Second successful PWHL game shows Halifax could support an expansion team: Events East

Could the Maritimes see a Professional Women’s Hockey League team?

After a second successful stop in Nova Scotia’s capital city as part of the PWHL Takeover Tour, Halifax could support a team, says the group that would be responsible for submitting an expansion bid.

“We do think Scotiabank Center is an ideal venue,” says Suzanne Fougere, the executive vice-president of Events East Group. “We also think Atlantic Canada is an ideal market for consideration.”

Sunday’s game between the Ottawa Charge and Boston Fleet went the distance, with Ottawa extending their winning streak to six games after taking a 2-1 victory in the shootout.

Much like December’s Takeover Tour game between Toronto and Montreal in Halifax, it was a sold-out Scotiabank Centre on Sunday with 10,452 people in attendance.

“The fan support was incredible,” says Jayna Hefford, a Canadian women’s hockey legend and the current executive vice-president of the league. “Typically, we get there a few hours before the game and people were lined up down the street. The merch lines were crazy.

“Just to see the signs in the stands to see all of the, the merch and the jerseys; clearly, there are a lot of people, fans in Atlantic Canada,” she says. “It’s definitely an area that we have a lot of fun when we get to bring the PWHL to.”

However, fan support isn’t everything.

There also needs to be corporate sponsorship, rink availability, airline access and adequate hotel space.

But, Events East believes those are non-issues.

“We feel very confident in Halifax and Nova Scotia’s capabilities to meet the requirements of the league,” says Fougere.

The Halifax Stanfield International Airport says it’s “well-equipped” to support flights for a team.

“We have non-stop, year-round service to the cities where the league’s Eastern teams are based, while teams travelling from Western North America can reach Halifax conveniently via a one-stop connection through Toronto or Montréal,” reads a statement from spokesperson Mikela Sani Routledge. “This level of connectivity supports both the professional requirements of a league team and fan travel to and from Halifax.”

And Discover Halifax says hotel space wouldn’t be a problem, either.

“When you get into those seasons – in the shoulder season and into the winter season – there’s lots of availability and it’s easy to find accommodations,” says Ross Jefferseon, the organization’s president and CEO.

Speaking to CTV News on Friday, Jayna Hefford said the Takeover Tour is a good chance to learn more about potential expansion cities.

“We have 16 games and there are some cities, like Halifax, that we are coming to more than once,” she said. “I believe we have 11 different markets in North America and we’re looking at all of those as potential areas that would make sense for the PWHL.”

Support from Halifax wouldn’t just come from Nova Scotia. Olivia Campbell and her daughter’s hockey team travelled from P.E.I. to take in Sunday’s game and the Boston Fleet open practice on Monday.

“We hope Halifax gets a team because we’d travel over from P.E.I. all the time,” she says. “I do think there’s a chance to expand more.

“There’s so much talent out there for female hockey.”

The thought of a team here isn’t slipping the mind of politicians.

“I think we showed the PWHL that Halifax is a fantastic city to consider expansion into,” said Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore in a year-end interview on Dec. 18, 2025. “I think it’s worth a good solid pitch to them.”

Even the prime minister’s wife is hopeful for what’s to come.

“I think it’s high time, high time for a PWHL team this side of the country,” said Diana Fox Carney during a stop at the Kehoe Forum on the CBU campus last week.

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