For the first time ever, the Professional Women’s Hockey League played a game in Calgary at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday night.
Calgary welcomed the Toronto Sceptres and the Ottawa Charge for nothing short of a critical matchup.
While the fans in attendance soaked up the fun atmosphere, the two teams had no time to waste, given what was at stake – a spot in the PWHL playoffs.
Cochrane native gets warm welcome from Clagary fans
At the start of the game, the energetic crowd of 16,150 gave the loudest applause for Cochrane, Alta., native Sarah Wozeniewicz as the starting lineups were announced, and again when the scoreboard reminded the fans she was from Alberta midway through the first period.
“It was very overwhelming, but it also shows how strong the community of Calgary is,” said Wozeniewicz.
Rivalry between Toronto and Ottawa
Coming into the game, the two teams had split their previous meetings, each winning one.
Toronto entered on a two-game slide, opposite of Ottawa’s two-game winning streak. Wednesday night at the ‘dome did not disappoint as the Sceptres gutted out a 2-1 victory.
Meggie Connors opened the scoring for the Sceptres.
The goal marked the third notch of the season for the St John’s native.
Before the end of the opening period, Charge forward Fanuza Kadirova knotted it up with a seeing-eye shot into the top right corner.
The score would remain locked until the third period, where Claire Dalton broke the tie less than a minute into the frame with what would be the eventual game-winner.
With that goal, Toronto captain Blayre Turnbull would claim her second assist of the night, establishing herself as a star of the game.
Dalton, herself, recorded a two-point night for the Sceptres.
“[It felt] so good, even better that it was an empty net tap in,” said Dalton regarding her first goal of the season on Wednesday night.
Toronto gained a massive three points in the playoff push as they hopped over Ottawa for the fourth and final playoff spot in search of a Walter Cup.
The Canadian clubs are due to face off once again on April 11 in Toronto in an equally important game.