PWHL Reveals Seattle Torrent, Vancouver Goldeneyes as New Franchises in Hype Videos

The Professional Women's Hockey League revealed the names for its Seattle and Vancouver-based expansion teams on Thursday.

In a pair of videos, it was announced that the Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Goldeneyes are the PWHL's two newest teams:

The Torrent and Goldeneyes will begin play during the 2025-26 season, which opens on Nov. 21.

Both Seattle and Vancouver were first revealed as expansion franchises back in April, and just seven months later, they will open play as the first expansion teams in league history.

The Torrent will play their home games at Climate Pledge Arena, which is the home of the NHL's Seattle Kraken, while the Goldeneyes will play at Pacific Coliseum, which is where the WHA's Vancouver Blazers and WHL's Vancouver Giants used to call home.

Former Oshawa Generals head coach Steve O'Rourke is the head coach of the Torrent, and they will be led on the ice by veteran forward Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter.

Knight, 36, led the PWHL in points while with the Boston Fleet last season, and she is a 10-time gold medalist at the world championships, as well as a one-time gold medalist and three-time silver medalist for Team USA at the Olympics.

The 31-year-old Carpenter is a seven-time world championships gold medalist and two-time Olympic silver medalist for the United States as well.

The Goldeneyes are guided by former North Dakota and St. Cloud State head women's hockey coach Brian Idalski.

They are led by a pair of Canadian stars in forward Sarah Nurse and goalie Emerance Maschmeyer.

Nurse, who is the cousin of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, has won three world championship gold medals and one Olympic gold medal. Maschmeyer also has four career gold medals between the world championships and Olympics.

Fittingly, the Torrent and Goldeneyes will play their first-ever PWHL games against each other when Vancouver hosts Seattle on Nov. 21.