Mandated neck protection, high-sticking pucks permitted for 2026-27 PWHL season
Ahead of its fourth season of operation, the Professional Women’s Hockey League is making some changes to its rulebook.
On Thursday, the league announced a few tweaks ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, including clarifications on body checking, mandated neck protection, new high-sticking rules, and some experimentation with overtime during the preseason.
Neck guards have been a point of contention around the game ever since Adam Johnson’s tragic passing in 2023. Since then, the IIHF, USA Hockey, American Hockey League and the NHL have mandated the use of neck guards for their athletes. Now, the PWHL is requiring all players and goaltenders to wear cut-resistant neck protection during games, including pregame warmups.
An interesting rule being implemented this year is that players can now knock the puck out of the air with their stick above the shoulders. Unlike previous years, the play is blown dead after the puck is knocked down by a player and either that player or their teammate touches the puck. Now, the action can continue, regardless of who bats the puck out of the air. Also, players can score when deflecting the puck high in the air, eliminating the judgment call from on- and off-ice officials about whether a player’s stick was above the crossbar. A similar rule was adopted by the WCHA prior to the 2025-26 season.
One point in the rule is that players can cradle the puck above their shoulders (a la the Michigan goal). However, if a player tries to cradle the puck on a penalty shot or shootout, the play will be blown dead and the shot will be complete.
Body checking has been a welcome addition to the women’s game. However, there has been a large gray area of what is considered a legal hit in the PWHL. The league is attempting to further clarify the rule, noting that blindside hits, upward checks with the arms, and vigorous interference will be called tightly.
During the preseason, the league is going to try out a rule during overtime. When a team takes a penalty, the opposing team can choose to accept a power play or take a penalty shot. It certainly could generate more excitement in the extra frame.
The 2026-27 season begins with a tripleheader on Dec. 5, with the Seattle Torrent visiting the Vancouver Goldeneyes.