The latest addition to the Vancouver team of the Professional Women’s Hockey League is the four-time Olympian Michelle Karvinen. Chosen in the first round of the PWHL entry draft in June, the 35-year-old forward was the seventh overall pick by Vancouver.
Karvinen has a diverse hockey background, having previously played at the University of North Dakota and in various leagues in Finland, Switzerland, and Russia. Despite hailing from Rodovre, Denmark, she competes internationally for Finland and has secured three Olympic bronze medals with the national team.
Vancouver’s general manager, Cara Gardner Morey, praised Karvinen in a press release, highlighting her as a seasoned winner and a hockey veteran with extensive experience. The PWHL Vancouver is set to begin its inaugural season on November 21 with a match against PWHL Seattle, another new expansion team.
The PWHL’s announcement of Vancouver as the league’s seventh franchise revealed that the team will commence play in the upcoming 2025/2026 season, utilizing the historic Pacific Coliseum as their home arena.