Torrent lose first-ever in OT

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The Seattle Torrent made their Professional Women’s Hockey Debut last night in Vancouver as the Torrent (think torrential downpour) make Seattle the first city to have teams in all three women professional league joining the Seattle Storm (WNBA) and the Seattle Reign (National Women’s Soccer League.

The positive- the fan enthusiasm, as a busload of fans made the trip to Vancouver and several local watering holes hosting Torrent viewing parties.

The negative- the Torrent dropped a 4-3 decision to the Vancouver Goldeneyes, who were also making their league debut. Seattle led most of the game at 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1 before the Goldeneyes tied the game with 17:57 left in regulation.

Vancouver’s Claire Thompson scored seconds after goalie Emerance Maschmeyer was pulled for an extra attacker and Abby Boreen notched the game in overtime.

Julia Gosling scored the first two goals in Torrent history, the second set up by captain Hillary Knight. The captain of the 2023 US gold-medal winning team, Knight won a battle along the boards and centered a pass to Gosling.

For Gosling, it looks like she’s picking up where she left off, as she scored three goals in last year’s playoffs for the Toronto Sceptres after only recording three goals in 30 regular season contests.

“I was super pumped to get one in,’’ Gosling told the media after the game. ``We were working really hard that period and battling our line, and then to get one in and realize it was the first Torrent goal was super special.’’

Hannah Bilka had given the Torrent a brief 3-2 lead at 13:47 of the third period. Goalkeeper Corrinne Schroeder stopped 23 of 27 shots in the Seattle net. Torrent players earning assists in the game were alternate captains Alex Carpenter and Emily Brown along with Anna Wilgren, and Danielle Serdachny. Maschmeyer stopped 24 of 27 shots.

While the Torrent boast a veteran squad, two players make their PWHL debuts- first-round pick Jenna Buglioni Seattle native Marah Wagner. Defender Aneta Tejralová left the game midway through the second period with a lower-body injury and did not return.

Vancouver’s Sarah Nurse had the first ever Goldeneyes score along with five shots on net. She was voted the number-one star of the game. Nurse’s cousins are Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers and Kia Nurse of the WNBA Chicago Sky. Her uncle, Donovan McNabb was a former quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 14,958 in attendance at Pacific Coliseum marks the eighth largest attendance in PWHL history and the largest for any team in their primary home venue. Since the Vancouver Canucks NHL team now competes at the Rogers Center, the Goldeneyes are the first PWHL team to be the primary tenants in their home arena.

With the victory, the Goldeneyes earn two points in the standings while the Torrent garner one point in an overtime loss. Unlike the NHL, a regulation win earns teams three points in the standings. And unlike some women’s’ leagues of the past, bodychecking is allowed. Nurse was knocked on her wallet shortly after scoring her goal.

For those wondering, the Goldeneyes were NOT named after a James Bond movie. The Common Goldeneye is a type of duck found along the West Coast. The name was chosen to reflect the speed, strength, and precision of both the bird and the hockey players. 

The Torrent open their home season against the Minnesota Frost (0-1) in a one o’clock afternoon game on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving at Climate Pledge Arena.


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