PWHL Takeover Tour: Charge down Victoire in OT

It was a debut many hope will one day turn the dream of hosting a professional women’s hockey team in Winnipeg into a reality.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Takeover Tour landed in the provincial capital for the first time on Sunday — marking the first time the city has hosted a game in a professional women’s league — and did not disappoint in a physical, tight-checking affair between the Ottawa Charge and Montreal Victoire that needed overtime to decide a winner.

In the end, it was Ottawa forward Rebecca Leslie scoring her league-lead-tying 12th goal 12 seconds into the bonus period to secure a 2-1 victory for the Charge at Canada Life Centre.

While there was an appreciation for the game they had just played, the theme following the spirited contest was what an evidently successful weekend could mean for the future.

“Just walking through the practice rink the other day, there were lineups of people on a Saturday afternoon just to watch us practise. To see all the little girls in the stands, and for them to have the opportunity to watch us live, like that’s so special,” said Leslie.

“It’s been an incredible city. I think, personally, being from Ottawa, I knew that when you’re playing in Winnipeg, it was going to be a great crowd. And I was just really excited that we had this opportunity to play in front of a great crowd.”

If there was any question about whether Winnipeg had a fan base that would rally around a professional women’s hockey team, a sold-out crowd of 15,225 put that debate to rest, with chants of “We want a team” breaking out in the third period.

“I’ve said it before,” began Ste. Anne’s Jocelyne Larocque, “I think geographically it makes a lot of sense, like we’re right central in North America, in Canada. But I think the city just loves hockey, and the fact that the city doesn’t have a pro women’s sports team at all, I think hockey would be a great first one, and I think the city would rally behind it.”

Let the discourse rage on.

It was another tightly contested matchup between the Charge and Victoire, who played two similar games earlier in the season.

The victory improved Ottawa to 5-7-1-9 and secured a crucial two points to keep the Charge on the heels of the Toronto Sceptres — who are one point ahead at time of writing — for the fourth and final playoff spot. It’s worth noting that Ottawa and Toronto will play three times in their last eight contests.

Montreal drops to 10-4-2-5 but still collects a point to remain two back of Minnesota and Boston for first place, which is pivotal in the PWHL, as the top team earns the right to choose its first-round playoff opponent. On the bright side for the Victoire, they have now collected points in all six games since returning from the Olympic break.

Up next for Montreal is a road trip to face the Minnesota Frost on Wednesday. The Charge are in Seattle to face the Torrent on Sunday.

Let’s dive a bit deeper into this historic night.

The locals

Those in attendance came for the game and stayed for the homegrown talent.

It was quite the homecoming for Larocque and Oak Bank’s Kati Tabin.

The 37-year-old Larocque had 240 loved ones in attendance, taking up two full sections of the arena, while the 28-year-old Tabin had about 80 friends and family show up.

Before the game, their teammates showed their love, with players of the Charge arriving with custom Larocque T-shirts and the players on the Victoire doing the same for Tabin.

The Canadian Olympic teammates were serenaded by the crowd during the starting lineup introductions. Tabin drew the loudest roar until Larocque was announced.

They took the ceremonial puck drop at centre ice, which was done by Winnipeg-born Olympic bronze medallist Skylar Park.

Larocque played her usual gritty style, logging two shots and five hits in 22:30 of ice time. Tabin had a slower night until the third period, when she had a half-breakaway that was denied by Gwyneth Philips. Tabin finished with one shot and was a minus-one in 21:50 of ice time.

“Oh, man, it definitely sits pretty high (on my career moments),” said Larocque. “Growing up, I wasn’t sure this day would come. I looked up to NHL players, I looked up to (head coach) Carla (MacLeod) and Team Canada, but to have a pro women’s hockey league and to be able to be a part of it, it’s pretty special.

“I think a lot of my family, friends, just Manitobans in general, to be able to see us live, it’s pretty special. I think of all the young girls that haven’t seen us live yet.”

Despite the loss, the experience was everything Tabin hoped it would be.

“Just the growth of our league is awesome. Now we’re here, and I just remember being a little girl in Oak Bank, Manitoba, and I didn’t even think this dream was possible, to play in the Jets’ rink,” Tabin said. “So, yeah, it would mean the world (to one day have a team in Winnipeg), just like anyone being able to play at home. It’s a super cool opportunity.”

Something to celebrate

After a scoreless opening period, the Winnipeg crowd was in need of a reason to get out of its collective seat. The fans’ wish was granted as Ottawa’s Peyton Hemp pulled the puck from the corner and slid a sweet cross-crease feed to Gabbie Hughes, who made no mistake with a half-empty cage to score her fifth of the season at the 5:37 mark in the second period.

It was just the seventh time Montreal allowed the first goal in a game this season, which is third-fewest in the league.

There’s no doubting that it was deserved for the Charge, though. Through the first 40 minutes, Ottawa looked like the better and more physical team.

Montreal answered shortly after, as Abby Roque won an offensive zone draw back to Nicole Gosling, who sent a wrister that beat Philips between the wickets for her third goal of the year at the 11:20 mark. It was one that Philips wanted back, as it looked like she may have lost track of the puck, and the shot surprised her.

Tough to beat

Outside their respective lone blips in regulation, it was a standout showing by both goaltenders.

Philips made a number of key stops en route to a 20-save performance, including stymieing Laura Stacey on three different Grade-A looks throughout the contest.

“She loves her job, and she makes it very apparent. She’s just so very good at it,” said MacLeod. “She’s so consistent. You know, we speak a lot about her… she doesn’t roller coaster too much, she stays steady and enjoys when the puck hits her, and that’s a good thing for us.”

Ann-Renée Desbiens made 26 saves on the night and came up big on several occasions, including in the late stages of the third period as Brianne Jenner and Emily Clark charged down the ice on a short-handed two-on-zero, threatening to call game on a jailbreak goal (a shorthanded marker that simultaneously ends a team’s power play).

Jenner and Clark passed it three times between the two of them before Clark took the shot, but was stonewalled by Desbiens.

Three stars

1. Rebecca Leslie — game-winning goal.

2. Nicole Gosling — one goal, three shots.

3. Jocelyne Larocque — two shots, five hits.

Extra ! Extra!

While it was an overwhelmingly Montreal-favoured crowd, fans of the Victoire didn’t have a full lineup to cheer on.

Montreal was without Captain Clutch, Marie-Philip Poulin, who continues to rehab from a lower-body injury she suffered last week.

It’s been a trying stretch for Poulin, who was injured during the Olympics and missed a pair of games before returning for the medal round, then missed the Victoire’s first game back from the break. She then played two full games, before appearing to aggravate the injury.

winnipegfreepress.com/joshuafreysam