A Missed Opportunity in Trophy Naming
The Professional Women’s Hockey League has quickly become the benchmark for elite female competition, drawing record crowds and sponsorship while showcasing a level of skill that rivals any men’s counterpart.
At the center of that story is the Walter Cup, the championship trophy that bears the name of league founder Mark Walter, a male executive whose legacy overshadows the pioneering women who first laid the groundwork for professional hockey.
Even the most celebrated individual honors, such as the Billie Jean King MVP Award and the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP Award, pay tribute to tennis legends whose involvement stems from their early support of the league’s formation, rather than to the on‑ice trailblazers themselves.
Previous women’s professional leagues, like the NWHL and CWHL, named their trophies after historic figures in women’s hockey, setting a precedent that the PWHL could easily follow.
The article argues that the league could honor pioneers such as Marguerite Norris, Hayley Wickenheiser and Manon Rhéaume by naming its trophies after them, thereby preserving the sport’s rich narrative and inspiring the next generation of players.