Professional Women's Hockey League game draws sold-out crowd in Vancouver

It was a momentous occasion for thousands of Vancouverites on Wednesday, as a sold-out Rogers Arena welcomed the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) to the city for the first time. 

The Toronto Sceptres battled the Montreal Victoire in the second game of the PWHL's "Takeover Tour" of neutral-site games. The Victoire emerged victorious with a 4-2 win.

The enthusiastic reception to professional women's hockey could be a positive sign for Vancouver, with the league saying the takeover tour — which is travelling across the continent — is a test of where potential expansion teams might take root.

With all the PWHL teams based significantly east of Vancouver — the closest team would be Minnesota in the U.S. midwest — and much of B.C. not seeing professional women's hockey for over a decade, those in attendance on Wednesday said the excitement was infectious.

"I thought it was a good chance for the women to show that they can do exactly what men can do," said Ava McGinley, a junior hockey player. "And it's just super fun that we could have the experience of playing up there one day."

McGinley and her teammate Naz Mansour both play with the Fraser Valley Rush U-18 AAA program. They said pro hockey is something they'd potentially like to strive toward. 

"Essentially, if it's something you want to pursue, it's a possibility now," Mansour said. 

"And the women that are currently playing in the league are paving the way for us, for this possibility."

WATCH | Junior hockey players express optimism over PWHL coming to B.C.: 

Female junior hockey players buzzed over PWHL game in Vancouver

15 hours ago

Duration 6:08

The Professional Women's Hockey League is making its first appearance in Vancouver Wednesday, as the Toronto Sceptres and the Montreal Victoire battle it out. Two forwards with the Fraser Valley Rush U-18 AAA program, Ava McGinley and Naz Mansour, spoke about their excitement ahead of the game.

Both girls joined an exuberant crowd of over 19,000 people at Rogers Arena, the home of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks. Tickets to the game were sold out within days of release.

A CBC News reporter in attendance said the crowd was excited throughout the evening, and many spectators held up signs begging for the league to come to Vancouver.

The PWHL saw great success in its first season in 2023-24, including drawing the largest-ever crowd for a women's hockey game in Montreal.

However, being in its infancy, the league acknowledged that basing all of its teams within a few hundred miles — within Central Canada, the U.S. midwest and East Coast — was to trim costs as the league found its footing.

Jayna Hefford, the league's senior vice-president of hockey operations, said the PWHL was thrilled with the response it received in Vancouver.

"We're looking at if there's an opportunity to be a part of that market at some point in the future, and Vancouver is no different," she told CBC News. "Again, a great hockey city, someplace that I think we see a lot of potential in."

WATCH | Seattle neutral-site game ends in shootout: 

Fleet claim shootout victory in Seattle to snap Victoire's 4-game win streak

4 days ago

Duration 1:19

Boston defeats Montreal 3-2 in a shootout to halt their 3-game losing skid. The game was held in Seattle, Wash., at Climate Pledge Arena for the first stop of the PWHL Takeover Tour.

Hefford acknowledged there would be challenges in basing an expansion team on the West Coast, and distance and travel time would be one of them.

"But it's not one that's insurmountable or one that any other league hasn't found a solution to," she said.

Victoire prevail

In front of an announced crowd of 19,038 fans, the Victoire (4-2-1-1) won 4-2 over the PWHL's cellar dwellers, the Sceptres (2-0-1-5).

In the PWHL, three points are awarded for a win in regulation, two for an overtime win and one for an overtime loss. The win over the Sceptres means the Victoire take the top spot in the PWHL standings over the Minnesota Frost.

Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Marie-Philip Poulin and Claire Dalton scored to help Montreal build a 3-0 lead in the second period.

But Toronto roared back to set up an exciting final frame, with Daryl Watts scoring in the second period and Jesse Compher in the third.

The Sceptres' comeback bid came up short, though, and Poulin nabbed her second goal of the night on an empty net after goalie Kristen Campbell was pulled in favour of an extra skater.