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The PWHL unveiled its season schedule on Oct. 15 and Lydia from TIG took us through what the schedule looks like at first glance with 90 games on the docket, beginning Nov. 30. After releasing names and logos earlier in the offseason, all six PWHL teams, as well as their fans, are eager to kick off the season with the ability to show off their new identities.

All of the games promise to be intense, entertaining and fun but there are a few specific dates I will be keeping an eye on, starting with the very first game of the season when Boston visits Toronto to kick off the season. While the first meeting between the Fleet and Sceptres will be interesting regardless, if Natalie Spooner returns to play after a season-ending injury in the playoffs last season, it’s definitely a game to watch.

The next game I will not be missing is on Dec. 4 when Minnesota visits Boston for the first time in the 2024-25 season. The rematch of the 2024 Walter Cup Championship will be a fun one after both teams battled for five games, ultimately giving Minnesota the first-ever PWHL championship.

On Dec. 21, Toronto takes on Montreal for the first time this season and, while neither team made it to the finals last year, they ended the season in first and second place overall, respectively. Due to be highly competitive again, that will be an anticipated matchup that we won’t see until almost a month into the season.

There are a few breaks in the schedule to allow for international play but the longest will be from April 3-25 for the IIHF World Championship. The first game back from that break will be on April 26 when New York visits Minnesota, which will be an interesting matchup to watch as both teams will have well-rested players from break as well as World Championship tournament players.

Throughout the season there are a handful of games without definite locations yet. These are listed on the schedule as ‘TBA.’ After last season, where all six teams played in varying locations depending on promotions, partnerships and anticipated crowd size, it’s no secret that the PWHL may have something up its sleeve for games like these. With some teams already calling 10,000+ capacity NHL venues home, it will be interesting to see where these games end up being played and if a new attendance record is in our future again. Either way, I will be anxiously awaiting the news of those locations.

The final game of the season will be in Toronto when it hosts Ottawa on May 3. Presumably the playoffs will start soon after, with the top four teams competing for the Walter Cup. I would like to preemptively check all of those playoff games off as must-watches after last year’s thrilling playoffs that saw shutouts, blowouts, and everything in between as underdogs reigned supreme time and time again.

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More must-read women’s hockey links

Do we still need the Rivalry Series? — The Ice Garden. TIG’s Maya Smith discusses the growth of North American women’s hockey since the creation of the Rivalry Series and if it still benefits players and fans alike.

Czech’s rack up the point, Neatby and Nystrøm record shutouts in SDHL — The Hockey News. Laura Rollins gives updates on success in the SDHL.

Buddy Read: “Blackness is a Gift I Can Give Her” by Renee Hess — The Victory Press. Liz Popfly details the “Buddy Reads” program with “Blackness is a Gift I Can Give Her” by Renee Hess. The book is subtitled, “On Race, Community, and Black Women in Hockey.”

Calling it a career: Saying goodbye to 12 PWHL players who retired this offseason — The Hockey News. Cee Benwell recaps what women’s hockey players have announced their retirement this offseason.

Competition, support drive Kraemer sisters’ success in the NCAA and beyond — The Victory Press. Nicole Haase gives insight to the Kraemer family who all have found success in college athletics.

Rachel Llanes revisited, Part two: Her unconventional path to the Olympics — The Ice Garden. Sally Hoerr details Llanes’ path to the Olympics in a subscriber-exclusive story.

The GIST and Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) team up to create fan-first content — The GIST. Details on the new partnership between the PWHL and media company.