What is it like playing for an expansion team?

May 22, 2026 - 14:51

A retired professional women's hockey player recently opened up about the unique challenges and rewards of joining a brand-new franchise in the now-defunct Premier Hockey Federation. On this week's Hockey Insider, she detailed the experience of being part of an expansion team, offering a rare look behind the curtain.

She described the initial chaos as both exhilarating and exhausting. There was no established culture, no locker room traditions, and no history to lean on. Everything had to be built from scratch, from team chemistry to game-day routines. The player recalled walking into a bare locker room on the first day, with no banners, no photos, and no sense of identity. It was a blank slate, which meant every player had a hand in shaping the team's character.

The biggest challenge, she said, was the lack of a "veteran core." In established teams, younger players can learn from those who have been through the grind. On an expansion team, everyone was figuring it out together. This led to a lot of growing pains, including early-season losses and struggles with systems. But it also created a unique bond. The team had to rely on each other in a way that players on established teams might never experience.

She also touched on the pressure of playing in front of smaller crowds and the constant need to prove the team belonged. There was no assumption of success. Every win felt like a major milestone, and every loss stung a little more because it felt like a setback for the entire organization. Despite the difficulties, she called it one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. It taught her resilience, patience, and the true meaning of building something from nothing.