Laura Stacey wrote the ending to an emotional Professional Women's Hockey League game Saturday for both the Montreal Victors and Toronto Sceptres.
Stacey's breakaway goal 15 seconds into overtime gave Victoire a 4-3 victory over Sceptres, as the two teams came together to honor former Toronto goalkeeper Erica Howe.
Howe, 32, announced her retirement after last season and has since gone public with her battle with breast cancer.
Stacey had known Howe since the two women were college enemies. Howe stopped pucks for Clarkson University, while Stacey starred at Dartmouth.
The two became teammates in the Canadian Women's Hockey League with Markham and the Brampton Thunder and trained together in the off-season.
See | Stacey Toronto Drowning:
Victoire's Laura Stacey scored in overtime to give Montreal a 4-3 win and extend the Toronto Sceptres' losing skid to four games.
Stacey saw Howe for the first time on Saturday after the latter's diagnosis.
“I've talked to him many times, but to see him in that vulnerable state, it's so hard to see, so it's emotional,” Stacey said.
“Being that young and dealing with things like that is something you never want to see. But she has an amazing support group behind her.”
Howe received a standing ovation from the announced 8,251 at Coca-Cola Coliseum when he was shown on the scoreboard waving to the crowd in the first period.
After the game, the retired Mississauga firefighter joined the two teams on the ice, took the microphone and thanked the crowd for their support.
“I know Toronto and their whole team, and honestly, the whole organization and the fan base is behind him and every single one of us who is a little bit behind,” Stacey said.
“I know she has it.”
See | Toronto goalkeeper Erica Howe thanks fans for their support:
Victoire, the Sceptres, gather to watch the Coca-Cola Coliseum crowd in Ottawa's original address, Toronto, after Saturday's game.
Sceptres veteran defender Jocelyn Larocque said it was difficult for Howe to focus on the game after the building's reaction in the first period.
“It brought the cold. I was thinking,” Larocque said. “It was great seeing her and Erika is a person who is a great teammate and a great person.
“The strength she shows is inspiring. We care about her so much.”
Victoire (1-2-0-1) was wearing a Howe shirt as they exited their team bus and entered the field for the game.
“It was a no-brainer for everyone on our team to jump on board, put it on and support him,” Stacey said. “There are bigger things than hockey.”
Toronto (1-0-1-3) led 2-0 and 3-2 at the period break, but dropped its fourth straight to waste a 35-save performance by Raegan Kirk in his first career PWHL start.
Lina Lujungblom scored for Montreal at 12:51 of the third period.
Abby Boren had a goal and an assist for Victoire, while Maureen Murphy also scored. Goaltender Elaine Chuly made 19 saves for the win.
Jesse Comper and Sarah Nurse scored 42 seconds into the first period for Toronto, and Izzy Daniel also scored.
Kirk, 23, got his first PWHL game action Wednesday, in the third period of Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the New York Sirens.
Toronto's seventh-round pick, who won a pair of NCAA titles with Ohio State, stopped all nine shots he faced in the game.
Montreal outscored Toronto 39-22, including a 14-5 margin late in the first period.
The Sceptres defeated Montreal in all five meetings last year, winning the first game in a shootout and the last outing in overtime.
