally, San Jose is expected to be named the 12th team next week.
The excitement inside the rink was felt Wednesday, where hours earlier Pavel Dorofeyev’s heroics lifted the Golden Knights to a 3-2 overtime win over Anaheim in Game 5 of their Stanley Cup Playoff series. There were pronouncements about “Walter Cup in Six” playing off Knights owner Bill Foley’s declaration before the team’s inaugural season. He had declared that his hockey team would win the Stanley Cup in six years, which they did in 2023.
Support for the PWHL
Bill Foley fully supports bringing the PWHL to Las Vegas. However, credit is due to John Penhollow, the team’s president of business operations. His persistence and commitment to hockey were instrumental in securing the franchise.
As a hockey parent, Penhollow understands the significance of seeing so many girls in their sweaters at Wednesday’s announcement about hockey. Sheri Hudspeth, the Knights’ director of youth hockey, shares this perspective.
WickFest History
WickFest is a girls event started back in 2010 by Haley Wickenheiser, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and a four-time Olympic gold medalist. The Vegas WickFest in February drew 35 teams and over 600 girls. All were excited about hockey.
The event was highly successful and attracted Scheer’s attention. She had already begun building a relationship with Penhollow and the Golden Knights. This began with a single phone call that developed into a partnership in hockey both parties hope will be long-lasting.
While Wednesday’s announcement was exciting, significant work remains before the hockey season begins in November. The team requires a name, a coach, and a general manager. Staff are also needed to market and sell season tickets, which can be reserved with a $50 deposit at thepwhl.com. Furthermore, players will also be needed. An expansion draft will take place in the coming weeks. This will be followed by an entry draft to fill the rosters of Las Vegas, Hamilton, Detroit, and San Jose once officially announced.
The Las Vegas team will play hockey home games at T-Mobile Arena and train in Henderson at the Silver Knights’ facility, America First Center. The team is owned by the league, which operates as a single entity. Mark Walter, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers, is the sole owner.
Scheer stated that with the hockey team established, the remaining elements are expected to follow.
Penhollow said he and the Knights are prepared to support the league and the team as needed. He expressed enthusiasm for the positive impact hockey will have on youth throughout Southern Nevada and the state.
Eric Butler is a Contributor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on Instagram and X via @ReportandOpine
