The puck drops Friday at the inaugural game for the Vancouver Goldeneyes, and a group of young hockey players from Kelowna will be part of the historic moment.
The Kelowna Minor Hockey U9 Huntrix has been chosen to play an exhibition scrimmage game during the first intermission of the Goldeneyes game against the Seattle Torrent on Friday.
The Goldeneyes and Torrent are the latest expansion teams in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
Parents Ashley and David Skermer, whose daughter Millie, 7, plays for the Huntrix, came up with the idea after hearing that Vancouver would be getting a PWHL franchise.
“My husband and I thought, what a great opportunity to go as a family to see,” said Ashley Skermer.
“And then, we thought, well, what if Millie’s team went? How special would that be?”
She said when she pitched the idea to other parents and the team, everyone was on board.
She reached out early to the Vancouver PWHL franchise and kept checking back to ask if the Huntrix could be included in opening day action.
Recently, they got the good news that the girls would be playing on Pacific Coliseum ice during Friday’s game.
“It’s just such an important celebration for equal opportunity and recognizing the importance of the vital role models for the next generation,” said Ashley.
A group of about 65 people from the Kelowna area will be making their way to Vancouver, including 12 girls from the Huntrix.
The Huntrix is the only all-girls team in Kelowna Minor Hockey’s U9 division.
“We’ve got parents and grandparents coming,” said Ashley.
“It’s just like a big little tour. We’re all driving and flying.”
“We’re heading down Thursday and then on Friday, we get to watch the morning practice,” she added.
“So we’re hoping to make a lot of noise to maybe have a little meet and greet or picture opportunity. I know the girls would just love that.”
The Skermers sponsored the team’s tickets to Friday’s game, which is nearly sold out.
The Vancouver Goldeneyes will play their first-ever game at Pacific Coliseum, the former home of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants and NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.
“The best part is, Millie lost her two front teeth on the weekend, and we’re like, girl, you look like a true hockey player now,” Ashley said with a laugh.
The Vancouver Goldeneyes were announced as the PWHL’s first expansion franchise in April 2025.
They join the league alongside the Seattle Torrent, bringing the total number of PWHL teams to eight.
The league now includes Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montreal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres alongside the two new teams.
General manager Cara Gardner Morey and head coach Brian Idalski built a competitive roster through the expansion draft and free agency.
The team signed high-profile players including forwards Sarah Nurse and Jenn Gardiner, defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques, and goalkeeper Emerance Maschmeyer.
The Goldeneyes aim to be competitive from their first season.
Their roster blends international experience, proven veterans and emerging local talent.
Friday’s game marks the PWHL season opener with expansion teams facing each other.
The matchup features two teams making their professional debuts in front of enthusiastic home crowds.
The Vancouver franchise gained momentum after a PWHL exhibition game at Rogers Arena drew 19,038 spectators in January 2025.
That record-breaking attendance showed the demand for professional women’s hockey on Canada’s West Coast.
For the young girls from Kelowna, playing during intermission provides an unforgettable experience.
They’ll skate on the same ice as professional women’s hockey players just moments before.
The Huntrix players represent the next generation of women’s hockey.
Watching elite female athletes compete at the highest level gives them role models to aspire to.
Ashley Skermer emphasized the importance of this moment for her daughter and teammates.
“These girls are seeing what’s possible for them in hockey,” she said.
The PWHL has quickly established itself as the premier women’s professional hockey league.
The addition of Vancouver and Seattle expands the league’s footprint and creates new opportunities for players.
Pacific Coliseum becomes the first arena where a PWHL team serves as the primary tenant.
This marks a significant milestone for the league’s growth and stability.
The Goldeneyes chose their name as an ode to the Common Goldeneye bird found along Vancouver’s waterways.
The team embodies speed, strength and synchrony, reflecting both the bird and the city’s spirit.
Friday’s historic game represents more than just an expansion team debut.
It’s a declaration that elite women’s hockey belongs on Canada’s West Coast.
For 12 young girls from Kelowna, it’s a memory they’ll carry with them throughout their hockey careers.
They’ll always remember being part of the Vancouver Goldeneyes’ first game in PWHL history.
