Latest news with #TakeoverTour
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
PWHL expansion full of 'bittersweet feelings' for newly signed players
Jenn Gardiner is still in shock. The former Montreal Victoire forward can't quite fathom that she'll soon be playing professional hockey in the city where she grew up. 'I really can't wrap my hand around the fact that there's actually a team at home and I get to be on it,' Gardiner said Friday, less than 24 hours after she signed with the Professional Women's Hockey League's new expansion team in Vancouver. 'Honestly, I still can't believe that it's actually happening. I think there's just been so many little girls that I've heard from, that I work with, that I coach in the summer reach out. And that's just kind of just touching on the importance of this team in Vancouver.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Gardiner is one of five players PWHL Vancouver inked to new deals during an exclusive expansion team signing window this week. The club also picked up defender of the year candidates Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques from the Minnesota Frost, former Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and former Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse. Nurse and Gardiner both experienced Vancouver's hunger for professional women's hockey when they played there during a 'Takeover Tour' stop in January. More than 19,000 fans packed Rogers Arena for the game, and the crowd was dotted with signs crying for a permanent team in the city. 'I've always been blown away by the amount of support and the real longing and wanting of professional women's hockey in the West Coast,' Nurse said. 'So I'm just excited that the time is now and we get to be the foundation of the future out west.' Nurse — cousin of WNBA star Kia Nurse and Edmonton Oilers defender Darnell Nurse.– was one of the Toronto Sceptres first three signings. She had six goals and eight assists in 21 games last season, despite missing nearly two months with injury. The 30-year-old from Hamilton added one assist in four playoff contests before the Sceptres were ousted from the semifinals by the Frost, who went on to win the Walter Cup for the second year in a row. Playing so close to home has been special, said Nurse. 'It is such an honour to play in Toronto,' she said. 'To be able to see all the jerseys in the stands, to be able to see the signs and the messages that have been sent throughout my time in Toronto and also in the last few days has been bittersweet. … I just couldn't be more grateful for all of the support.' Before the Sceptres released their list of the three players they wanted to protect during the expansion process, Nurse spoke with general manager Gina Kingsbury. 'It was definitely a difficult and very emotional conversation,' Nurse said. 'The team in Toronto is deep. There's a lot of players that are worthy of being protected. All the power to their group moving forward because they do have a great group.' The expansion process came with tough feelings for Maschmeyer, too. The 30-year-old goalie was one of Ottawa's foundational signings, and posted a 9-9-4-2 record for the Charge last season before suffering a leg injury late in the campaign. Rookie goalie Gwen Philips took over in net and backstopped the squad to the Walter Cup final. Ottawa then opted to protect Philips during the expansion process. 'It's definitely been a journey, a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, I would say,' Maschmeyer said. 'Gwen, I cannot say enough amazing things about her. … She's obviously an incredible goaltender and had a standout playoff series. I have no ill will against her. Honestly, I'm very happy for her. 'I think we both deserve starting roles and so this is the best scenario, where we both get to own the net.' Some of the PWHL's biggest stars were left unprotected during the expansion process, including Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight. The 35-year-old American tied for the league lead in scoring last season with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) and is up for the Billie Jean King award as the PWHL's most valuable player. Knight became the first player to sign with the league's other new expansion side, PWHL Seattle, on Wednesday. Players knew heading in that the expansion process would bring 'bittersweet feelings,' she said. 'Definitely, there's a lot of conversations that happen behind the scenes and you kind of have to meet people where they are, and figure out which pieces work and what people want to do and how to build a successful franchise,' Knight said. 'I think things aligned personally for me in the right way. And I can't wait for puck drop.'
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
PWHL expansion full of ‘bittersweet feelings' for newly signed players
VANCOUVER - Jenn Gardiner is still in shock. The former Montreal Victoire forward can't quite fathom that she'll soon be playing professional hockey in the city where she grew up. 'I really can't wrap my hand around the fact that there's actually a team at home and I get to be on it,' Gardiner said Friday, less than 24 hours after she signed with the Professional Women's Hockey League's new expansion team in Vancouver. 'Honestly, I still can't believe that it's actually happening. I think there's just been so many little girls that I've heard from, that I work with, that I coach in the summer reach out. And that's just kind of just touching on the importance of this team in Vancouver.' Gardiner is one of five players PWHL Vancouver inked to new deals during an exclusive expansion team signing window this week. The club also picked up defender of the year candidates Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques from the Minnesota Frost, former Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and former Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse. Nurse and Gardiner both experienced Vancouver's hunger for professional women's hockey when they played there during a 'Takeover Tour' stop in January. More than 19,000 fans packed Rogers Arena for the game, and the crowd was dotted with signs crying for a permanent team in the city. 'I've always been blown away by the amount of support and the real longing and wanting of professional women's hockey in the West Coast,' Nurse said. 'So I'm just excited that the time is now and we get to be the foundation of the future out west.' Nurse — cousin of WNBA star Kia Nurse and Edmonton Oilers defender Darnell Nurse.— was one of the Toronto Sceptres first three signings. She had six goals and eight assists in 21 games last season, despite missing nearly two months with injury. The 30-year-old from Hamilton added one assist in four playoff contests before the Sceptres were ousted from the semifinals by the Frost, who went on to win the Walter Cup for the second year in a row. Playing so close to home has been special, said Nurse. 'It is such an honour to play in Toronto,' she said. 'To be able to see all the jerseys in the stands, to be able to see the signs and the messages that have been sent throughout my time in Toronto and also in the last few days has been bittersweet. … I just couldn't be more grateful for all of the support.' Before the Sceptres released their list of the three players they wanted to protect during the expansion process, Nurse spoke with general manager Gina Kingsbury. 'It was definitely a difficult and very emotional conversation,' Nurse said. 'The team in Toronto is deep. There's a lot of players that are worthy of being protected. All the power to their group moving forward because they do have a great group.' The expansion process came with tough feelings for Maschmeyer, too. The 30-year-old goalie was one of Ottawa's foundational signings, and posted a 9-9-4-2 record for the Charge last season before suffering a leg injury late in the campaign. Rookie goalie Gwen Philips took over in net and backstopped the squad to the Walter Cup final. Ottawa then opted to protect Philips during the expansion process. 'It's definitely been a journey, a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, I would say,' Maschmeyer said. 'Gwen, I cannot say enough amazing things about her. … She's obviously an incredible goaltender and had a standout playoff series. I have no ill will against her. Honestly, I'm very happy for her. 'I think we both deserve starting roles and so this is the best scenario, where we both get to own the net.' Some of the PWHL's biggest stars were left unprotected during the expansion process, including Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight. The 35-year-old American tied for the league lead in scoring last season with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) and is up for the Billie Jean King award as the PWHL's most valuable player. Knight became the first player to sign with the league's other new expansion side, PWHL Seattle, on Wednesday. Players knew heading in that the expansion process would bring 'bittersweet feelings,' she said. 'Definitely, there's a lot of conversations that happen behind the scenes and you kind of have to meet people where they are, and figure out which pieces work and what people want to do and how to build a successful franchise,' Knight said. 'I think things aligned personally for me in the right way. And I can't wait for puck drop.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
PWHL expansion full of ‘bittersweet feelings' for newly signed players
VANCOUVER – Jenn Gardiner is still in shock. The former Montreal Victoire forward can't quite fathom that she'll soon be playing professional hockey in the city where she grew up. 'I really can't wrap my hand around the fact that there's actually a team at home and I get to be on it,' Gardiner said Friday, less than 24 hours after she signed with the Professional Women's Hockey League's new expansion team in Vancouver. 'Honestly, I still can't believe that it's actually happening. I think there's just been so many little girls that I've heard from, that I work with, that I coach in the summer reach out. And that's just kind of just touching on the importance of this team in Vancouver.' Gardiner is one of five players PWHL Vancouver inked to new deals during an exclusive expansion team signing window this week. The club also picked up defender of the year candidates Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques from the Minnesota Frost, former Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and former Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse. Nurse and Gardiner both experienced Vancouver's hunger for professional women's hockey when they played there during a 'Takeover Tour' stop in January. More than 19,000 fans packed Rogers Arena for the game, and the crowd was dotted with signs crying for a permanent team in the city. 'I've always been blown away by the amount of support and the real longing and wanting of professional women's hockey in the West Coast,' Nurse said. 'So I'm just excited that the time is now and we get to be the foundation of the future out west.' Nurse — cousin of WNBA star Kia Nurse and Edmonton Oilers defender Darnell Nurse.– was one of the Toronto Sceptres first three signings. She had six goals and eight assists in 21 games last season, despite missing nearly two months with injury. The 30-year-old from Hamilton added one assist in four playoff contests before the Sceptres were ousted from the semifinals by the Frost, who went on to win the Walter Cup for the second year in a row. Playing so close to home has been special, said Nurse. 'It is such an honour to play in Toronto,' she said. 'To be able to see all the jerseys in the stands, to be able to see the signs and the messages that have been sent throughout my time in Toronto and also in the last few days has been bittersweet. … I just couldn't be more grateful for all of the support.' Before the Sceptres released their list of the three players they wanted to protect during the expansion process, Nurse spoke with general manager Gina Kingsbury. 'It was definitely a difficult and very emotional conversation,' Nurse said. 'The team in Toronto is deep. There's a lot of players that are worthy of being protected. All the power to their group moving forward because they do have a great group.' The expansion process came with tough feelings for Maschmeyer, too. The 30-year-old goalie was one of Ottawa's foundational signings, and posted a 9-9-4-2 record for the Charge last season before suffering a leg injury late in the campaign. Rookie goalie Gwen Philips took over in net and backstopped the squad to the Walter Cup final. Ottawa then opted to protect Philips during the expansion process. 'It's definitely been a journey, a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, I would say,' Maschmeyer said. 'Gwen, I cannot say enough amazing things about her. … She's obviously an incredible goaltender and had a standout playoff series. I have no ill will against her. Honestly, I'm very happy for her. 'I think we both deserve starting roles and so this is the best scenario, where we both get to own the net.' Some of the PWHL's biggest stars were left unprotected during the expansion process, including Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight. The 35-year-old American tied for the league lead in scoring last season with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) and is up for the Billie Jean King award as the PWHL's most valuable player. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Knight became the first player to sign with the league's other new expansion side, PWHL Seattle, on Wednesday. Players knew heading in that the expansion process would bring 'bittersweet feelings,' she said. 'Definitely, there's a lot of conversations that happen behind the scenes and you kind of have to meet people where they are, and figure out which pieces work and what people want to do and how to build a successful franchise,' Knight said. 'I think things aligned personally for me in the right way. And I can't wait for puck drop.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
PWHL expansion full of ‘bittersweet feelings' for newly signed players
VANCOUVER - Jenn Gardiner is still in shock. The former Montreal Victoire forward can't quite fathom that she'll soon be playing professional hockey in the city where she grew up. 'I really can't wrap my hand around the fact that there's actually a team at home and I get to be on it,' Gardiner said Friday, less than 24 hours after she signed with the Professional Women's Hockey League's new expansion team in Vancouver. 'Honestly, I still can't believe that it's actually happening. I think there's just been so many little girls that I've heard from, that I work with, that I coach in the summer reach out. And that's just kind of just touching on the importance of this team in Vancouver.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Gardiner is one of five players PWHL Vancouver inked to new deals during an exclusive expansion team signing window this week. The club also picked up defender of the year candidates Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques from the Minnesota Frost, former Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and former Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse. Nurse and Gardiner both experienced Vancouver's hunger for professional women's hockey when they played there during a 'Takeover Tour' stop in January. More than 19,000 fans packed Rogers Arena for the game, and the crowd was dotted with signs crying for a permanent team in the city. 'I've always been blown away by the amount of support and the real longing and wanting of professional women's hockey in the West Coast,' Nurse said. 'So I'm just excited that the time is now and we get to be the foundation of the future out west.' Nurse — cousin of WNBA star Kia Nurse and Edmonton Oilers defender Darnell Nurse.— was one of the Toronto Sceptres first three signings. She had six goals and eight assists in 21 games last season, despite missing nearly two months with injury. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The 30-year-old from Hamilton added one assist in four playoff contests before the Sceptres were ousted from the semifinals by the Frost, who went on to win the Walter Cup for the second year in a row. Playing so close to home has been special, said Nurse. 'It is such an honour to play in Toronto,' she said. 'To be able to see all the jerseys in the stands, to be able to see the signs and the messages that have been sent throughout my time in Toronto and also in the last few days has been bittersweet. … I just couldn't be more grateful for all of the support.' Before the Sceptres released their list of the three players they wanted to protect during the expansion process, Nurse spoke with general manager Gina Kingsbury. 'It was definitely a difficult and very emotional conversation,' Nurse said. 'The team in Toronto is deep. There's a lot of players that are worthy of being protected. All the power to their group moving forward because they do have a great group.' The expansion process came with tough feelings for Maschmeyer, too. The 30-year-old goalie was one of Ottawa's foundational signings, and posted a 9-9-4-2 record for the Charge last season before suffering a leg injury late in the campaign. Rookie goalie Gwen Philips took over in net and backstopped the squad to the Walter Cup final. Ottawa then opted to protect Philips during the expansion process. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'It's definitely been a journey, a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, I would say,' Maschmeyer said. 'Gwen, I cannot say enough amazing things about her. … She's obviously an incredible goaltender and had a standout playoff series. I have no ill will against her. Honestly, I'm very happy for her. 'I think we both deserve starting roles and so this is the best scenario, where we both get to own the net.' Some of the PWHL's biggest stars were left unprotected during the expansion process, including Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight. The 35-year-old American tied for the league lead in scoring last season with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) and is up for the Billie Jean King award as the PWHL's most valuable player. Knight became the first player to sign with the league's other new expansion side, PWHL Seattle, on Wednesday. Players knew heading in that the expansion process would bring 'bittersweet feelings,' she said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Definitely, there's a lot of conversations that happen behind the scenes and you kind of have to meet people where they are, and figure out which pieces work and what people want to do and how to build a successful franchise,' Knight said. 'I think things aligned personally for me in the right way. And I can't wait for puck drop.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
PWHL Vancouver expansion team lands star power, signing Sarah Nurse
The PWHL is giving the new Vancouver team that will play out of the Pacific Coliseum next fall every opportunity to be instantly competitive and compelling for fans. Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey announced Thursday morning that she has inked a one-year deal with Sarah Nurse, 30, who played this past season with the Toronto Sceptres, as part of this five-day window granted to the new Vancouver and Seattle clubs to sign free agents and players left off the six existing teams' protected lists. The existing squads were only permitted to protect three players initially. Vancouver and Seattle will take part in an expansion draft on Monday , alternating picking players until they both have 12-women rosters. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Nurse is one of the game's best spokeswomen, and one of its more recognizable players. She will resonate with mainstream sports fans. The forward from Burlington, Ont., was the first woman to appear on the cover of an EA Sports NHL title when she shared the front of NHL 23 alongside Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras. Nurse is also a cousin of Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse, who is currently playing in the NHL Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers. Sarah Nurse has been battling injuries of late, but her player resume is top notch. She has a gold and a silver medal at the Olympics with Team Canada, along with three world championship gold medals. 'Sarah is one of the sport's biggest stars, both on and off the ice, and she will play a significant role in growing professional women's hockey in Vancouver,' Gardner Morey was quoted as saying in a media release. 'Her outstanding on-ice abilities will help establish our foundation at forward, and her unwavering commitment to building an inclusive hockey community makes her a fan favourite everywhere she goes.' PWHL Vancouver's Sarah Nurse is a star. There's no other way to put it. Off the ice, she's the most marketable player in the game. On the ice, she's just as impactful, when she's healthy. That's a key distinction. Nurse sustained injuries both seasons that impacted her play come… Nurse said in the release: 'I am so honoured to be joining PWHL Vancouver, finally bringing professional women's hockey to the West Coast. I already got a taste of the passion last year during the Takeover Tour and can't wait to experience that daily. The vision for this organization could not be more exciting, and I am so humbled by Cara's confidence in me as a player and as a person. The love and support I've felt already has meant so much to me. Puck drop can't come soon enough.' The Takeover Tour featured nine neutral-site regular season games, and the Jan. 8 game at Rogers Arena between the Sceptres and the Montreal Victoire drew an announced crowd of 19,038, which was the fourth-highest single-game attendance in league history. Vancouver fans can place a deposit to secure priority access to season tickets for the inaugural season once ticket packages are released. Fans can subscribe to the Vancouver newsletter for updates as well. Vancouver and Nursey coming together for a joint slay 💅 Gardner Morey confirmed the signings Wednesday of Minnesota Frost defenders Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson, as well as Ottawa Charge goalie Emerance Maschmeyer. Jaques, 24, and Thompson, 27, are among the three finalists for the league's defender of the year award. Maschmeyer, 30, was the starter for Ottawa for its first two years and the first PWHL goalie to reach 1,000 career saves. The window for Vancouver and Seattle to sign players was a product of offering players who thought they might be picked in the expansion draft an opportunity to decide on their landing spot ahead of time. Expansion drafts in sports have historically been about castoffs and hand-me-downs. The PWHL benefits from the fact that it owns all the teams — L.A. Dodgers principal owner Mark Walter heads up the league — and credit the PWHL braintrust for realizing that if they were going to continue growth they needed Vancouver and Seattle to have a chance to be contenders as soon as possible. Seattle's first signing was American star winger Hilary Knight, 35, who is up for the league's most valuable player award after finishing tied for the scoring title with the Boston Fleet. Come the fall, the PWHL becomes the first full-time tenant at the Pacific Coliseum since the Vancouver Giants departed after the 2015-16 WHL season for their current digs at the Langley Events Centre. They moved out because they couldn't make the finances work at the Coliseum, and their announced attendance average that last regular season there was 5,169. According to the PWHL, announced attendance across the league jumped 27 per cent this season from their inaugural campaign, going from 5,689 to 7,230. Granted, the WHL teams were playing a 36-game home schedule in the Giants' days in the Coliseum, and the PWHL teams will probably be half that. They also have single operator in charge of all the teams, so all the money goes into one pot rather than each team being on their own in the WHL. The Giants comparison still suggest things won't be simple. The PWHL will draw well the first few games at home in Vancouver. What happens after the honeymoon period is the question, but the expansion regulations are helping create a Vancouver roster that will have stories that should connect with fans. Maschmeyer is another good example of that. The Bruderheim, Alta., product is the little sister of Bronson Maschmeyer, a defenceman who started his WHL career at the Coliseum with the Giants before playing his final three years in the league with the rival Kamloops Blazers. 'Joining Vancouver is an incredible opportunity, and I'm thrilled to be a part of such an exciting chapter of the league's expansion,' Maschmeyer was quoted as saying in a media release. 'Vancouver has proven to be a vibrant hockey city and I'm thrilled to play in front of such passionate fans. I'm aligned with Cara's vision and values and honoured to have the opportunity to help build this organization's culture from the ground up.' There has been no announcement on next year's schedule, but each of the teams played a 30-game regular season this year, and opening night was Nov. 30. sewen@
