2025 PWHL Semifinals: Rookies Take Center Stage in Game One Between Sceptres and Frost

The PWHL playoffs got off to an electric start last night, with the Toronto Sceptres earning a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Frost. While the stars and veterans are often the ones shining brightest early in playoff series, it was the bottom-six rookies who took center stage in this game. 

Fourth-line center Julia Gosling led the charge for Toronto, scoring twice in under two minutes in the second period to give the Sceptres a 3-0 lead. At the other end, Third-line wing Britta Curl-Salemme and fourth-line wing Katy Knoll scored the two Minnesota goals, while Klára Hymlárová picked up an assist on her linemate Knoll’s goal.

Beyond the goals, Toronto’s Izzy Daniel shone bright. She’s been extremely quiet offensively lately and only registered two official shots in 12:51, but she created numerous quality chances and was overall as noticeable as she’s been in a long time. If Daniel can start getting on the board again, it’ll be a huge boost to the Sceptres.

While for the most part, the rookies did good things for both sides, Minnesota’s also got them in some trouble. For starters, Brooke McQuigge’s second-period high-sticking penalty led to Toronto’s third goal. Later, Curl-Salemme earned a major and a game misconduct for a blatant elbow to Renata Fast’s head just 41 seconds after scoring in the second period. The official call was for a check to the head.

It is the first major and game misconduct of Curl-Salemme’s career. However, she has already been served two one-game suspensions this season. The first came back on January 4 for high-sticking Boston’s Theresa Schafzahl in the head/neck, while the second was on March 11 for an illegal check to the head of Toronto’s Megan Carter. Given her history, it would be no surprise if she finds herself watching from the stands for at least the next game. It may even be the first multi-game suspension of her career, although most leagues consider a one-game playoff suspension equal to a two-game regular-season one, so it will depend on just how egregious the PWHL views the play.

While the rookies were the main story, Toronto captain Blayre Turnbull set the tone early with her goal off an outstanding individual effort. The Sceptres had largely been dominating the Frost, but Turnbull’s goal was critical in allowing them to hang on to the momentum.

On the other side, goaltender Nicole Hensley was outstanding for Minnesota. Minnesota head coach Ken Klee wouldn’t commit to returning to her next game, but she was the primary reason the Frost had the chance to attempt a comeback. The majority of Toronto’s 37 shots were high-danger opportunities, so she had to make numerous grade-A saves. The goals she let in were ones nobody could be expected to stop (Turnbull) or following brutal turnovers by Minnesota skaters. 

Overall, the Frost have lots to clean up defensively if they hope to turn the tide of this series. They also weren’t strong offensively, with just nine of their 24 shots coming from below the face-off circles. However, defender Sophie Jaques believes her team had great moments and just needs to find consistency.

“I think that we had great moments at times,” Jaques said postgame. “I think if we can just be more consistent with our play, with our depth, we’re going to be able to wear them down. I think continuing to get pucks to the net and get people taking away the eyes of their goalie is going to make us really successful throughout the series.”

As for Toronto, they had precisely the start they wanted. They managed to jump out to a 3-0 lead in the first half of the game, score at both even strength and on the power play, and pour on the high-danger opportunities while limiting the ones they let up. Kristen Campbell was also stellar when called upon and made numerous key saves to secure her team the win.

“Any chance you can win the first game of a series, I think it’s huge,” Toronto head coach Troy Ryan said postgame. “I think we’re happy with the win but I think most importantly actually, there was a moment in that game as they were kind of pressing at the end where I was like, you can live with whatever the results of that game. You obviously always want to win, but I was so happy and proud of the way our team played as a group. I would put it up with our top couple games that we’ve played. [We] got a complete effort from a lot of players and great goaltending, so overall just very happy with the way we won.”

This series picks back up with Game 2 on Friday, May 9. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, ON. You can find the game on Prime Video in Canada, FanDuel Sports Network North in the St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN area, and the PWHL YouTube channel and thepwhl.com elsewhere.