The crowd was rowdy and energetic again on Tuesday night for Ottawa’s match-up against Toronto. The stands were full of red and black jerseys featuring various Ottawa teams like the PWHL, the OHL’s 67s, the CFL’s Redblacks, and the NHL’s Senators.
But there were also several blue jerseys in support of the away team. There were PWHL Toronto jerseys, Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys, and even a couple of PWHPA Sonnet jerseys scattered throughout the crowd.
Fans like best friends Jayne Gillette and Sylvia King, neither of whom lives in Ottawa. They trekked to see Toronto play and cheer on King’s sister-in-law Jocelyne Larocque. The Ice Garden spoke with Toronto’s fans at the game in Ottawa. Some are rebellious Ottawa residents; others travelled hours just to see their favourite team play.
Emilie Parson lives near Kingston, Ont. but is a Toronto sports fan. “I was born and raised in Toronto; I can’t give up on them,” she said when asked why she chose to cheer for Toronto over other PWHL teams.
Parson said she’s been a women’s hockey fan her whole life.
She attended the world championships last year and loved seeing her favourite players play. “It was so cool and powerful to see them in person when normally the only other opportunity to see them would be at the Olympics; now we get to see them every week,” said Parson.
Parson bought a half-season package of tickets for games in Ottawa. She said she purchased the tickets because Toronto sold out before she could grab some there. It’s a long drive, but it’s worth the trip to Ottawa for the PWHL games. And coming to see Toronto was a priority. “I made sure to be here for tonight even though it’s a work night,” she said.
Parson is a fan of Toronto’s icon, Natalie Spooner. “What Natalie Spooner has done in the last year, from giving birth to getting on the ice less than three months later to now being one of the most influential players in this league is insane,” she said.
The Ice Garden asked Spooner following the game in Ottawa how she felt knowing fans were willing to travel hours to see Toronto play. “It’s a testament to women’s hockey,” Spooner said. “I know our tickets sold out so fast, and [Ottawa] is the next closest place you can get tickets. It’s pretty amazing they’re willing to make the drive just to watch us play and cheer us on.”
Toronto sports fan Josh Phair gifted PWHL Ottawa tickets to his girlfriend Taylor Levia. “He got me the tickets for my birthday,” Levia said. “It’s a big deal to me,” she said. She made it abundantly clear that she was not cheering for Toronto, but Phair was. “I’m cheering for Toronto because I’m a Toronto fan for every sport.”
Anne-Marie Rousseau is a Toronto fan converted by Maple Leafs fan Kyle Lohnes. He’s a Toronto sports fan who encouraged Rousseau to cheer for his favourite team. Rousseau is from Rimouski, a town in Eastern Quebec. She said she is a fan of all the teams but chose Toronto as her team to cheer for. “I like them all; it’s women, I love them all,” she said. But one of her favourite players is Emma Maltais.
Rousseau and Lohnes live in Ottawa and were excited to be at their first game. “I wanted to go to a game, but there’s been nothing. It was inaccessible,” said Rousseau. But with the PWHL, there is regular women’s hockey in Ottawa. “Now it’s so accessible. We see it on TV, and I’ve gotten so hyped. It’s like a dream come true for these players,” she said.
“This is history for us,” said Jessica Armstrong, who came to the game with her wife Bridget. They drove nearly four hours from east of Toronto for the Tuesday night game. Bridget said the drive was worth it. “There’s more tickets here compared to Toronto,” she said. “This is amazing,” she said, pointing to the crowd in the arena.
Rhonda Newell and Michelle Yeo travelled from Kingston, Ont. With their daughters to watch the game. They’re Toronto fans because of Natalie Spooner, and they came specifically to see her. “She just doesn’t give up. She’s a go-getter,” Rhonda said. “We watched her on the amazing race, and I’ve loved her ever since.”
“I love having the Toronto fans out here,” Natalie Spooner told The Ice Garden following the game. “I think the crowd was amazing tonight, but it’s nice when you hear some Toronto cheers too.”
Spooner said she remembers going to see Hayley Wickenheiser when she was young. Spooner was appreciative that fans feel the same way about her.
“I remember growing up and getting to see Hayley Wickenheiser play and being in awe of how fast she was and how good she was. Hopefully, those girls who came out saw amazing hockey tonight and are inspired to play in the PWHL or whatever their dream is,” Spooner told The Ice Garden after the game.
