Everything to Know About the New Professional Women's Hockey League

The puck drops on the PWHL's inaugural season Jan. 1 in Toronto

The Professional Women’s Hockey League is here!

The puck is set to drop for the new women’s hockey league on Jan. 1 when Team New York visits Team Toronto for the PWHL’s first regular season matchup.

The PWHL was announced this past summer after the previous Premier Hockey Federation was dissolved following eight seasons. The PWHL marks the third time a women’s hockey league has been launched in North America since 2007; this one sets itself apart with billionaire backer Mark Walter and other pioneering sports minds behind the new effort.

The PWHL advertises itself as “a first-of-its-kind women’s hockey league,” according to its website, and says it aims to bring together the best players in the world. Want to know more? PEOPLE's got your guide for what to know, who to watch out for and how to view the PWHL games, ahead.

Why is there a new women's hockey league?

In 2019, some of the top women’s hockey players in the world began boycotting existing leagues that refused to compensate their players. About 200 players said they wouldn’t play in any North American hockey league until they received “the resources professional hockey demands and deserves,” according to The Athletic.

“We may have represented different teams, leagues, and countries – but this sport is one family. And the time is now for this family to unite,” read the statement from the players, who united as the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association in 2019. “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for – our moment to come together and say we deserve more. It’s time for a long-term viable professional league that will showcase the greatest product of women’s professional hockey in the world.”

The Athletic’s Hailey Salvian reported in June that the players' association came to a partnering agreement with Walter, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who began to form the plans for a new league in 2022. The new league was announced this summer at the same time the former Premier Hockey Federation folded.

Related: USA Hockey Strikes Deal With Women's National Team, Avoiding Boycott

Who is involved with the PWHL?

The PWHL is governed by a board of directors that includes pioneering tennis stars including Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, as well as former major league sports executives Stan Kasten and Royce Cohen.

Which teams are competing in the PWHL?

The PWHL is made up of six original teams from Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto. The teams, which do not have official team names yet, are made up of 23 players each. Each team's roster was determined by a 15-round draft that took place in September.

When Does the Regular Season Begin?

The regular season is scheduled to run from January through early May, followed by a playoff tournament to determine the league’s first champion in June, according to the PWHL’s website.

The first game of the season will take place in Toronto on Jan. 1, between Team Toronto and Team New York. A playoff format will be announced soon, the league said.

Related: Blake Bolden Wants the Hockey World to Know That 'Black People Have Always Been Playing Hockey' (Exclusive)

Who are some of the best players in the PWHL?

Team Minnesota is led by a hometown roster made up of a number of players who have played for Team USA in recent years. The Minnesota squad, which won all three of its preseason games this month, is also led by the draft’s overall No. 1 pick Taylor Heise – college hockey’s 2022 MVP and the MVP at last year’s World Championships for Team USA.

"She's one of the best players in the world right now," Minnesota general manager Natalie Darwitz told the CBC. "Every time she's on the ice, she garners attention and is dynamic."

Kendall Coyne Schofield, an Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion, adds even more firepower to Team Minnesota’s roster.

Elsewhere in the league, Team Toronto forward Sarah Nurse is often regarded as one of the best women’s hockey players today. An Ontario native, the 28-year-old goal scorer has won both gold and silver medals at the Olympics and was one of the faces of EA Sports’ NHL ‘23 video game.

Team Boston’s roster is led by veteran American forward Hilary Knight, who brings her own experience as an Olympic gold medalist and nine-time World Championship winner over from Team USA. Kennedy Marchment and top-league defender Erin Ambrose are also key figures for Team Montreal, who will look to compete for the PWHL championship come June.

Related: U.S. Women's Hockey Team Earns Silver Medal at 2022 Winter Olympics with 3-2 Defeat to Canada

Where can I watch PWHL games?

The PWHL has yet to officially announce its streaming partners, though Kasten, one of the league's advisory board members, has said its the league's goal to have every game broadcast on television, according to The Hockey News.

The CBC has published a scheduled with plans to stream most regular season games for its Canadian viewers. The PHL, the women's hockey league that preceded the PWHL, had streamed its games in the U.S. on the ESPN+ app.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.