Toronto gets another hockey team

The National Women’s Hockey League has announced an expansion franchise has been awarded to Toronto, marking the league’s first franchise in Canada.

The team will begin play during the 2020-21 season.

“Launching our first team in Canada is a pivotal and proud moment for the NWHL,” league founder and commissioner Dani Rylan said in statement. “Everyone in the Toronto hockey community can be sure that this first-class team of professionals will make bold strides for the women’s game.”

The ownership team is led by Johanna Neilson Boynton, who played four years at Harvard, serving as captain for two seasons. Tyler Tumminia will serve as the club’s Chairman, while Digit Murphy has been named President.

“We aspire to build a perennial Isobel Cup contender for Toronto,” said Boynton said in a statement. “This will be an organization with strong fan, community and corporate support, outstanding coaching, training, and player development, and a club dedicated to promoting hockey as a game for everyone.”

A professional women’s hockey team hasn’t played in Toronto (or Canada) since the CWHL ceased operations on April 1, 2019. This is exciting news for the city. 

“Toronto is without question the sports capital of Canada,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory in a statement. “The addition of a Toronto team for the National Women’s Hockey League is most welcome by our city and one that I know many Torontonians will embrace as they have with all of our other sports teams. Our city has a rich history with professional women’s hockey and we are excited to begin this next chapter with the NWHL. I hope that this team achieves success and longevity in our city and that this team will serve as an inspiration for young girls to pursue careers in professional sports.”