PWHL Takeover Tour brings players home to Nova Scotia

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) will hit the ice in Halifax this fall, bringing the first game of their PWHL Takeover Tour to Scotiabank Centre.

In doing so, a few Nova Scotians will be back on home ice. Toronto Sceptres captain Blayre Turnbull is from Stellarton, assistant captain Allie Munroe hails from Yarmouth, and head coach Troy Ryan comes from Halifax.

“I’m really excited to be back home and excited to do it with two great leaders like (Turnbull and Munroe),” said Ryan.

The Takeover Tour is a series of 16 games in cities outside current league cities. It was created in 2024 to draw in new fan engagement to the league — this will be the first time the PWHL will play in Halifax.

“It means a lot to be able to play at home in front of so many kids who will dream about playing in the PWHL and also a fun opportunity to get to play in front of a lot of family and friends,” said Turnbull.

Turnbull and Munroe began playing hockey young, both having hailed from hockey loving families.

“I loved hockey since I started playing at five years old and never stopped. I mean I’m so lucky to get to play it for a living. I count my lucky stars every day,” said Munroe.

Both Turnbull and Munroe represented Canada in two Olympic Winter Games. They won gold in 2022 and silver in 2018.

The game in Halifax means Turnbull and Munroe will get a chance to play in front of family and friends, while also inspiring young female hockey players. The tour is a way for young kids to see the game and inspire those interested in professional hockey.

“I just imagine me as a kid. If I got the opportunity to attend a PWHL game, I think it would have been incredible and hopefully we can be role models to a lot of these girls that come out to these games,” Munroe said.

The PWHL was established in 2023 after a boycott of existing female hockey leagues by the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association. The boycott goal was to establish a unified professional women’s league — one that provides living wages. 

“I hope (young girls) see that they can have a future in the game of hockey. I think up until a few years ago it was hard for young girls to see that and believe it,” said Turnbull.

“But now I think the platform that the PWHL provides is one where little girls can dream to be a professional hockey player.”

Ryan thinks that this tour may also impact the way young boys may look at female athletes their own age.

“I see young boys that are looking up to our girls as the professional athletes that deserve to be looked at and I have to assume that that gets translated with how young boys potentially look at young girls that are athletes,” said Ryan.

Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre will host two games. Toronto Sceptres will face off against the Montreal Victoire on Dec. 17, and the Ottawa Charge play the Boston Fleet on Jan. 11.