According to the Canadian Press on Tuesday, the National Women’s Hockey League team in Canada will be known as the Toronto Six.The NWHL announced its expansion into Canada on April 22 and the Toronto Six are set to replace the Toronto Furies of the now defunct Canadian Women’s Hockey League.
Ironically, the Toronto Six become the sixth team in the NWHL. They are joined by the Boston Pride. the Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters and the Minnesota Whitecaps.
The Toronto Six are set to begin play in the 2020-21 NWHL season. It is not known yet where they will play or even if the NWHL will get under way next season because of coronavirus.
The announcement of the Toronto Six into the NWHL comes at a time when women’s hockey is in a state of transition and turmoil. Approximately 200 players from the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association refuse to play in the NWHL, and a major reason is because players only receive an average of $15,000 per season.
A major reason why the Canadian Women’s Hockey League folded in 2019 is because the league was struggling to pay its players a stable income, and the PWHPA is currently trying to push for a women’s hockey league with strong sponsorship. Unfortunately, the chances of that happening in the short term are very unlikely due to coronavirus.
