HALIFAX On December 17, 2025, the Montreal Victoire achieved a notable victory against the Toronto Sceptres in the first-ever Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) game held in Halifax. The match took place at the Scotiabank Centre, drawing a sold-out crowd of nearly 10,438 fans who enthusiastically supported both teams throughout the event.
Ann-Renée Desbiens played a pivotal role for the Victoire, making an impressive 35 saves during regulation and overtime. The match concluded with a dramatic 10-round shootout, where Marie-Philip Poulin scored the decisive goal, securing the win for Montreal. Desbiens successfully stopped all five shootout attempts from the Sceptres, showcasing her skill and composure under pressure.
In regulation play, Maya Labad scored for the Victoire, equalizing the game after Anna Kjellbin had given the Sceptres an early lead in the first period. Kjellbin’s goal at 3:26 was assisted by teammates Clara Van Wieren and Emma Woods. Labad’s response came at 12:16 in the first, with assists from Kaitlin Willoughby and Kati Tabin. Despite a thrilling back-and-forth game, neither team could find the net again in regulation or overtime, leading to the high-stakes shootout.
Toronto's captain, Blayre Turnbull, a local favorite from Stellarton, N.S., nearly clinched the win for her team in the closing seconds of regulation, but her rebound shot was expertly saved by Desbiens. In overtime, a breakaway opportunity presented itself for Sceptres forward Emma Maltais, yet a penalty against Toronto's Renata Fast for interference prevented the goal that would have sealed the game.
The game also highlighted several local connections, with several players and staff hailing from Nova Scotia. Among them were Turnbull, defenseman Allie Munroe from Yarmouth, and Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan from Spryfield. Additionally, Kori Cheverie, the coach of the Victoire, is from New Glasgow. The presence of Atlantic Canadians in the match reflects the region’s active participation in female hockey, which comprises 11 percent of registered female players across Canada, according to Hockey Canada.
The match between the Victoire and Sceptres marked the first of 16 neutral-site games in the PWHL's Takeover Tour. Halifax will host another match on January 11, 2026, featuring the Ottawa Charge against the Boston Fleet, allowing local fans to witness more professional women's hockey.
Looking ahead, the Victoire will visit the Vancouver Goldeneyes for their next game on Saturday, while the Sceptres are set to travel to New York to face the Sirens on Sunday. The strong performances and thrilling moments experienced during this inaugural event point to a promising future for the league in Halifax and beyond.
