Maschmeyer Backstops Ottawa To New Year's Eve Win As Traded Players Face Former Teams

The Toronto Sceptres suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Charge Tuesday night.

By all accounts, the game felt strange for both sides, as just 21 hours before the game, Toronto and Ottawa made a trade. Jocelyn Larocque and Victoria Bach had to walk down the long hallway of Coca-Cola Coliseum to the Ottawa dressing room. At the same time, Hayley Scamurra and Savannah Harmon headed the other way to Toronto’s room.

“It was just like ripping off a band-aid,” said Larocque. “Let's just rip it off and get right into it.”

Get right into it both sides did as despite the change of numbers and the emotions in the building, the puck was dropped on another Battle of Ontario.

In the first period, Toronto came out strong, as just minutes into the game, Emma Woods found herself in a prime scoring position, but her shot was denied by Emerance Maschmeyer.

The Sceptres had another opportunity to break the tie in the dying minutes of the frame. This time, Jesse Compher shot from a tough angle that squeezed its way behind Maschmeyer. With the puck lying in the crease, she recovered and found the loose puck among the chaos, leaving the game scoreless.

At the beginning of the second, it was more of the same as the Sceptres continued to apply pressure, hemming the Charge in their zone with no break. Despite the onslaught, the Charge would take advantage of their few opportunities.

With 13 minutes left in the second, Allie Munroe cleared the puck from the crowded front of the net right to Ronja Savolainen, who shot the puck through the crowd beating Toronto's Raygan Kirk to give the Charge the one-goal lead.

Early in the third period, it looked like the Charge had extended their lead. After a league-issued review of the goal. It was determined that Emily Clark made a kicking motion, wiping the goal from the board.

Five-on-five the Sceptres could not find an answer to Maschmeyer. The Ottawa goaltender made 37 saves in the game and was named the first star.

“She's been our backbone, and she's played great all year. It's not just these last two games, it's every game she's played," said head coach Carly Macleod. “We're fortunate that we're gaining some confidence from her goaltending out to the rest of the group.”

The Sceptres would finally give the home crowd something to cheer for in the dying minutes of the game. After hitting Renata Fast from behind, Tereza Vanisova was issued a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. Giving the Sceptres a much-needed opportunity to tie the game.

Halfway through the power play, Hannah Miller answered the call again, rifling a shot past Maschmeyer to level the game at one.

The game would only stay tied for a few minutes, as with less than a minute left in the game, Jincy Roese slid the puck under Kirk’s pad to win the game.

After the game, the emotions were high as Renata Fast and Jocelyne Larcoque met for a hug near center ice, signalling the end of a wild 24 hours.

“I think it was closure. It was a goodbye,” said Larocque. “You know, I've had a lot of great memories in Toronto and I’ll cherish them forever.”