Highlights and Press Conferences available on Ottawa and Toronto YouTube channels
CALGARY, AB (April 1, 2026) – The Toronto Sceptres skated to a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Charge in front of 16,150 fans Wednesday night at Scotiabank Saddledome in the DoorDash PWHL Takeover Tour™. The Stampede City’s first-ever taste of PWHL action was another competitive chapter between the league’s Ontario rivals, separated by just one point in the standings, with Toronto climbing ahead of Ottawa into fourth place tonight. The line of Maggie Connors, Claire Dalton and captain Blayre Turnbull provided the entire Sceptres offense, each with two-point performances, and Raygan Kirk returned from a two-game absence to turn aside 28 of 29 shots. Fanuza Kadirova scored Ottawa’s lone goal and Gwyneth Philips made 22 saves in defeat. Connors opened the scoring when she drove hard to the net and tapped in a Turnbull pass at 3:34 of the first period. Kadirova showcased her lethal shot with a top-shelf laser from inside the circle to even the score at 18:34. After a scoreless second period, Dalton’s first goal as a Sceptre was the difference just 57 seconds into the third period, sparked when Turnbull forced an offensive zone turnover. She fed Connors in the slot, who was denied by a spectacular Philips save, but Dalton pounced on the rebound to cash-in the winner. Ottawa’s top ranked power play was denied on four opportunities tonight, including once late in the third period, as Kirk stood tall to earn her seventh win of the season. Ottawa is right back in action Friday night at Canadian Tire Centre, returning to the nation’s capital after six road games to face second-place Montréal, who clinched a playoff berth tonight with a win over Vancouver. Toronto’s next game is against Ottawa, one of two more in the PWHL’s battle of Ontario, next Saturday at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The Takeover Tour concludes Tuesday at Edmonton’s Rogers Place with Boston against Vancouver.
QUOTES
Sceptres captain Blayre Turnbull on playing in Calgary: “I thought it was amazing to play here in Calgary with that crowd. I played here with the Inferno ten years ago and just to see how much our sport has grown and the platform we now have, and the attention that we’ve drawn from so many people has been incredible. I think the crowd here tonight at the Saddledome really showed that.”
Toronto Head Coach Troy Ryan on the importance of the penalty kill going 4-for-4: “Obviously it [the game] was a huge three points. To be able to shut them down on the power play is key. With what went on in the PWHL tonight — obviously tough with New York finding a way to score and win in overtime — I think that made it even more important for us to get those points tonight. Penalty kill did a great job, and these two [Dalton and Turnbull] in particular did a wonderful job.”
Charge captain Brianne Jenner on playing for the young women of the future: “It's obviously amazing to see them in the crowd, and you know that they have a league that they can aspire to be a part of. Growing up, we had the Olympics we could watch every four years, but there wasn't too much on television after that. Now, it seems like every other night, there women’s hockey on television, so it's pretty amazing.”
Ottawa Head Coach Carla MacLeod on the first PWHL game played in her hometown: “The crowd was all-in on this game. These Takeover Tours are always enjoyable, but certainly it's extra special when you come home. And, you know, Sarah Wozniewicz and I probably spent a lot of time with family and friends, which is special. And we're excited about where this league is going in different markets. I think Calgary is such a great hockey market with rich history with the Inferno, the Extreme and the classics before that. It was fun to be able to play here and bring our product to this this city”
NOTABLES
Today’s crowd of 16,150 is the sixth highest of the PWHL season and second highest through 15 of 16 games in the 2025-26 PWHL Takeover Tour, trailing only Washington D.C. (17,228).
Each of the first seven Takeover Tour games in Canadian markets has been decided by one goal, and 12 of 15 overall, including all seven played by these two teams.
This was Toronto’s first win in three Takeover Tour games this season (1-0-2-0), previously losing in shootouts to Montréal in Halifax and to Seattle in Hamilton. The Sceptres beat the Charge, 3-2 in overtime, the last time the two teams met in Takeover Tour action on Feb. 16, 2025, in Edmonton.
This was Ottawa’s first loss in four Takeover Tour games this season (0-3-0-1), with two previous overtime wins against Minnesota in Chicago and Montréal in Winnipeg, and a shootout win over Boston in Halifax.
Toronto leads the league with 13 one-goal games and have earned six wins in those decisions. Ottawa has played in 12 one-goal games and is tied with Boston for the most one-goal wins with eight.
The Sceptres scored for the ninth time in the game’s opening five minutes, most in the league, while the Charge surrendered their seventh goal in the game’s opening five minutes, tied for most in the league.
Raygan Kirk has stopped 86 of her last 87 shots faced, with tonight’s performance following back-to-back shutouts, representing a shutout streak of 138:33 and her three best save percentages of the year. The Ste. Anne, MB native has won three consecutive starts for the second time in her career after a trio last February in her rookie season.
Gwyneth Philips set a new PWHL single-season saves record with 604 in 22 games, eclipsing Aerin Frankel’s 591 in 23 games in 2024-25. The U.S Olympian has surrendered two or fewer goals in three straight games and in 15 of her 22 starts.
Claire Dalton’s second multi-point effort of the season included her first goal in 25 games for her hometown Sceptres. The Toronto native recorded two assists on Mar. 1 in Vancouver and now has nine points in all three PWHL seasons, including two as a member of Montréal in 20 and 30 games, respectively.
Maggie Connors recorded her first multi-point performance of the season, scoring her third goal on one of her career-high six shots, and adding her second assist in 25 games, one point shy of her career high (2024). The last time the third-year forward from St. John’s, NL, had a two-point game was Jan. 20, 2024, her first PWHL points in her sixth career appearance. Three of her five points this season have come against Ottawa, also opening the scoring on Dec. 23.
Blayre Turnbull has consecutive multi-point performances for the first time in her career after scoring twice on Sunday against Vancouver, with tonight’s two helpers giving the 2026 Olympic silver medalist seven in 25 games for a new career high. The Sceptres captain and two-time Clarkson Cup champion with the CWHL’s Calgary Inferno has half of her season’s 16 points in her last seven contests (5G, 3A).
Fanuza Kadirova is up to eight goals in her first PWHL season, with six of them recorded in 10 games since Jan. 24. The Russian forward became the fifth Ottawa player to reach double digits in points this season, accomplishing the feat in her 22nd game.
Kathryn Reilly has the first point streak of her PWHL career with assists in back-to-back contests. The Richmond, BC, product is the sixth Charge defender to reach four points this season, more than any other PWHL team.
Brianne Jenner led the Charge with a season-high five shots on goal, the third time she’s reached the total in 24 games, in her return to Calgary where she played as a pro for the CWHL’s Inferno between 2015-19.
The two team rosters include three Albertans: Sarah Wozniewicz (Cochrane) had one shot on goal in 16:04 of ice time, and fellow Charge Stephanie Markowski (Edmonton) had one shot in 13:27. Toronto’s Jess Kondas (Calgary) participated in warmup but was scratched from tonight’s game.
THREE STARS
1. Claire Dalton (TOR) 1G, 1A
2. Blayre Turnbull (TOR) 2A
3. Fanuza Kadirova (OTT) 1G
STANDINGS
Toronto: 34 PTS (9-1-5-10) – 4th Place
Ottawa: 33 PTS (6-7-1-10) – 5th Place
UPCOMING SCHEDULES
Ottawa: Friday, Apr. 3 vs. Montréal (Canadian Tire Centre) at 7 p.m. ET
Toronto: Saturday, Apr. 11 vs. Ottawa at 2 p.m. ET