The Toronto Sceptres are sitting on a potential goldmine of offensive talent, and head coach Troy Ryan is experimenting with a key combination to unlock it. The recent defensive pairing of national team veterans Renata Fast and Ella Shelton could be the catalyst the team needs to elevate its game to new heights.
A Partnership Forged in Familiarity
The duo was unveiled as a starting pairing in a 4-1 loss to Minnesota earlier this week. While the team result wasn't ideal, their time on ice together produced the Sceptres' lone goal of the game. This wasn't their first time sharing the ice; both have extensive experience playing together for Team Canada and had sporadic shifts together earlier this season. However, Tuesday marked their official debut as a starting defensive pair.
Their synergy was also tested on the power play during the Minnesota game. Although they didn't score on their single opportunity, the pair helped generate several high-quality scoring chances during their two-minute advantage.
Complementary Styles and Staggering Stats
Shelton and Fast bring a remarkably similar and aggressive approach to the rink. Defensively, they embrace physical play. Offensively, they are attackers at heart, utilizing their strong skating to confidently move the puck up ice and join the rush, often driving all the way to the net.
Their individual credentials are impressive. Fast is the reigning PWHL Defender of the Year, a campaign where she tied for the league lead among defenders with 22 points. Shelton, meanwhile, boasts 40 points over two-plus PWHL seasons, making her the league's all-time leading scorer among defenders. Her closest competitor? Renata Fast, with 37 points.
Coach Ryan's Calculated Experiment
For head coach Troy Ryan, pairing his two top offensive defenders was an experiment long in the making. The idea took root on draft night when Toronto acquired Ella Shelton from the New York Sirens. Early-season injuries to Fast delayed the plan until this week's game.
Ryan is cautiously optimistic but not yet committed to the pairing long-term. "I would like to see a little more from Shelton and Fast," Ryan stated. "If they are going to play together they need to be impactful on both ends of the ice for us to think that is worth sticking with." He emphasized that Fast typically needs two compatible partners to handle her significant ice time, and he's wary of putting all his offensive eggs in one defensive basket.
The players themselves are enthusiastic about the potential. "I know Renata and I are super offensive and we love to play hard defence," Shelton said. "It allows us to be super creative in the offensive zone... we know we can impact the game." Fast praised Shelton's predictable, aggressive style, which mirrors her own, and her exceptional puck-moving awareness.
The next test for the tandem comes in the Takeover Tour game in Hamilton against Seattle on Saturday (2 p.m. puck drop at TD Coliseum). A strong, impactful performance could convince Ryan to keep this potent partnership together. For fans of aggressive, high-octane hockey, the hope is that Fast and Shelton pass this crucial test with flying colours.
Watts Earns League Recognition
In other Sceptres news, forward Daryl Watts was the lone non-Boston or Minnesota player named to the PWHL's "Starting Six" for the month of December. Watts recorded six points in seven games during the month, including a game-winning goal against Montreal. She remains Toronto's leading point-getter and is tied for second in the PWHL with four goals this season.
