The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is gearing up for a celebration of its top talent and rising stars. The 2025 PWHL Awards Ceremony will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, June 25 at 11:30 a.m. ET, hosted at the Hard Rock Live theatre inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Ottawa, Ontario.
The Awards Ceremony caps off a dynamic two-day event celebrating both the future and present of the league, following the 2025 PWHL Draft Presented by Upper Deck, which will be held tonight, Tuesday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m. ET at the same venue. Fans can watch the draft live on TSN (Rounds 1–3), TSN+ (all rounds), the PWHL YouTube Channel, and thepwhl.com.
Spotlight on the Future: 2025 PWHL Draft
The 2025 PWHL Draft features six rounds and includes all eight teams selecting from a pool of top-tier talent — including standout collegiate graduates and players from other professional leagues. This year, the New York Sirens hold the first overall pick, awarded via the PWHL’s innovative ‘Gold Plan’ system, which incentivizes competitiveness among non-playoff teams.
Laying the Groundwork: The 2025 Expansion Draft
The road to Ottawa’s celebration began earlier this month, on Monday, June 9, when the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft Presented by Upper Deck took place. New expansion franchises Seattle and Vancouver selected seven players each, forming the core of their 12-player rosters for the 2025–26 season. The Expansion Draft included players under contract or whose rights were held through the next season. Full replay is available on the PWHL YouTube Channel.
Each existing team protected four key players, forming the official Protection Lists:
- Boston Fleet: Aerin Frankel (G), Megan Keller (D), Alina Müller (F), Shay Maloney (F)
- Minnesota Frost: Kendall Coyne Schofield (F), Taylor Heise (F), Lee Stecklein (D), Britta Curl-Salemme (F)
- Montréal Victoire: Ann-Renée Desbiens (G), Marie-Philip Poulin (F), Laura Stacey (F), Erin Ambrose (D)
- New York Sirens: Sarah Fillier (F), Ella Shelton (D), Micah Zandee-Hart (D), Maja Nylén Persson (D)
- Ottawa Charge: Emily Clark (F), Gwyneth Philips (G), Ronja Savolainen (D), Gabbie Hughes (F)
- Toronto Sceptres: Renata Fast (D), Blayre Turnbull (F), Daryl Watts (F), Emma Maltais (F)
Celebrating Excellence: Award Finalists
On May 13, the PWHL unveiled its finalists for six major regular-season awards. Winners will be revealed during tomorrow’s ceremony:
Forward of the Year
- Sarah Fillier (New York)
- Hilary Knight (Boston)
- Marie-Philip Poulin (Montréal)
Defender of the Year
- Renata Fast (Toronto)
- Sophie Jacques (Minnesota)
- Claire Thompson (Minnesota)
Goaltender of the Year
- Ann-Renée Desbiens (Montréal)
- Aerin Frankel (Boston)
- Gwyneth Philips (Ottawa)
Coach of the Year
- Kori Cheverie (Montréal)
- Carla MacLeod (Ottawa)
- Troy Ryan (Toronto)
Rookie of the Year
- Sarah Fillier (New York)
- Jenn Gardiner (Montréal)
- Gwyneth Philips (Ottawa)
Billie Jean King MVP
- Renata Fast (Toronto)
- Hilary Knight (Boston)
- Marie-Philip Poulin (Montréal)
Additional Honors
The ceremony will also feature the presentation of:
- Top Goal Scorer Award: Marie-Philip Poulin (Montréal)
- Points Leader Award: Hilary Knight (Boston) and Sarah Fillier (New York)
- “Hockey For All” Award Presented by Scotiabank: Honoring community impact, with a $10,000 donation to a Canadian grassroots hockey charity chosen by the winner
- First & Second All-Star Teams and All-Rookie Team: Voted on by the Awards Selection Committee
- Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP: To be announced following the conclusion of the PWHL Finals
How the Winners Are Chosen
The PWHL Awards Selection Committee uses a weighted voting system:
- 50%: North American media members (in collaboration with the Professional Hockey Writers Association)
- 25%: PWHL General Managers and Head Coaches
- 15%: PWHL broadcast talent
- 10%: PWHL Players Association (PWHLPA)
Each voter ranked their top three picks per category, using a 5-3-1 points format.
Stay Connected
Fans can follow all the latest updates by visiting thepwhl.com or following the PWHL on social media. From rising rookies to veteran icons, the 2025 Awards Ceremony promises to be a celebration of talent, leadership, and the growing legacy of women’s professional hockey.
Don’t miss the live event on June 25 – it’s a can’t-miss moment in PWHL history.
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Photographs, including the featured image, are courtesy of Lori Bolliger Photography.
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