Only facts confirmed against the linked sources are shown.
PWHL at Worlds
The 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship opens Nov. 6 in Denmark with 79 players from all 12 PWHL training camp rosters across all 10 competing countries. The United States has 24 PWHL players and Canada 19, while the New York Sirens lead league teams with nine representatives. The tournament runs through Nov. 16 before PWHL camps open Nov. 18.
Rulebook updates
The PWHL will require cut-resistant neck protection for every player, including goalies, in games and warmups this season. Batting or cradling the puck above shoulder height will be permitted, and the league clarified its body-checking standard. Preseason scrimmages will also test giving teams a penalty shot instead of an overtime power play after a minor penalty.
Rosters and salaries
The PWHL and PWHLPA agreed to expand active rosters from 23 to 24 players for 2026-27 and remove the Reserve Player structure for the season. Minimum annual base salary rises to $42,000, then increases each season to $52,500 by 2030-31. Expansion and the extra roster spots create 104 additional full active-roster positions compared with last season.
New York Sirens
New York signed seventh-overall pick Emma Peschel to a three-year Standard Player Agreement, making her the first member of its six-player 2026 draft class to sign. The former Ohio State defender had a career-high 39 points in 34 games last season and earned First Team All-American honors. Peschel is also making her U.S. senior World Championship debut in Denmark.
Toronto Sceptres
Toronto will host PWHL Detroit at Scotiabank Arena on Jan. 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET in the fourth annual Battle on Bay Street. It is Detroit’s only regular-season visit to Toronto and brings former Sceptres Jesse Compher and Daryl Watts back to the building. Toronto won its first three games at the arena, including a 2–1 overtime victory over Vancouver last January.
PWHL Detroit
Britta Curl-Salemme is expected to miss the 2026-27 season after announcing her pregnancy, leaving expansion Detroit without a player who finished third in PWHL scoring last season with 29 points in 30 games. The Hockey News notes Shiann Darkangelo is the club’s only offseason signing who was a full-time PWHL center last season. Jesse Compher or a converted wing could be asked to help fill the gap.
Preseason picks
A panel of 10 women’s hockey writers at The Hockey News picked Montréal goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens as its preseason PWHL MVP favorite. Desbiens backstopped the Victoire to the 2026 Walter Cup, with Vancouver rookie KK Harvey, Taylor Fox, Megan Keller, and Sarah Fillier also receiving votes. The panel separately made Harvey, the first-overall pick and reigning Olympic MVP, its overwhelming Rookie of the Year choice.