Scamurra, Desbiens lead Victoire past Goldeneyes 3-0 to clinch PWHL playoff berth

Advertisement

Advertise with us

LAVAL - Hayley Scamurra scored twice and Ann-Renée Desbiens made 18 saves as the Montreal Victoire blanked the Vancouver Goldeneyes 3-0 on Wednesday night to clinch a playoff berth in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!

As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.

Now, more than ever, we need your support.

Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.

Subscribe Now

or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.

Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on brandonsun.com
  • Read the Brandon Sun E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
Start now

No thanks

*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.

LAVAL – Hayley Scamurra scored twice and Ann-Renée Desbiens made 18 saves as the Montreal Victoire blanked the Vancouver Goldeneyes 3-0 on Wednesday night to clinch a playoff berth in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

Desbiens, last season’s goalie of the year, registered her sixth shutout of the season as Montreal (13-4-2-5) won its third consecutive game. Laura Stacey and Skylar Irving added two assists each before 9,176 at Place Bell.

Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 25 shots for Vancouver (7-1-4-12) in a low-event game. The Goldeneyes were coming off a 3-2 win at Toronto on Sunday.

Vancouver Goldeneyes' Sarah Nurse (20) takes a shot on Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) during second period PWHL action in Laval, Que., Wednesday, April 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Vancouver Goldeneyes' Sarah Nurse (20) takes a shot on Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) during second period PWHL action in Laval, Que., Wednesday, April 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

The Victoire will head to the post-season for a third straight year after exiting in the semifinals the past two seasons. 

They rank second in the eight-team PWHL standings with six games remaining. The Goldeneyes, meanwhile, sit seventh in their inaugural season.

Scamurra, who later added an empty-net goal, finally broke the deadlock 8:28 into the third period after more than 40 minutes of disjointed play, with several offsides and missed power-play opportunities.

From behind the net, Stacey found Scamurra alone in the slot and the U.S. national team forward hammered a one-timer past Maschmeyer.

Desbiens held the pressing Goldeneyes off the board in the second period, denying scoring chances from Anna Meixner on two occasions as well as Sarah Nurse and Hannah Miller off the rush.

The Victoire dominated the shot count 9-4 in the first period without producing dangerous looks. They went 0-for-4 on the power play in the game.

Takeaways

Victoire: Erin Ambrose, the PWHL’s defender of the year in 2024, returned from an eight-game absence after sustaining a lower-body injury in Canada’s loss to the United States in the Olympic gold-medal game on Feb. 19. She played 14:29 in a limited role Wednesday. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin (lower body) remained on long-term injured reserve until at least Sunday.

Goldeneyes: Forwards Jenn Gardiner and Abby Boreen were back at Place Bell after spending last season with the Victoire. Gardiner, a Surrey, B.C., product and member of Canada’s Olympic team, had five goals and 13 assists across 30 games as a rookie before signing with Vancouver in the expansion window last summer.

Key moment

Scamurra scored an empty-net goal with 1:37 remaining. Maggie Flaherty iced the win with another empty-netter with 42 seconds left.

Key stat

Montreal set a league record by extending its point streak to 12 games (8-2-2-0). 

Up next

Victoire: Visit the Ottawa Charge on Friday at Canadian Tire Centre, home of the NHL’s Senators.

Goldeneyes: Visit the Minnesota Frost on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2026.

Report Error Submit a Tip

Sports Breaking News

LOAD MORE