Halifax in retailer for feisty battle with PWHL Takeover Tour

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The PWHL makes its Halifax in-person debut on Wednesday when the Montreal Victoire and Toronto Sceptres meet within the first of 16 Takeover Tour video games the league is placing on this season.

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If we’re studying the tea leaves appropriately, Halifax’s first dwell style of the PWHL ought to be a particularly bodily affair.

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The groundwork for that chance was laid final Sunday in Laval when the Victoire merely ran over the usually rambunctious Sceptres on their method to a 3-1 win.

It was a reversal of roles for the 2 groups, and understanding the Sceptres veteran core and their head coach, not one Toronto may have taken very kindly in direction of.

Physical, aggressive hockey is the staple upon which the Sceptres’ recreation is constructed. They aren’t accustomed to being pushed round like they have been in Laval. It led to a really one-sided contest and it ought to result in an excellent response this coming Wednesday.

An worldwide break for gamers to return to their respective nationwide groups and proceed preparations for the Olympics adopted that recreation, so there was time in between however there’s little likelihood that reasonably one-sided exhibiting final Sunday didn’t sow some discontent that can nonetheless be round by Wednesday’s match.

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‘Rivalry could be very robust’

“In previous seasons we have now at all times had unimaginable video games towards Montreal,” Sceptres defender Allie Munroe mentioned on a convention name selling the Halifax recreation Friday. “The rivalry could be very robust and it simply continues to develop.

“The final recreation, on the physicality aspect, I might say that they had the higher hand on us so we’re simply actually seeking to put the work boots on and get all the way down to enterprise instantly once we get to Halifax and simply proceed that rivalry as a result of it’s actually enjoyable.”

It’s no secret Montreal used the growth course of and the modifications compelled on each staff within the league to re-make themselves right into a extra bodily aspect.

They introduced in gamers like Abby Roque and Hayley Scamurra, Shiann Darkangelo and Jessica DiGirolamo, to toughen up the lineup.

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Roque is without doubt one of the extra bodily gamers within the league, so it was obvious simply from who they went out and obtained that was going to be the plan.

“The staff needs to play heavier on pucks, win extra battles and play a bit extra bodily than they’ve up to now,” Roque mentioned. “Obviously I believe that’s a part of the rationale I’m right here, so for me it’s simply attempting to place my greatest foot ahead and simply be certain I’m nonetheless taking part in that bodily recreation and doing what I can so as to add that to the staff.”

Roque is not any stranger to intense battles and is frankly anticipating one from the Sceptres on Wednesday.

“I believe the final recreation obtained fairly bodily at instances, in moments,” Roque mentioned. “I believe some video games I undoubtedly really feel are heavier video games towards (the Sceptres) than others. I really feel like just a few of their women who’re extra bodily, particularly in that Halifax setting, may deliver it a bit extra so we have now to be prepared for that.”

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Homegrown expertise on the town

Count Munroe, who comes from the opposite aspect of the province at Yarmouth amongst that group, and don’t neglect captain Blayre Turnbull who might be taking part in in entrance of a number of longtime family and friends from Stellarton, N.S., who might be making the trek to Halifax to see that city’s most well-known hockey export.

Throw in nationwide staff members like Renata Fast, Ella Shelton, and Emma Maltais, all of whom thrive within the bodily side of the sport very like the beforehand talked about two Sceptres, and the just about offered outdated Scotiabank Centre crowd ought to have loads to cheer about on Wednesday.

Ten days after their Halifax assembly, the identical two groups will meet up once more on the Bell Centre in Montreal for the third assembly in 20 days between the 2 golf equipment.

“The extra video games that you simply play towards an opponent, particularly when you’ve got that foundation of aggressive video games, I believe it simply will get increasingly more heated each single time,” Sceptres ahead Maggie Connors, who hails from St. John’s, mentioned. “But on the finish of the day, we love taking part in them. I’m so completely satisfied it’s Montreal that we’re taking part in in Halifax … They’re an unimaginable staff.”

As of Friday, there have been lower than 1,000 tickets left for the ten,500 seat venue.

Puck drop is 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

mganter@postmedia.com

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