The Vancouver Goldeneyes will face a significant challenge in their upcoming Professional Women's Hockey League matchup, as they prepare to host the Ottawa Charge on Tuesday night without their star forward, Sarah Nurse. The team confirmed Nurse will miss the contest as she continues to recover from an undisclosed injury.
Nurse's Absence and Recovery Timeline
Sarah Nurse has not played for the Goldeneyes since scoring the franchise's first-ever goal in their dramatic 4-3 overtime victory against the Seattle Torrent on November 21. That opening night performance also earned her first-star honours. The 30-year-old Canadian Olympic veteran was one of the club's inaugural signings back in June.
Head coach Brian Idalski provided an update on Monday, stating that Nurse, who has been skating on her own after practices, will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks. At that point, the team expects to have a clearer timeline for her return to game action.
Impact on the Goldeneyes' Lineup
Coach Idalski outlined the multifaceted void left by Nurse's absence. "Her personality, the energy she brings, her hockey IQ, her ability to win us a faceoff, settle us down if we're running around," Idalski listed. He emphasized her on-ice intelligence, positioning, and offensive threat, while acknowledging the opportunity it has created for other players to develop. "It's been good to develop some of our players and look at the full roster, but it will be nice to have Sarah back," he added.
Team captain Ashton Bell echoed the sentiment, highlighting Nurse's leadership. "She's obviously a big piece of our team on and off the ice. We still get her off the ice. She's a big presence in the locker room. It's tough not having her in the lineup, but we've got a lot of depth and a lot of girls have stepped up," Bell said.
Tuesday's Matchup and League Context
The game at the Pacific Coliseum's Rink on Renfrew is a rematch of a November 26 meeting, which saw Ottawa secure its only win of the season with a 5-1 victory over Vancouver. Both teams are returning from the PWHL's hiatus for the Canada-U.S. Rivalry Series. The Goldeneyes (2-3-0) last played on December 6, shutting out the New York Sirens 4-0, while the Charge (1-3-0) fell 3-1 to the Toronto Sceptres on December 4.
The contest also brings a poignant storyline for Ottawa, as head coach Carla MacLeod recently announced a diagnosis of breast cancer. The former Canadian Olympic defender, who aims to coach as often as possible during treatment, also guides the Czech national team ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Fan support in Vancouver remains strong. The Goldeneyes' two home games have drawn impressive crowds of 14,958 and 9,502, the latter despite competing with a Vancouver Whitecaps MLS playoff match. With limited lower-bowl seats available for Tuesday, another sizable turnout is anticipated, well above the current league average of 7,895 attendees.
Coach Idalski expressed his appreciation for the consistent fan energy in the market, which was initially signaled by a crowd of 19,038 at a neutral-site PWHL game in Vancouver last January. "Everyone is a couple of inches taller when you're playing in front of a good crowd and atmosphere. It just gives you another gear," Idalski remarked.
