The intense rivalry between the Montreal Victoire and Toronto Sceptres in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) reached a new level of physicality on Sunday, December 7, 2025. In their first meeting of the season, the Montreal Victoire secured a decisive 3-1 victory over the Toronto Sceptres at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec.
The win underscored Montreal's strategic off-season overhaul, which heavily emphasized adding toughness and grit to an already formidable lineup.
Montreal's Physical Blueprint Pays Off
The Victoire entered the new campaign with a clear mandate to become a more physically dominant team. This strategy was on full display against Toronto, as the Sceptres found themselves consistently on the receiving end of a punishing style of play.
Montreal's management bolstered the roster with key additions known for their feisty play: Abby Roque, Hayley Scamurra, Shiann Darkangelo, Maggie Flaherty, and Jessica DiGirolamo. These players join an existing core of stars like captain Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Erin Ambrose, creating a lineup that is as skilled as it is intimidating.
Further enhancements came through the draft, adding offensive threat Natalie Mlynkova and skilled defender Nicole Gosling. The result is a team that appears poised to be a juggernaut in the PWHL's third season.
Desbiens Stands Tall as the Gold Standard
In a league witnessing exceptional goaltending, Ann-Renee Desbiens reaffirmed her status as the benchmark. Despite facing only 19 shots, her performance was critical, especially during a tense sequence in the third period.
With a 3-1 lead, the Victoire took three consecutive penalties, giving Toronto a prolonged power-play opportunity to claw back into the game. Desbiens was spectacular, making five saves during the advantage, including a breathtaking post-to-post denial of a redirected pass from Renata Fast to Ella Shelton that seemed destined for the net.
The entire Montreal team contributed to the defensive effort, blocking four additional shots during the penalty kill to preserve the two-goal cushion. While Boston's Aerin Frankel is mounting a strong challenge, Desbiens continues to set the standard for excellence between the pipes.
Toronto's Takeaways and Areas for Improvement
For the Sceptres, goaltender Raygan Kirk delivered a strong performance in defeat, stopping 27 of 30 shots. Her calm, confident demeanor and ability to control rebounds have made her the steadier option early in the season, earning three starts to Elaine Chuli's one.
However, significant issues emerged in the faceoff circle. The Victoire dominated draws, winning 65% of the 60 faceoffs (30 wins). While Poulin's expertise (winning 16 of 22) was a factor, Toronto's overall 35% success rate, with only Emma Maltais and rookie Emma Gentry above 50%, is an area requiring immediate attention in a league where every possession counts.
A bright spot for Toronto was Emma Gentry scoring her first PWHL goal, a laser shot that showcased the promise of the team's first pick in the second round of the last draft. The power play, though officially 0-for-4, generated more dangerous chances than in previous outings, largely thwarted by Desbiens' brilliance.
A Rivalry Set to Intensify
This contest was merely the opening chapter in this season's rivalry. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in ten days in Halifax, followed by a third matchup ten days after that at Montreal's Bell Centre.
The physical tone of the game, highlighted by an Abby Roque cross-check to the back of Toronto captain Blayre Turnbull that left her slow to get up, ensures that tensions will carry forward. As both teams continue to gel, the intensity of this classic Canadian hockey rivalry is only set to increase, promising more thrilling and hard-hitting clashes for PWHL fans.
