HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — In an exciting display of women’s hockey, the Montreal Victoire triumphed over the Toronto Sceptres in the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) game held in Halifax on the evening of December 17, 2025. The thrilling match concluded with a dramatic shootout after both teams finished regulation and overtime knotted at one goal each.
Montreal’s netminder Ann-Renée Desbiens was a standout performer, registering 35 saves throughout the game and subsequently stopping all five attempts by the Sceptres in the shootout. The only goal in the shootout came from the Victoire’s captain, Marie-Philip Poulin, who expertly converted her chance after an intense 10-round showdown. A packed house of 10,438 fans at Scotiabank Centre cheered passionately for both teams throughout the match, reflecting the growing support for women’s hockey.
The game began with an early lead for Toronto as Anna Kjellbin found the back of the net just over three minutes into the first period. However, Montreal quickly equalized when Maya Labad scored at 12:16 of the same frame. The contest featured numerous close calls and remarkable plays, including a near winner by Toronto’s captain Blayre Turnbull, whose last-second shot was thwarted by Desbiens.
Despite a valiant effort in overtime, which saw Toronto’s Emma Maltais almost clinch victory with a breakaway attempt, the match concluded without a winning goal, leading to the decisive shootout. Renata Fast of Toronto was penalized for interference just before Maltais’s shot crossed the goal line, adding another layer of intensity to the match.
As the PWHL’s Takeover Tour continues, teams are set to face off in more neutral-location matchups, with the next game scheduled in Halifax on January 11, 2026, when the Ottawa Charge will take on the Boston Fleet. The thrilling encounter has set a promising tone for the league’s season and has showcased the talent and competitiveness of women’s hockey at this level.
The Victoire’s next challenge lies ahead as they head to Vancouver on Saturday, while the Sceptres prepare to visit New York on Sunday, both teams looking to build on this compelling start to their campaigns.