The Professional Women's Hockey League plans to host an all-star event for the first time on March 7 in Toronto.
The four-team three-on-three tournament will be played at Scotiabank Arena, the league announced Thursday at a news conference at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
"The PWHL was built to feature the best players in the world, and now fans will see the highest level of skill in women's hockey showcased in a new and unique way," PWHL executive vice-president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford said in a statement. "The three-on-three format creates an intense, fast-paced style of play, while the mix of teams will produce intriguing matchups and give both established stars and emerging talent the opportunity to shine.
"It's only fitting that we return to Toronto — where the PWHL first dropped the puck — to bring the best of the best together for an unforgettable day for our fans and our league."
Team names will include PWHL Canada, PWHL International, PWHL USA and PWHL Rookies. Each team will consist of a 10-player roster with six forwards, three defenders and one goaltender.
At the completion of round-robin play, the second- and third-ranked teams will play in a semifinal game. The winner will meet the first-ranked team in the final.
Players in their first PWHL season, regardless of age, will first be eligible for the PWHL Rookies team.
"From the beginning, our players have been at the centre of the PWHL’s growth, and our first-ever all-star (event) gives us a new stage to celebrate them — and bring fans even closer to the personalities that make this league special,” said Amy Scheer, the PWHL's executive vice-president of business operations.
All-star starters will be selected through a combination of fan, player, and media voting. Reserve players will be selected by league hockey operations.
Full event details, including voting, roster construction, ticketing, and full gameplay rules will be announced closer to the event, the league said.
Toronto and New York played in the first PWHL game on Jan. 1, 2024, at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. PWHL players participated in a three-on-three showcase a month later as part of the NHL's all-star weekend at Scotiabank Arena.
The 12-team PWHL - which includes four expansion teams this season - is expected to kick off its 2026-27 campaign in late November or early December.
Training camps open Nov. 18 after the completion of the Nov. 6-16 IIHF Women's World Championship in Herning and Esbjerg, Denmark.