John Tavares has spent untold hours honing his skills.

Like the hundreds of NHLers he battles with and against each season, the reward is a career in the spotlight to go along with millions of dollars in the bank.

WomenB次元官网网址檚 hockey players B次元官网网址� many of them stars on the international stage B次元官网网址� have never had the same opportunity at the professional level.

That frustrating situation, however, changed quickly and drastically when the Professional WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League was unveiled in late June.

Slated to begin play in January, the new circuit represents a seismic shift in the womenB次元官网网址檚 game, which has provided some of the sportB次元官网网址檚 iconic moments at the Olympics and world championships with the heated Canada-U. S. rivalry, but has struggled to gain traction in North America with a financially sustainable pro model.

The PWHL now established with teams in six hockey-crazed markets, the game appears to finally be in lockstep.

And the men are glad the path is finally clear.

B次元官网网址淵ou want to see them flourish,B次元官网网址� Tavares, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, said at the pre-season NHL/NHLPA player media tour outside Las Vegas. B次元官网网址淭he international game, itB次元官网网址檚 been tremendously successful, a lot of fun to watch, and theyB次元官网网址檙e great athletes.

B次元官网网址淭hey play a great game that we all love. They do a great job at it and deserve the opportunity to have their own league and develop a history of pedigree B次元官网网址� a legacy B次元官网网址� just like we have as men.B次元官网网址�

Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul and the New York City area have been tabbed as the new leagueB次元官网网址檚 Original Six.

B次元官网网址淕onna be awesome,B次元官网网址� Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk said of having a PWHL team in his backyard. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great market to play in and has a lot of people that care B次元官网网址� not only about the hockey side, but the people side.

B次元官网网址淩eally excited to have them.B次元官网网址�

The Professional WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey PlayersB次元官网网址� Association was established in 2019 after the Canadian WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League collapsed.

Instead of joining a rival league based south of the border, many of those players, including Canadian icon Marie Philip-Poulin and U.S. counterpart Hilary Knight, who have both appeared at NHL all-star games and exhibition tours in recent years, pushed for a sustainable economic model and fairer wages.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 what they appear to finally have in the PWHL, where salaries will range from US$35,000 to $80,000 as part of a collective bargaining agreement signed through 2031.

The new league has yet to unveil team names or arenas, but coaches and general managers are in place. The inaugural draft was held last month and rosters are being filled out ahead NovemberB次元官网网址檚 training camps.

B次元官网网址淔antastic,B次元官网网址� Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so good for womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey, but also hockey as a whole to be able to open up the game to everybody.

B次元官网网址淣ow that women can play at the professional level and make a living, itB次元官网网址檚 an amazing thing.B次元官网网址�

There are stories through generations of womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey players and the sacrifices made, including holding down multiple jobs or heading from practice to work to make ends meet.

B次元官网网址淵ou could give up on your dream or give up in a heartbeat with not having a pro league thatB次元官网网址檚 set,B次元官网网址� Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield said. B次元官网网址淔or them to stick with it and believe, itB次元官网网址檚 really cool. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of special people that are gonna get a chance to be known now and be recognized.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 probably the best part.B次元官网网址�

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said his league has offered logistical support, including scheduling some of its high-profile events in conjunction with the PWHL.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really to be there in any way we can to help facilitate the progression,B次元官网网址� Daly said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e working on a very ambitious timeline to get a league up and running and do all the things you need to do to make that happen. But theyB次元官网网址檙e committed to it. We just want to be helpful.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淰ery exciting,B次元官网网址� Calgary Flames centre Nazem Kadri added. B次元官网网址淎s players in the NHL, we completely support them. We want them to thrive, we want them to do well, we want them to expand.B次元官网网址�

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee was ecstatic when he heard the PWHL news, and not just for what it means right now.

B次元官网网址淎s a father of two girls, for them to have something down the line B次元官网网址� whether they play hockey or not B次元官网网址� just to have that opportunity and have these women to look up to,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址�(WomenB次元官网网址檚 hockey players) work just as hard as us, they put in all the same time. They deserve something like that.

B次元官网网址淓xcited to see where they can take it.B次元官网网址�

But not everyone is a winner B次元官网网址� at least in the short-term.

Only six PWHL teams means fewer spots available compared to previous setups, especially when adding in the stars from the PWHPA.

B次元官网网址淚 think they decided like, B次元官网网址楬ey, itB次元官网网址檚 time to take a run at this and get the best of the best, get them in on a few teams and try and put the best product on the ice,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 probably a good plan and a good thing. Obviously some people lose their jobs, but thatB次元官网网址檚 the way it goes.B次元官网网址�

The men see a bright future.

B次元官网网址淭his is a great opportunity,B次元官网网址� Tavares said. B次元官网网址淩eally hope their league can run with it.B次元官网网址�