Brooke Hobson (left) and Katilin Willioughby have their eyes on the prize as the PWHL playoffs are underway. (Image Credit: Josh Kim/Ottawa Charge; PWHL via Luke Schmidt/Minnesota Frost)

By Logan Lehmann

Professional Women's Hockey League

Former Bears ready to lead their teams in PWHL playoffs

May 1, 2026 | 12:34 PM

Two Prince Albert hockey stars are ready to rumble in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) playoffs.

Although not playing against each other, Brooke Hobson and Kaitlin Willoughby will be looking to help their respective teams get to the Walter Cup finals as league playoffs kicked off on Thursday.

Hobson, a former Prince Albert Northern Bear captain, spent this past season in Ottawa with the Charge and was recently activated from long term injury reserve by the team following an injury she suffered in practice on March 24.

This season, the 26-year-old defender potted four points (1G-3A) in 23 regular-season games. She now has 13 career points (3G-10A) in 76 career games. Game 1 of Ottawa’s series with the Boston Fleet got underway on Thursday, and saw the Fleet prevail 2-1. Game 2 is set for Saturday in Boston at 5 p.m. CST.

Hobson skates with the puck during her time as an assistant captain with the Northern Bears. She also captained the Northeastern University Huskies in Boston from 2020 to 2022 prior to going pro. (Image Credit: File photo/paNOW Staff)

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Meanwhile, Willoughby and the top ranked Montreal Victoire get their playoff run started on Saturday against the two-time defending PWHL champion Minnesota Frost.

Willoughby, also a former Northern Bear captain, is having a career year in her third pro season with three goals and three assists in 29 games. The 31-year-old forward also has one assist in nine career playoff games.

Following her time with the Northern Bears, Willoughby captained the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in her final year with the team during the 2017-18 season. (Image Credit: File photo/paNOW)

Game 1 of the semi-final series between the Victoire and Frost is set for 12 p.m. CST Saturday in Montreal.

A full PWHL playoff schedule can be found by clicking here.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

by Logan Lehmann

Former Bears ready to lead their teams in PWHL playoffs

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