New York overtakes Toronto in first PWHL game
Posted January 1, 2024 2:29 pm.
As we ring in the new year on Jan. 1, we also ring in the PWHL’s first-ever season and game.
Ella Shelton scored the historic opening goal, Corinne Schroeder earned the first-ever shutout, and New York toppled Toronto 4-0 in the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League game on Monday.
Alex Carpenter, with one goal and one assist, Jill Saulnier and Kayla Vespa added the other goals for New York (1-0-0). Schroeder made 29 saves.
Kristen Campbell stopped 24 shots for Toronto (0-1-0) in front of a sellout crowd of 2,537 at Mattamy Athletic Centre.
Tennis legend and PWHL board member, Billie Jean King performed the ceremonial puck drop alongside PWHL senior vice-president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford.
Each Toronto player was introduced to the crowd pre-game. All received standing ovations as lights flashed from fans’ mobile phones recording the moment.
Numerous fans donned PWHL beanies, PWHL Toronto jerseys, and Canadian team jerseys of different players. Some held up signs, including one reading “Thank You Billie Jean King.”
New York and Toronto met in pre-season scrimmage action in Utica, N.Y., with New York taking that game 6-4 on Dec. 7.
Having outshot Toronto 13-8 in the first period, Shelton opened the scoring for New York 10:43 into the first period.
The Canadian defender beat Campbell with a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle through some traffic, to the delight of a few in the crowd.
Toronto had numerous scoring chances of its own in the period but didn’t capitalize.
Sarah Nurse beat her defender with a toe drag only to be stonewalled by Schroeder with 1:57 left. Emma Maltais faced the same fate shortly after on a one-timer.
The second period was scoreless with Toronto outshooting New York 16-4, but Schroeder continued her impressive play.
Maltais was stopped point blank on a rebound off a Hannah Miller shot with just under five minutes to go, while Natalie Spooner’s wrist shot from the slot was kept out soon after.
Carpenter doubled New York’s lead 2:53 into the third period. The American forward streaked down the left side and roofed the puck over Campbell’s left shoulder.
Saulnier made it a 3-0 game at 4:57. Jade Downie-Landry picked up the puck by Toronto’s blue line and sent in a cross-ice pass while driving toward the net. A streaking Saulnier tipped it in.
Vespa furthered New York’s edge at 7:42. She took a pass in front from Alexandra Labelle and swept the puck past Campbell.
