How Vancouver Fans In Attendance For PWHL Takeover Tour Felt About The Night

For some fans at Rogers Arena, the victor of Vancouver's PWHL Takeover Tour game didn't matter.

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Instead, for fans like Rebecca, taking in the moment took priority.

“I think it’s really great to watch women’s sports," Rebecca says. "We don’t have enough of it, and I’m glad the PWHL is doing so well.”

On Wednesday, Marie-Philip Poulin notched two markers, and her Montreal Victoire proved victorious in Vancouver over the Toronto Sceptres in the same building where she won an Olympic Gold Medal 15 years prior.

Fans wearing PWHL merchandise littered Rogers Arena's concourse. While the match featured Montreal and Toronto, scattered fans were donning Minnesota Frost, New York Sirens, Boston Fleet, and Ottawa Charge emblems.

Those who didn't have any league merch either opted for NHL apparel or custom jerseys featuring pop culture icons. But some young girls in attendance wore their youth hockey team jerseys, like Katrina's daughter, a mother in the 300s at Rogers Arena.

"My daughter plays for the Tri-Cities Predators," Katrina says. "The whole U15 girls team is here to cheer on the ladies; that's why we're here."

Rows upon rows of youth girls teams lined the red seats at Rogers Arena. Each exuded enthusiasm for Poulin, Sarah Nurse, and hometown heroes like Rylind MacKinnon or Jennifer Gardiner whenever they touched the puck.

"There's a ton of support for women's hockey here in BC and Alberta, as well," Katrina says. "On the western side, we have a lot of talent and lots of young girls [playing hockey]."

Rebecca, a fellow 300-level fan roaming Rogers Arena in her Canucks jersey before, sees how the PWHL coming to the West Coast will serve as an inspiration for young hockey players.

Related: Montréal Victoire And Toronto Sceptres Take Over Rogers Arena In A 4–2 Thriller

"The PWHL is a great example for young girls everywhere, and they can be professional hockey players, too," Rebecca says. "Whatever men can do, so can women."

Alex, a fellow Canucks and PWHL fan, stood beside Rebecca. Both happened to be across from a merch table selling a mix of PWHL, Victoire, Sceptres and Canucks merchandise. He echoes what Rebecca said.

"These little girls will see [this game tonight] and think there's a future for me," Alex says.

Fans Want A Team

A common sentiment among fans is their desire for a PWHL team to call theirs. Ken, a Canucks season ticket holder, believes Vancouver could support a professional women's team and says there should be a team in British Columbia.

"If Vancouver gets a team, I'll get some tickets," Ken says, adding that he wouldn't rule out purchasing a season-ticket PWHL package.

Alex shares Ken's ticket-buying enthusiasm.

"Give us our team," Alex says. "If we have to pay for it, I'll help pay for it. I want that team."

While Vancouver fans will have to wait for a potential PWHL team, fans on the West Coast made it clear a franchise would be well-supported. 19,038 fans watched the Victoire take down the Sceptres on Wednesday. That number of fans makes Vancouver's Takeover Tour crowd the third-largest in PWHL history.

"It goes to show there's a market for women's hockey here in Vancouver," Rebecca says. "I hope we get a team of our own."

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