Star PWHL goalie Maschmeyer wants Edmonton to get an expansion team
A star PWHL player has given her stamp of approval on Edmonton possibly getting an expansion team in the future.
The PWHL’s Takeover Tour was in the Alberta capital this weekend as 17,518 fans packed into Rogers Place on Sunday to watch the Toronto Sceptres battle to a 3-2 OT victory over the Ottawa Charge.
This was the fifth stop on the tour as the PWHL scouts potential expansion candidates to add to their existing roster of six teams. Everyone knew that Edmonton was an Oilers town, but after such a successful game, could it be a PWHL town as well?
It was a homecoming for a trio of Charge players with both Stephanie Markowski and Danielle Serdachny being born in the city while goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer was from the nearby town of Bruderheim.
While she may be a little biased in her love of the city, Maschmeyer is convinced that Edmonton is ready to handle a PWHL franchise.
“Edmonton definitely deserves a team,” Maschmeyer told reporters after the game. “It was so exciting to see the support for women’s hockey and I think it’s just a matter of time… Edmonton is just a massive hockey city so it was really awesome to see.
“I wish we had some intel on that, but we don’t.”
Loud ovations for Edmonton area @PWHL_Ottawa players Emerance Maschmeyer, Stephanie Markowski, and Danielle Serdachny pic.twitter.com/OcAzOBuiSC
— Preston Hodgkinson (@NHLHodgkinson) February 16, 2025
Sunday’s game proved that there is a desire for professional women’s hockey in Edmonton. Nearly selling out an NHL arena for a one-off game is a strong indication that there are plenty of people who would support a PWHL team in the city.
The stands were filled to the brim with young girls holding signs cheering on their hockey heroes as well as proclaiming their hopes to one day play in the league as well. While all three of Maschmeyer, Serdachny, and Markowski were thrilled to finally play a pro game in Edmonton, they were also blown away by the support from young hockey fans.
“Looking up at those little girls, and even boys, with all those signs, it just shows how much and how far we’ve come…Â it was a special moment,” Markowski told reporters.
Attendance for today’s PWHL game at Rogers Place announced at 17,518… less than 1,000 off a sold out rink.
It’s a lively crowd as well… would say they are louder than your typical Oilers regular season crowd.
A well put together day that plenty of young girls will remember pic.twitter.com/Of0R3ralXM
— Preston Hodgkinson (@NHLHodgkinson) February 16, 2025
The PWHL is hoping to expand by two more teams as soon as next season. While Edmonton may be unlikely at this point, due to the majority of the teams being based in the east, there is no question that the city has made a strong case to be the catalyst that brings PWHL to western Canada.