Media who wish to attend can apply for media accreditation here.
NEW YORK AND TORONTO (April 15, 2025) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced that the 2025 PWHL Draft Presented by Upper Deck will take place on Tuesday, June 24 at 7 p.m. ET at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Ottawa, Ontario. The event will bring together the league’s leading prospects, well-known figures from the women’s hockey community, and the PWHL’s dedicated fanbase to celebrate the next wave of league stars.
This will be the first-ever event held at the brand new Hard Rock Live theatre venue, which is currently part of the $350 million construction and expansion project–– the new amenities are expected to open to the public very soon. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is the exclusive brick-and-mortar casino partner of the Ottawa Charge.
Prospective players have until Thursday, May 8 to declare their eligibility for selection in the 2025 Draft. Additional details regarding the Draft, including format and ticketing information, will be shared in the coming weeks.
As the presenting partner of the 2025 Draft, Upper Deck is expanding its relationship with the PWHL, which includes being the league’s exclusive trading card manufacturer since March 2024. This collaboration illustrates the company’s commitment to the PWHL’s growth and celebrates the league, its teams and athletes through collectibles and live events.
Fans who are interested in attending the 2025 PWHL Draft Presented by Upper Deck can join the priority list here. Fans who have filled out the form will receive first access to information and offers to attend official PWHL events including the 2025 PWHL Draft. Collectors can also visit www.upperdeck.com/pwhlfirstedition to find a hobby shop or online retailer to purchase PWHL trading cards.
ABOUT PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE (PWHL)
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprised of six teams in Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto, each with rosters featuring the best women’s hockey players in the world. Launched on Jan. 1, 2024, the PWHL has broken multiple attendance records and holds the worldwide all-time record for a women’s hockey game. In 2024, the PWHL was recognized by Sports Business Journal as the Sports Breakthrough of the Year and received the top position in the first-ever Canadian edition of the Harris Poll, which ranks companies’ reputations. Visit thepwhl.com to purchase tickets and merchandise, and subscribe to the PWHL e-newsletter to receive the latest league updates. Follow the league on all social media platforms @thepwhlofficial.
PWHL, the PWHL Logo, and PWHL team names and logos are trademarks of the PWHL. © PWHL 2024. All Rights Reserved
About Rideau Carleton Casino (Future Home of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa)
Rideau Carleton Casino officially opened as Rideau Carleton Raceway in 1962, as Canada’s first-ever five-eighths mile oval and has been a key part of Ontario’s harness racing community ever since. Since the addition of gaming in February 2000, the City of Ottawa has received approximately $6 million annually and more than $106 million in total payments for hosting Rideau Carleton Casino within the National Capital Region.
With eager anticipation of the opening of the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, Rideau Carleton Casino remains open 24/7, ready to serve their guests with the same dedication and excitement. Hard Rock is working to build a new state-of-the-art entertainment facility that will soon bring the iconic Hard Rock brand to Ottawa and enliven the city like never before. Future amenities will include a contemporary hotel design with 150 rooms, including 22 suites, an expanded gaming floor showcasing 1,500 slot machines, 40 live-action table games, and high-limit gaming. Guests can enjoy more than 10 restaurants, bars, and lounges, including the iconic Hard Rock Cafe and Council Oak Steakhouse. The resort will also be home to the classic Rock Shop, a 1,800 plus seat Hard Rock Live venue, and authentic music memorabilia.
The facility is a significant driver of job creation and will employ over 700 local residents, once completed. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa will continue the tradition of community investment through local sponsorships and non-profit partnerships, enhancing the lives of residents and visitors alike as was established under Rideau Carleton Casino.
Rideau Carleton Casino is operated by Hard Rock International and governed by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). With OLG partnership, Rideau Carleton Casino demonstrates a daily commitment to responsible gambling with full implementation of OLG’s PlaySmart program and is recognized through the RG Check accreditation program.
For more information on Rideau Carleton Casino, visit rideaucarletoncasino.com.
About Hard Rock®:
Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in nearly 77 countries spanning more than 300 locations including owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia with more than 88,000 pieces displayed at locations around the globe. The Unity by Hard Rock™ global loyalty program rewards members for doing the things they love across participating properties. In addition, Hard Rock Digital spotlights the sports betting and iGaming experience with products remixed in the spirit of Hard Rock for players worldwide.
HRI has received numerous industry and destination awards across the travel, hospitality, gaming, entertainment and food & beverage sectors. HRI currently holds investment grades from primary investment-grade rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings (BBB) and Fitch Ratings (BBB). For more information on Hard Rock International, www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.
About Upper Deck
Upper Deck is a global entertainment company creating trading cards, memorabilia, collectibles, games, and online platforms that deliver the experiences collectors crave. Upper Deck has set the unmatched industry standard for quality, authenticity, and innovation and continues to bring generations of fans closer to their favorite athletes and characters with unique and authentic sports and entertainment product offerings, as well as its digital trading ecosystem. The company prides itself on creating collectibles that produce invaluable experiences for sports and entertainment’s most dedicated and loyal fans, with a goal to deliver excellence to the community across the most coveted properties as a means to develop memorable moments for collectors of all kinds.
Find more information at http://www.upperdeck.com, www.UpperDeckBlog.com or follow us on Facebook (/UpperDeck), Instagram (UpperDeckSports), X (UpperDeckSports), and YouTube (UDvids).
