The inaugural PWHL All-Star tournament is headed to Toronto.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, the league announced a 3-on-3 tournament will debut as the first PWHL All-Star event. It's set to be held at Scotiabank Arena on March 7, 2027, in a format similar to the thrilling overtime period that saw the U.S. women's hockey team defeat Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
The PWHL All-Star 3-on-3 tournament will feature four different teams — PWHL Canada, PWHL International, PWHL USA and PWHL Rookie — made up of six forwards, three defenders and one goaltender. The All-Stars will be determined by a combination of voting from fans, players and media, while league hockey operations will select reserve players.
The squads will compete in round-robin
play with the first-ranked team advancing directly to the final, while the second- and third-ranked teams will meet in a semifinal game.
“The PWHL was built to feature the best players in the world, and now fans will see the highest level of skill in women’s hockey showcased in a new and unique way,” Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, said in a statement shared with USA TODAY Sports. “The 3-on-3 format creates an intense, fast-paced style of play, while the mix of teams will produce intriguing matchups and give both established stars and emerging talent the opportunity to shine."
The location in Toronto is also significant. It's the city that hosted the first PWHL game in league history, between Toronto and New York on Jan. 1, 2024, at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
"It’s only fitting that we return to Toronto — where the PWHL first dropped the puck — to bring the best of the best together for an unforgettable day for our fans and our league," Hefford said.
The PWHL is known for its innovation and unique rules, including a "jailbreak," where a team can kill off their opponents' power play by scoring a shorthanded goal. The league also implemented a "Gold Plan" anti-tanking initiative that awards the first overall pick of the PWHL draft to the team that tallies the most points earned after being eliminated from playoff contention.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: PWHL announces inaugural All-Star event in Toronto
