PWHL Toronto Sets Women’s Hockey Attendance Record at the Scotiabank Arena

Kristen Campbell posted an impressive 30-save shutout, leading Toronto to a 3-0 victory over Montreal in the record-breaking ‘Battle on Bay Street’ at Scotiabank Arena, where a remarkable crowd of 19,285 spectators gathered for the Professional Women's Hockey League action.

The game marked a historic moment for the PWHL, setting a new record for women’s hockey attendance, surpassing the previous record set during Canada‘s match against Finland at the 2013 women’s world championship in Ottawa. The professional women’s hockey attendance record was also broken, previously held by a Montreal-Minnesota game at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

“Once again, PWHL fans have made history,” expressed Jayna Hefford, the PWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations, emphasizing the significance of the event on a national stage.

Jesse Compher, Hannah Miller, and Victoria Bach scored for Toronto, extending their winning streak to four games, while Montreal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens made 21 saves in a losing effort against Toronto.

Canadian women’s basketball team star Kia Nurse, who is the cousin of Toronto’s Sarah Nurse, graced the occasion by performing the ceremonial puck drop, adding a touch of family connection to the event.

Early in the first period, Toronto faced a challenging 5-on-3 penalty kill, but strong defensive play and stellar goaltending from Campbell kept Montreal at bay, with key offensive contributions coming from players like Natalie Spooner.

The intensity escalated in the second period as both teams exchanged scoring chances, with Toronto eventually breaking the deadlock in the third period with crucial goals from Compher, Miller, and Bach.

As the game progressed, the energy in the arena was palpable, with fans witnessing a historic moment in women’s hockey, culminating in Toronto’s victory and the anticipation building for upcoming matchups.

The win for Toronto sets the stage for an exciting matchup against New York at the Mattamy Athletic Centre next Friday, while Montreal prepares to face Minnesota in their upcoming game.