The Toronto Sceptres earned a 2–1 overtime victory Saturday over the Vancouver Goldeneyes, closing their home schedule before the Olympic break with momentum and confidence.
With the Milan Olympics beginning Feb. 8, the game - the Sceptres only game of the year at Scotiabank Arena - featured multiple players already named to the Team Canada and Team Sweden rosters.
Toronto controlled the opening period, firing 20 shots while holding Vancouver to just four, though the game remained scoreless after one.
Defenceman Ella Shelton delivered a defining moment early, breaking up a Vancouver breakaway with a timely defensive play.
Despite several special teams opportunities, neither side found the net in the first, as strong goaltending and disciplined penalty killing kept the game tight.
The Sceptres finally broke through midway through the second period on the power play.
Savannah Harmon snapped a far-side shot past the Vancouver goaltender at 12:43, giving Toronto a deserved lead.
Vancouver answered almost immediately, as former Sceptre Sarah Nurse redirected a point shot past Raygan Kirk just 29 seconds later.
It marked Nurse’s first game back in Toronto since Nov. 21, scoring against former teammates in familiar surroundings.
From there, the game tightened, shifting into a playoff-style battle defined by defensive structure and goaltending.
The third period belonged to Kirk, who faced repeated Goldeneyes pushes and turned aside multiple high-danger chances.
Kirk made several key saves from the slot and on odd-man rushes to keep the game tied late.
“I hadn’t won since the season opener,” Kirk said. “It felt really good to finally get one.”
Overtime ended quickly, as Daryl Watts scored the winner, sending the Bay Street crowd into celebration.
Watts, preparing for her first Olympic Games, described the moment as special given the setting and stakes.
Watts is one of three Sceptres players headed to Milan.
Natalie Spooner, named to her fourth Olympic roster, reflected on the long road back from injury.
“This one was different,” Spooner said. “It was sweeter knowing what I had to overcome.”
Spooner credited the PWHL’s competitive environment for sharpening her Olympic readiness.
Sceptre defenceman Anna Kjellbin, who will be Sweden’s captain at the Olympics, highlighted her program’s growth ahead of Milan.
“We’ve taken steps every year,” Kjellbin said. “There’s something exciting building.”
Toronto head coach Troy Ryan praised his team’s resilience and Kirk’s composure.
“She deserved that win,” Ryan said. “She kept us in it when it mattered most.”
The victory snapped a four-game winless stretch for Toronto.
More importantly, it sent several Olympians overseas carrying confidence, momentum, and belief.
Soon, teammates will become rivals under Olympic colours.
On Bay Street, the countdown to Milan officially began.
