We are working to build a sustainable foundation that will unify women’s professional hockey. We acknowledge that the NWHL fell short of its commitments and expectations in the past, particularly in the way it treated its players. This is why we completely overhauled the way the league will be structured and operated moving forward.

New Ownership

The NWHL was formed by a set of investors in 2015, and that investor group was supplanted by new owners beginning in 2019.  We are pleased to say that all six teams are now independently owned by ownership groups that were not part of that founding group.  The new owners bring new vision, new capital, and new commitment that has allowed the Federation to be a great partner to the players.

The groups that own the six PHF clubs each have a representative on the Board of Governors.  Those representatives include Miles Arnone, Johanna Boynton, John Boynton, Tobin Kelly, Neil Leibman, and Andy Scurto.

New Governance

We adopted a new governance structure last October because we believe strong governance is fundamental to any league’s long term success. The Constitution and Bylaws were modeled on the NHL and other major sports leagues.

New Leadership

Tyler Tumminia joined as Commissioner, and her office employs over 20 staff with people who share our vision and values.  In addition to Ty, the Office of the Commissioner includes the following positions: SVP of Hockey Operations; SVP of Communications; SVP Marketing and Business Strategy; Head of Partnerships; Director of Compliance & Safety; Director of Sports Medicine; and several scouts, social media support, and production team.  For a full list of the staff click here: https://www.premierhockeyfederation.com/office-of-the-commissioner

Growth of Teams and Players

We expanded the PHF by adding a franchise in Toronto for 2020-21. This season there are over 120 professionals being paid to play hockey at six clubs in the U.S. and Canada. We expect to add two more franchises in Season Eight – one in Montreal, Canada and one in the U.S.

Rebrand of the League

We introduced a new name and refreshed logo to redefine our brand based on the talent and skill of our athletes. Our players should be known as great athletes, not simply great women athletes. We also want to make it abundantly clear that the PHF symbolizes a new era that is different from the previous regime.

Doubling the Salary Cap

We doubled salaries for our players this season with a record salary cap of $300,000. At the heart of this new investment will be a substantial salary cap increase to $750,000 for next year. We expect to see players earning $50,000+ next season and $75,000+ a season or two later.  We are committed to enabling the best women’s hockey players to earn a living playing the game they love.

Upgraded Team Staff

All our teams, now independently owned, have upgraded their staff to include a dedicated president and/or GM, two to three coaches, an athletic trainer, an equipment manager, and a game day operations person in addition to business and sponsorship support.

Increased Healthcare

All players are looked after by professional-grade medical teams, have medical coverage for injuries, and are provided paid maternity leave. Next season all the players will receive full healthcare benefits provided by their team.

Established Broadcast Deals

We established significant broadcast deals in the U.S. and Canada. Last year’s Isobel Cup playoffs were covered on NBCSN, and this year all 60 regular season games, plus our All-Star Showcase, playoffs and Isobel Cup final are live on ESPN+. We are in early conversations regarding our broadcasting deal for Season Eight.

The NWHL was formed by a set of investors in 2015, and that investor group was supplanted by new owners beginning in 2019.  We are pleased to say that all six teams are now independently owned by ownership groups that were not part of that founding group.  The new owners bring new vision, new capital, and new commitment that has allowed the Federation to be a better partner to the players.

The groups that own the six PHF clubs each have a representative on the Board of Governors.  Those representatives include Miles Arnone (BOS), Johanna Boynton (TOR), John Boynton (MET), Tobin Kelly (CT), Neil Leibman (MIN), and Andy Scurto (BUF).

We have created a constitution and a set of bylaws that govern the Federation, the teams, and the players. These were modeled after the NHL constitution and bylaws which will allow players to understand the process and protocols that they can expect as a member of a team in the Federation. Prior to 2020, this type of governance did not exist.

This is a TOP priority of the new team owners. We have increased the salary cap for Season Eight to $750,000 per team.  While each player will negotiate their own salary, the average salary for a player will be $37,500 with the top players earning considerably more than that.  We will see players earning $50,000+ next season and $75,000+ a season or two later.  We are committed to enabling the best women’s hockey players to earn a living playing the game they love.

This is another TOP priority for the Federation.  Although some teams already have upgraded rinks and locker rooms, other GMs and owners are already in conversations to ensure their teams have enhanced facilities, rinks, and locker rooms for Season Eight.

Each team’s staff will have a dedicated president and/or GM, two to three coaches, an athletic trainer, an equipment manager, and a game day operation person in addition to business and sponsorship support.  In fact, most teams are already here!

Each player will receive full healthcare benefits provided by their team, paid maternity leave, and is covered by worker’s compensation such that all players have medical coverage for injuries, access to top tier training facilities, and are looked after by professional-grade medical teams.

The PHF will establish a player pool that consists of 10 percent equity in the Federation. As such, all players will have an ownership stake in the league and share in the growth of value over time.

We established significant broadcast deals in the U.S. and Canada. Last year’s Isobel Cup playoffs were covered on NBCSN, and this year all 60 regular season games, plus our All-Star Showcase, playoffs and Isobel Cup final are live on ESPN+. We are in early conversations regarding our broadcast partnerships for Season Eight.

The investment commitment comes from the Board of Governors and will be used to  increase the professionalism, exposure, and respect for the Federation and to enable its players to earn a livable wage playing ice hockey.  Like other established leagues, the PHF derives its revenues from sponsorships, broadcast rights, merchandise sales, and ticket sales, and growth in those sources will contribute to the effort.