The city of Halifax is officially rolling out the red carpet for the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) this week, hoping a strong showing will secure its future as the home of a new franchise.
A Crucial Showcase for the East Coast
On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the Toronto Sceptres and Montreal Victoire will face off at the Scotiabank Centre in downtown Halifax. This marks the first of two PWHL Takeover Tour games scheduled for the city this season. The league has organized 16 neutral-site games across 11 North American locations, with Halifax being one of only five cities—alongside Chicago, Edmonton, Detroit, and Denver—to host two contests.
The immediate demand is undeniable. Tickets for Wednesday's game at the 10,595-seat arena sold out within minutes, demonstrating a clear appetite for elite women's hockey in the region. However, league officials are looking beyond a single sell-out. The primary goal of the Takeover Tour is to assess whether these markets possess the long-term viability to support a full-time team.
Halifax's Professional Sports Landscape
The most significant question mark hovering over Halifax's bid is its history with professional sports. While the city has hosted teams, sustained success at the pro level has been elusive. Halifax has been home to AHL affiliates for various NHL clubs, but has not had an AHL team since the early 1990s.
Currently, the city supports the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, the Halifax Thunderbirds of the National Lacrosse League (NLL), and soccer's Halifax Wanderers (CPL) and Halifax Tides FC (NSL). Past discussions about CFL expansion to the Maritimes never progressed beyond the conceptual stage.
Toronto Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan, a native of Spryfield, Nova Scotia, is a passionate advocate for bringing the PWHL to his home province. He argues the league is a different proposition than previous men's pro ventures. "I believe the length of the schedule (between 12 and 15 home games) is a perfect number for this market," Ryan stated via text. "Even if it increased to 20, it's still great."
Ryan highlights that the PWHL's more affordable ticket prices and shorter season align better with the regional economy and entertainment habits. He is hopeful the Takeover games will excite the community and prove the strength of local support.
Advantages and Hurdles in the Expansion Race
Halifax possesses several unique advantages in its expansion pitch. The Scotiabank Centre is already an ideal size for a PWHL team, eliminating the need for a costly new arena or playing in a cavernous stadium. Geographically, awarding a franchise to Halifax would significantly extend the league's eastern footprint.
However, substantial challenges remain. As a smaller market, there are concerns about the population's disposable income for sports entertainment. Furthermore, travel logistics present a major hurdle. The league is testing this by having Montreal play in Halifax on Wednesday before flying to Vancouver—a journey requiring at least one stop and roughly seven hours of flight time. Trips to Pacific Northwest rivals like Seattle would be even longer.
Another critical factor for the PWHL's growth is securing a national U.S. television deal Halifax's next opportunity to impress comes on January 11, when the Takeover Tour returns for a matinee game featuring Boston and Ottawa. The city's performance during these two showcases will be carefully analyzed as the PWHL narrows down its choices for the next wave of franchises.
