Mark Walter Group Acquires Premier Hockey Federation, Unifying Women's Pro Hockey in North America
The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) has been purchased by The Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises, resolving the long-standing divide between the PHF and the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). This acquisition fundamentally changes the landscape of professional women's hockey, creating a clear path for one North American league to showcase the best players in the world. The PHF, formerly known as the National Women's Hockey League, has been the only option for professional women's hockey in North America since the Canadian Women's Hockey League shut down in 2019. The PWHPA, founded in 2019, aims to build a sustainable league and entered into a business relationship with The Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises in 2022. PWHPA members will be voting to ratify a first-of-its-kind collective bargaining agreement in the coming days.