Purple Reign

With Las Vegas & San Jose both landing expansion teams despite not being tested on the Takeover Tour I lead the debate on how giving markets that haven't bee on the tour a team as it helps wider the net when we're looking for future marketsAt the end of the day the PWHL never said the Takeover Tour was designed for expansion as it was designed to help grow our league into markets without a team and I think people need to be reminded of that

With the league now expanded to twelve teams and even split in terms of teams on the East Coast & the West Coast the question now is do we go to a conference system or set up divisionsI personally would prefer to go down the conference route as the entire Purple Trio discuss the cons and the merits to adopting a conference system for our league

Out of all of the coaching hirings made last year Steve O'Rourke was the one the entire Purple Trio were least confident about so none of us are surprised that he has been let go in what feels like a similar situation we saw from New York in the inaugural seasonThe Torrent never seemed to be able to get things clicking and with the expansion process about to begin this could be a chance for a clean slate and rebuild quickly

Today marks the start of the process to build the rosters for Detroit, Las Vegas, Hamilton and San Jose which will see each expansion team end up with 10 players after a six phase processThis is going to be a stressful few weeks as the current eight markets are most likely going to lose at least one star player from their rosterMy advice to you all is to please look after your mental health and let's not make the same mistakes we did as a community last year

Now if any other team went down this road I would be very intrigued but not if its Minnesota and vertianly not San Jose who have made their first big mistake and they weren't even a week old yetHe was never liked by the Scceptres fans and didn't do Team Canada any favours either and in reality really should have just sticked to coaching and found someone more qualified for the position of GM

PWHL Hamilton was next to reveal their selection for general manager and the moment I started reading the article I knew I recognised the name given the work she's done over the last few years with the DevilsThis is a really good choice as Hamilton has someone who is well known for what they've done both on and off the ice and could help jump start this new market to high places

The PWHL Starting Six is where each month the league will recognise three forwards, two defenders and one goaltenderIn this fifth Starting Six recap the Purple Trio celebrate the Starting Six for the month of April 2026

With San Jose now officially joining the league this puts me into a situation similar to what I've done with the Sharks & Wild in the National Hockey League as I officially adopt PWHL San Jose as a second teamMy loyalty remains with the Minnesota Frost but that doesn't stop me from also wanting an affiliation with a market that I've been a part of for a very long time

It's nearly time to start the roster building process for the 2026 Expansion Draft as the entire Purple Trio are locked in the studio to create their protection lists for the current eight marketsThis year gets a bit more feisty as each of us this time round refuse to back down on some of choices for should and who shouldn't go o

In a follow up to the episode we did on the announcement of PWHL San Hose I share my thoughts on the press conference that took place hosted by the legend that is Brodie BrazilThis is an emotional moment for me as I've been a lifelong Sharks fan and I am so excited for what's coming to the Bay Area