Walter Cup's Lethbridge visit rescheduled after trophy went missing in transit

The PWHL's Walter Cup finally made its rescheduled stop in Lethbridge this week, appearing at a fan meet-and-greet Wednesday night with Montréal Victoire forward Dara Greig. The visit had been postponed after the trophy failed to arrive in the city last month when a shipping mix-up sent the wrong container.

League officials said the cup was found days later and reunited with the team, though it remains unclear where it turned up or how the mix-up happened. A second incident followed in early September when former Victoire forward Shiann Darkangelo said the cup did not arrive in time for an event she attended in Brighton, Mich. The league used the same shipping company both times, according to a report in The Athletic, and said it is working with the company to resolve the issue.

PWHL executive vice-president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford said the trophy was delayed rather than lost and that the league always knew its location. She said the league may eventually introduce a 'Keeper of the Cup' role, similar to the NHL's practice with the Stanley Cup, though no timeline has been set.

The travelling trophy is a replica of the Walter Cup; the original sterling silver, Tiffany & Co.-designed version is kept at the Hockey Hall of Fame. The PWHL also announced this week it will hold its first all-star event in Toronto on March 7, with its 2026-27 schedule expected soon and training camps opening Nov. 18 for its fourth season, which now includes 12 teams.