
Sceptres not happy with early exit but they can at least live with this one
The finish point didn't change much at all for the Toronto Sceptres in the second year of the PWHL, but the feeling about that finish is vastly different.
Article content
Article content
A year ago at this time, members of Toronto's PWHL entry were still visibly angry at a series days after it ended in which they won the first two games and then lost three in a row to earn a spectator's seat in the first PWHL Walter Cup Final.
Article content
They will be watching again as the same team that ended their season a year ago, the Minnesota Frost. attempts to win a second consecutive Walter Cup championship against a still to be determined opponent.
Article content
The disappointment at not being there remains the same. What's different is the Sceptres go into this off-season knowing they were playing at or very near their best when they went down to the Frost this year.
Article content
Captain Blayre Turnbull reiterated a previously stated opinion that the Sceptres' Game 1 win in the series, the lone one they would enjoy, was probably the most complete game they played all season.
Article content
Game 2 wasn't far behind if you eliminate the final five minutes of the game, in which the Frost got a pair of goals to steal a win on visiting ice.
Article content
Neither goal — the game-winner by Sophie Jaques nor the insurance marker from Melissa Channel-Watkins — were what anyone would consider Grade A chances but they found their way into the back of the net and suddenly a series the Sceptres thought they were in control of was heading across the border to Minnesota all tied up.
Article content
The first eight minutes of Game 3 sealed Toronto's fate, as the Frost scored three unanswered goals before the Sceptres could find their game.
Article content
Again, they did find it and managed five goals of their own, but when the hosts had tallied seven, it just wasn't enough.
Article content
Article content
Game 4 was carried for the most part by Toronto, but went Minnesota's way when Taylor Heise settled matters 16 minutes into overtime with a goal off a nice screen from Brooke McQuigge.
Article content
No one in the Sceptres organization was happy with the result then or now. However, at the very least they can look back on it knowing they played well enough to win, but a few goaltending breakdowns and a few missed opportunities were enough to turn in the tide in Minnesota's favour.
Article content
'I feel like reflecting on the year, all season it seemed like we were trying to be the best team that we could be and then it felt like things started clicking for us in the playoffs,' Turnbull said. 'Our playoff games were the best games we played all season so it's a disappointing feeling when you can say that and still not get the results you want, but it's also a good feeling knowing that we were happy with our playoff performance. We just came up short.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CTV News
26 minutes ago
- CTV News
CTV National News: The Crown's closing arguments in the World Juniors sex assault trial
Watch Crown prosecutors have begun their closing arguments in the World Juniors sex assault trial in London, Ont. Heather Wright on what was said.


National Post
40 minutes ago
- National Post
McIntosh breaks own world record in 400-metre individual medley
Article content VICTORIA — Teen sensation Summer McIntosh has broken yet another record at the Canadian Swimming Trials. Article content The 18-year-old from Toronto swam the 400-metre individual medley in four minutes 23.65 seconds, breaking the world record 4:24.38 she set at the Olympic trials in Toronto last May. Article content Article content It's the third time McIntosh has set a new world record at this year's Canadian trials, after she posted a new mark in the 200m individual medley on Monday and in the 400m freestyle on Saturday. Article content She also broke her own Canadian records in the 800m freestyle Sunday, finishing in 8:05.07 — nearly five seconds faster than her previous time — and in the 200m butterfly on Tuesday. Article content McIntosh also holds the world record in the 200m butterfly. Article content She won three gold and one silver at the Paris Olympics last summer, becoming the first Canadian to take three gold at a single Games. Article content


CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Canada's Summer McIntosh breaks own world record in 400-metre individual medley
Canada's Summer Mcintosh holds a trophy for the Athlete of the Year at the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos) VICTORIA — Teen sensation Summer McIntosh has broken yet another record at the Canadian Swimming Trials. The 18-year-old from Toronto swam the 400-metre individual medley in four minutes 23.65 seconds, breaking the world record 4:24.38 she set at the Olympic trials in Toronto last May. It's the third time McIntosh has set a new world record at this year's Canadian trials, after she posted a new mark in the 200m individual medley on Monday and in the 400m freestyle on Saturday. She also broke her own Canadian records in the 800m freestyle Sunday, finishing in 8:05.07 -- nearly five seconds faster than her previous time -- and in the 200m butterfly on Tuesday. McIntosh also holds the world record in the 200m butterfly. She won three golds and one silver at the Paris Olympics last summer, becoming the first Canadian to ever take three golds at a single Games. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. The Canadian Press