The Land, The Sea, The Captain - Marie Philip Poulin Leads Montreal Victoire To A Thrilling Shootout Win In Halifax
- caitlynwagner11
- 15 hours ago
- 4 min read
When members of the crowd in Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia sat down for the sold out Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) Takeover Tour, nobody could have predicted the show they’d be treated to.
The PWHL’s first Takeover Tour stop of the season was not only a homecoming for Toronto Sceptres captain Blayre Turnbull, it also marked the first time that the league has played a game in Canada east of Montreal. It was only fitting, then, that the December 17th clash featured one of the most storied rivalries in the league, with the Montreal Victoire taking on the Toronto Sceptres. Both teams were playing their first game since the International break, and both had things to prove: Montreal, that they could continue their dominance against Toronto this season, and Toronto, that they would be able to profit off their hometown heroes.
Much like the previous Rivalry Series game that Halifax hosted in February (which saw the USA win 2-1 in a shootout), Wednesday’s game featured an incredible performance from both teams’ goalies. Marking the 12th neutral site game in the league’s history, Toronto Sceptres defender Anna Kjellbin scored at 3:26 to get the crowd cheering early, but then Montreal Victoire rookie Maya Labard – in her first PWHL game, no less, – scored at 12:16 to get the crowd back on their feet. There were plenty of Sceptres and Victoire jerseys in the stands, but even Toronto fans were happy to see the Victories' rookie score in her very first game. What a welcome to the league!
It was a goalie duel from then on. Toronto took three penalties in the second period alone, but goalie Raygan Kirk held on with an incredible performance and didn’t let one by. On the other end, Montreal’s goalie, Anne Renee Desbiens, was just as solid. By the end of regulation, it was clear that there would have to be an overtime or shootout hero. Hometown hero Blayre Turnbull would have been sure to make the crowd roar, but we call her Captain Clutch for a reason – in the five rounds of a shootout that the game ultimately went to, Marie Philip Poulin was the only one to beat Raygan Kirk, and thus cemented the win for her Montreal Victorie.
“It’s always fun to play behind this team,” Desbiens said when asked about the win. “There’s always people willing to do the little things . . . I was really thankful for all the help I got”. Nova Scotia native and Victorie Head Coach Kori Cheverie added that this game felt “meaningful”, and was sure to express her gratitude to the Halifax crowd: “It was amazing to see the young girls and boys in the crowd wearing our jerseys, saying our names, and wanting our autographs.” Hockey on the east coast of Canada typically comes in the form of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League’s (QMJHL) Halifax Mooseheads, so Montreal’s thrilling shootout win not only allowed for the PWHL to test the waters in the Halifax market, but also gave many fans a chance to experience their first professional hockey game.
Hockey on the East Coast
Though the game didn’t exactly go the Sceptres’ way, Stellerton NS native Blayre Turnbull only had positive things to say about playing in her home province. “For young girls to now have the chance to see us play in the PWHL, I think it’s an awesome opportunity for them to chase their dreams and to try and be a professional hockey player when they grow up”, she mentioned, further referencing the fact that her and Allie Munroe, Yarmouth, NS, native and fellow Sceptres teammate, “didn’t have have the chance to dream of playing professional hockey.” Scotiabank Centre showed up for the first of the Takeover Tour games in Halifax - the crowd of 10,438 was a sellout, and only the 4th sellout of the entire Takeover Tour, with Edmonton, Montreal, and Vancouver being the other cities to pack their barn.
Whether it was high attendances to open practices, welcoming the teams in at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, or just general hospitality, it’s safe to say that everyone, not just Nova Scotians, had a good time in Halifax. From the roar of the crowd when Blayre Turnbull’s name was announced, to the – equally as loud – screams when Marie Philip Poulin scored in the shootout, the crowd in Halifax showed they’re ready for professional hockey to be more frequent in the Maritimes. “I can’t imagine a better place to have a PWHL team than Halifax”, Turnbull said. When the Takeover Tour returns to the east coast on January 11th to host the Boston Fleet and Ottawa Charge, signs like “Halifax needs a team” are sure to reappear, and they’re sure to get just as loud of a reception as they did on Wednesday night.
Edited by Ashley Holloman