PWHL Takeover Tour brings women’s pro hockey to Hamilton

It launched over one year ago and is still looking to expand. The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) dropped the puck in Hamilton Saturday as part of the league’s Takeover Tour.

The Toronto Sceptres took on the Torrent from Seattle, making Hamilton fans wish they had a team of their own.

It was a huge game not just for the Scepters and Torrent, but for the city of Hamilton.

These takeover tours are often seen as a way to determine if a city can handle having a team. Fans CHCH News spoke to, including our mayor, said Hamilton is absolutely ready.

Fans were lined up down York Boulevard ready to welcome the PWHL to the city.

Some lined up as early as 11 a.m. to catch some autographs before going in. Emma Desroches drove four hours with her family from North Bay, Ont.

“It means a lot to me because it’s really cool to see how — because before it was just like the boys and stuff, and now you get to see girls play professional hockey,” said Desroches.

“Hamilton is very much a sports oriented city — and another team here, of any kind, would just be wonderful,” said Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath.

WATCH MORE: Hamilton’s TD Coliseum to host PWHL game Saturday afternoon

Horwath was in attendance for Saturday’s game. She hopes to have more professional teams make their home at TD Coliseum, and a PWHL team is at the top of that list.

“I would say Hamilton can handle a team like no other city can. As you can see, it’s almost full here today. The energy is amazing,” said Horwath.

“I didn’t think it would happen in my lifetime and I’m glad it did. But I’m glad for the nieces, the daughters and the cousins, everybody that gets to play now,” said Jo Savelli, longtime hockey player.

Savelli has played hockey for 26 years and seeing the fans pile in for women’s hockey in Hamilton is a dream come true. Toronto Sceptres GM Gina Kingsbury feels the same.

“We have dreamt about this league for many years — so here we are,” said Kingsbury.

Kingsbury says Ontario has always had a passionate fanbase for women’s hockey, and if Hamilton got its own club, she would welcome the rivalry.

“If Hamilton becomes a team, I know we’ll probably become close archrivals here with the proximity of Toronto and Hamilton,” said Kingsbury.

“Whatever will grow and continue to grow the visibility of our great game, I think that’s what we all want to see.”

Final numbers for Saturday’s game pulled in over 16,000 fans into the coliseum.

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