Canadian hockey stars Spooner, Jenner excited for PWHL season despite remaining unknowns

It was a summer of waiting for women's hockey players.

After a collective bargaining agreement was signed in July to form a new, unified league, many players were largely left out of the loop on the details of building it.

But all of a sudden, in a single call on Monday, details on the Professional Women's Hockey League were unveiled to players, including the locations of six franchises.

Three-time Canadian Olympian Natalie Spooner could be among those early signings.

"It all feels like it's happening really quick, but at the same time it's just so exciting," she told CBC Sports on Thursday. "I think it's more excitement over any other feeling and just to kind of get it underway. I think for women's hockey it's just amazing and the buzz it's creating, it's just going to help grow our game."

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There's no doubting the palpable excitement among players. But there are still questions to be answered.

Asked what she is most excited for in the PWHL, Spooner put those unknowns into perspective.

In between free agency and the draft, there's an international window. Canada will hold training camp the entire week in St. Catharines, Ont. — an event that could become a tryout of sorts for players who don't land those initial 18 contracts.

"I'm sure there's gonna be a lot of people that are probably GMs in the league, probably coaches in the league too that are paying attention to that training camp … to kind of make their decisions for their roster," Canadian forward Brianne Jenner told CBC Sports.

"So obviously I want to compete on the ice and put my best foot forward to be taken."

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Jenner, of Oakville, Ont., and Spooner, of Scarborough, Ont., both said they hope to be among the first wave of signings. However, there will be heavy competition if they're set on staying in Toronto.

"Obviously there's markets that I have closer ties to but I'd be excited to make a difference and compete for a championship on any team that wants me to be there," Jenner said.