The Associated Press has confirmed the National Women's Hockey League is adding a seventh team by expanding into Montreal next season.

The NWHL was initially scheduled to announce it was establishing its second Canadian franchise in early February.

That timeline was pushed back after the Isobel Cup playoffs were postponed following an outbreak of COVID-19.

According to The Associated Press, the Metropolitan Riveters and the Connecticut Whale announced their departure from the season due to COVID-19, which left only four teams to compete for the Isobel Cup.

League spokesman Paul Krotz says the NWHL has nothing to report on expansion and is instead focused on completing its playoffs this weekend near Boston.

The yet-to-be-named team would be run by the same BTM ownership group that also owns the Boston Pride, The AP reported.