Newest Sceptres Harmon and Scamurra Adjust After Surprising Trade to Toronto

Savannah Harmon reacted to the blockbuster trade between Ottawa and Toronto on Dec. 30 a lot like the rest of us:

“I mean, what are the odds we’re in Toronto, playing Toronto the next night? You know, me and Scams [Hayley Scamurra], we were just like, ‘holy moly,’” she explains of how she felt when they got a call from GM Mike Hirshfeld.

After their first full practice with the Sceptres on Saturday, she said, “I'm really excited just getting a practice in — kind of crazy to think we've already played a game.

“But practice today was great and just each day you get more comfy and more familiar,” Harmon said of her renewed partnership with Renata Fast on the blue line.

“Renata is one of my really good friends and definitely it took a few shifts and I think we're still taking a bit, but definitely some familiarity for sure. We played two years together at Clarkson, definitely have remained good friends, and stayed in contact since and obviously I’m really familiar with her game, played against her every year since college.”

Scamurra said having Harmon along for the ride during the last few crazy days was a positive.

“It's been as smooth a transition as I could imagine for the scenario. Huge comfort [having Savannah there], like after I found out the news and then I found out she was with me, I had a sigh of relief for sure that I had a buddy to go through this with because it was a lot to take in.”

And being included in what is the biggest trade so far in PWHL history has been a shock to them, so they empathize with the reactions of the players going the other way. Veteran defender Jocelyne Larocque (who went from Toronto to the Charge) commented after Tuesday night’s game that it was the strangest day of hockey in her career.

“I think if I recall correctly, she maybe put it as like ripping the Band-Aid off, if I'm getting her words correctly,” Harmon commented.

“And Scams and I had said the same thing, like quite honestly, it was so weird.

“But also it was nice to just play them right away because we just traveled there with them, just played a game with them a day before that. And I think Joce put it perfectly, just again, it was weird.

“I think, you know, trades in pro sports, it's normal until you experience it. And obviously in our league, there haven't been that many, but there have been some, so it’s part of the game and just no better way than to just jump right in.”

The hardest part about being traded? For Scamurra, “I think it was just the logistics of moving. I think leaving where I am in Ottawa right now. I had a lot of stuff in the house and just figuring out, okay, who's going to take over the lease? Like, where am I moving to? What's going to happen? Finding where to live, basically. So I think that was the most stressful part. But luckily they gave us a few days to kind of gather our things and I feel pretty good about where I'm at now.”

“I think just it's a part of it. You got to do it,” agreed Harmon.

“But, again, the schedule was a bit weird, to play a game and then go move. I feel like typically you would get traded, pack up, move, but I feel like it maybe didn't really feel real. And so now that we're here, we've had a practice, I’m at this facility, in the locker room, it’s definitely starting to hit home a little more.”

Both players have some history with several of the Sceptres. Along with Harmon sharing two years of playing with Fast at Clarkson, Scamurra also played with her in Burlington, Ontario.

“And then I actually linked up with Emma [Maltais] for one year in Oakville,” Scamurra added.

Harmon and Scamurra are familiar with defender Kali Flanagan, they know Jesse Compher from Team USA, and are rejoining former Ottawa teammate Daryl Watts.

“And again, everyone kind of reached out and texted as soon as the trade happened and made me feel very welcome, so it's been great,” Scamurra explained.

The Sceptres head out west now for a stop on the Takeover Tour in Vancouver, which both players agree is good timing to create familiarity with their new teammates.

“I think for the Vancouver game I'm really excited to do a road trip with the team. I think that really bonds you in a different way,” Scamurra said.

“To start off my journey with Toronto with that kind of a road trip and a Vancouver setting, which is going to be an incredible crowd, I know it's sold out and I have some family and friends who are able to come last minute. So that's a really nice surprise for me and I just cannot wait to play in front of that crowd. It is going to be incredible.”

Harmon agreed that the trip would be a welcome team bonding experience.

“As I mentioned earlier, I have a couple of friends here, but there's a lot of women on this team that I don't know, so I am really excited just for the travel, the meals, the airport. Just being on the road can bring a team together for sure. And I'm really excited to get more comfortable and just get to know each and every one.”