PWHL Walter Cup Odds: Vancouver Goldeneyes, Seattle Torrent favoured in inaugural seasons
Puck drop for Year 3 of the PWHL is set for Friday night and the expansion Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent lead the way as the favourites to win the Walter Cup.
Here’s what you need to know.
PWHL expansion
It’s the first wave of expansion for the PWHL. The league is headed west with the additions of Vancouver and Seattle and oddsmakers expect both teams to be competitive right off the hop.
The Goldeneyes enter the season as +340 favourites to win the Walter Cup, followed by the Torrent at +375. Both teams will be looking to dethrone the two-time champion Minnesota Frost, who are +600 to complete the three-peat.
The Goldeneyes and Torrent open the regular season against each other in Vancouver on Friday.
Vancouver Goldeneyes
Vancouver took full advantage of the expansion draft, selecting seven players, led by blue liner Ashton Bell. A member of Ottawa for the last two seasons, Bell also won a gold medal with Canada at the 2022 winter olympics and she is a three-time world champion.
The biggest star name the Goldeneyes signed is clearly Sarah Nurse. The 30-year-old has been a staple of the Canadian national team, winning an olympics gold and three world championships. Nurse spent the last two seasons with Toronto, recording 37 points (17G, 20A) in 45 games.
Vancouver also added defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jacques. Thompson and Jacques were both members of Minnesota’s Walter Cup winning team last year and they were each finalists for Defender of the Year.
Seattle Torrent
Seattle is also well positioned to be competitive right away. The Torrent took three forwards and four defenders in the expansion draft, led by Hannah Bilka, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2024 PWHL draft.
Seattle’s biggest signing is easily Hilary Knight, captain of the U.S. national team. The 36-year-old has one gold medal and three silvers at the olympics and she is a 10-time world champion. Knight, named captain of the Torrent on Nov. 14, finished last season with the Boston Fleet tied for first in the PWHL in points (29) and tied for second in goals (15).
Seattle selected Jenna Buglioni eighth overall in the 2025 PWHL draft. The Port Moody, B.C. native spent last year as a fifth-year senior at Ohio State, finishing with 42 points (17G, 25A) in 38 games. Buglioni is a two-time national champion with the Buckeyes.
