HER GAME TORONTO

Grab your jerseys and hold onto your seats, because the PWHL Expansion Draft is coming in hot. With two new teams, Vancouver and Seattle, joining the league, the landscape of women’s pro hockey is about to shift in a big way. The game is growing, the energy is electric, and if you’re a Toronto Sceptres fan… well, emotions are running high. 

What Even Is the Expansion Draft?

Let’s break it down. The PWHL Expansion Draft is how Vancouver and Seattle will fill out the start of their rosters. Each new team gets to pick 12 players total, selecting four from each of the existing six teams. This means that yes, your favorite players could be heading to the West Coast, and no, nobody is emotionally prepared for it.

But wait, there’s a twist.

Every existing team was allowed to protect three players from being drafted. These players are officially off-limits to the new teams. The rest of the roster, though? Fair game. It’s a calculated strategy for every team and an emotional rollercoaster for every fan.

Who Did Toronto Protect?

For the Toronto Sceptres, the front office chose to lock in:

• Daryl Watts
  
• Renata Fast
  
• Blayre Turnbull
  

And the fans? Let’s just say X and instagram hasn’t been this dramatic since the season finale of your favorite show. The group chats are messy. Reddit is melting down. Toronto hockey fan are feeling every emotion.

Sarah Nurse Signs With Vancouver

Just when fans thought they had a few days to emotionally prepare, the pre-draft signing window came in swinging. During this period, Vancouver and Seattle were allowed to sign up to four free agents each to jumpstart their rosters before the main draft.

And that’s when the city heard the collective gasp! Sarah Nurse, Toronto icon and fan-favourite, signed with Vancouver.

Nurse, a Toronto native who has lit up the ice with both skill and style, heading west? It hit hard. Like your best friend moving across the country without waiting for a proper goodbye. She’s more than just a player, she’s a symbol of pride, community, and culture in the city. Her departure marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new one.

What’s Next?

With the Expansion Draft officially going down on June 9, Toronto fans are watching with a mix of hope, anxiety, and curiosity. Who else will be drafted? Who stays in Toronto?
The PWHL is growing, and that’s something to celebrate. More teams mean more opportunities, more rivalries, more talent and yes, a little more drama.

Mark your calendars: June 9 is set to be one for the books!

Stay locked in! Follow the Instagram and TikTok accounts for updates, player reactions, and everything you. We want to know what you think! Drop your predictions in the comments!

Check out our other PWHL blog posts for more info on the league!
Want to see us cover a specific topic? Shoot us a message.