Hamilton to Get PWHL Team

Scott Radley is a columnist with the Hamilton Spectator. sradley@thespec.com. Hamilton is getting a Professional Women’s Hockey League team. Multiple sources have told The Spectator that a deal is done to bring an expansion franchise to TD Coliseum. An official announcement is expected to be made Thursday morning at the downtown arena. Morgan Firestone Arena in Ancaster is expected to serve as the team’s practice and training facility. This is part of a four-team expansion that will take the league from eight to 12 teams. Detroit has already been officially introduced as one of the new cities and reports say Las Vegas will be announced on Wednesday. Hamilton jumped into serious contention for a team after a game in the league’s Takeover Tour back in January attracted over 16,000 fans. Since then, rumours have been circulating that this city was in the mix. A franchise here will be expected to create an instant QEW rivalry with the Toronto Sceptres and an Ontario rivalry with the Ottawa Charge while drawing fans from the city as well as surrounding areas like Burlington, Kitchener, Niagara and even London. The arrival of the new franchise will coincide with the relocation of the New York Islanders’ American Hockey League team to Hamilton. That squad will begin playing out of TD Coliseum beginning in the fall. A name and logo for that team will be released on May 21. It means three professional franchises will now be calling the renovated arena home, including the Toronto Rock lacrosse team that’s about to begin play in the National Lacrosse League finals. Opinion articles are based on the author’s interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details Scott Radley is a columnist with the Hamilton Spectator. sradley@thespec.com. Hamilton Region Hamilton car dealer stripped of licence after tribunal ruling 5 hrs ago Comments Hamilton car dealer stripped of licence after tribunal ruling Hamilton Region Father and son found dead in Lake Erie near St. Williams 25 mins ago Comments Father and son found dead in Lake Erie near St. Williams Hamilton Region In Hamilton’s core, fear has become part of day-to-day life 22 hrs ago Comments In Hamilton’s core, fear has become part of day-to-day life Crime Opinion Former Hamilton nightclub owner on trial for sexual assault 7 hrs ago Former Hamilton nightclub owner on trial for sexual assault Hamilton Region Mother’s Day crash near Simcoe sends parents, six kids to hospital 20 hrs ago Comments Mother’s Day crash near Simcoe sends parents, six kids to hospital Crime Young, armed and deadly: 2 teen killings highlight rise in youth gun violence in Hamilton 3 hrs ago Young, armed and deadly: 2 teen killings highlight rise in youth gun violence in Hamilton Crime Wanted offender known to frequent Hamilton has been found 5 hrs ago Wanted offender known to frequent Hamilton has been found Hamilton Region Mohawk College among schools affected by ‘really big’ cyber attack 7 hrs ago Comments Mohawk College among schools affected by ‘really big’ cyber attack More from The Spec & partners