The wait is over. On November 10, the PWHL unveiled the names and logos of its four expansion teams: the Detroit Clutch, the Hamilton Havoc, the San Jose Sea Lions and the Vegas Vanguards. That brings the league to 12 teams, five in Canada and seven in the U.S., according to The Canadian Press.
New names, new rivalries and a lot more players to pick from. Here’s what you need to know before the puck drops on December 5.
Meet the Four New Teams
- Detroit Clutch: A nod to Motor City’s car-building roots and to players who deliver when the pressure is on. The round logo is built around a wheel and a clutch.
- Hamilton Havoc: Hamilton’s official bird, the peregrine falcon, reimagined in steel. The name reflects a city where steel mills sit right next to the Niagara Escarpment.
- San Jose Sea Lions: Inspired by the Bay Area coast. The name also honours the San Francisco Sea Lions, a 1946 team in the West Coast Negro Baseball Association.
- Vegas Vanguards: A desert kit fox whose ears form a “V,” under the Las Vegas star. The colours are cactus green, fox ivory, desert gold and midnight navy.
Want a closer look? SportsLogos.Net breaks down every design detail.
Hamilton Havoc Wins the Name Game
We may be a little biased, but Havoc is the best of the bunch. It’s short, loud and easy to chant. The falcon fits too: GM Meghan Duggan tied the bird to speed, precision and resilience, pointing out that the species came back from near extinction and now thrives in Hamilton.
The roster backs up the name. Hamilton has Canadian national-team forwards Brianne Jenner and Emily Clark, defender Nicole Gosling and goalie Kayle Osborne, plus Swiss forward Alina Müller and rookie Jade Iginla, daughter of Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla.
Elbows up, Canada. Havoc is coming.
Logos Now, New Jerseys Later
Don’t expect the new logos on the ice just yet. Following PWHL tradition, all four teams will wear their city names across the front of their sweaters this season. The logos move onto redesigned jerseys in 2027-28. You can see this season’s look in the inaugural jersey reveal.
Key Dates
- November 18: PWHL training camps open
- December 5: The season opens. Hamilton visits Montréal, and San Jose hosts the Minnesota Frost at SAP Center
- December 6: Detroit and Vegas meet at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
- December 13: Hamilton’s home opener against Ottawa at TD Coliseum
What 12 Teams Means for Your Pool
Four new teams means four new rosters, and a lot more players to choose from. Your draft gets deeper, sleepers are easier to find, and every poolie has room to build something different.
Pick your style:
- Draft Pool: take turns picking players and build your team from scratch
- Box Pool: choose one player from each box
- Pick’em Pool: pick the winners, game by game
- Head-to-Head: face another poolie in each matchup
Get Your PWHL Pool Ready
The season starts December 5, so now is the time to set up your league. Create your PWHL pool and get the office, the family or the group chat on the ice.
