The Toronto Six are PHF champions! Alyssa Turner dives into the team's humble beginnings and dissects its first ever Isobel Cup win.
There were several unknowns when Covid took over in 2020. It was a tough year for many. Lots of stress. A disconnect from not only the people we love, but also the sports we love. On April 22nd, 2020, the NWHL (now the PHF) announced they would be expanding and adding their first ever team in Canada. The news brought hope, excitement, and more professional women’s hockey opportunities in North America.
Humble Beginnings
It took the PHF’s newest franchise nine months to play its first ever game. In that time a roster was formed, a team name was picked, logos and jerseys were designed, and a culture of winning in Toronto began.
Over their first two seasons, the Toronto Six had their fair share of regular season success. In 26 games played, they had a 19-4-2 record and a +28-goal definitional. Unfortunately, the Six failed to replicate that success in the playoffs and fell to the eventual Isobel Cup Champions, the Boston Pride, in the semi-finals in BOTH years.
Year 3: Let's Go!
When the 2022-23 season began, the Six had a bit of a new look both on and off the ice. After a quick coaching stint for the Six the previous season, Hockey Hall of Famer Angela James moved into the GM role, where she got to work quick. They added elite goal scorer and former RMU standout Brittany Howard, and their defensive core got even stronger with the addition of Kati Tabin. In terms of off-ice moves, Toronto brought two-time Olympic gold medalist Sami-Jo Small into the role as team President, while the Head Coach position was filled by Hockey Hall of Famer, two-time Olympian and former teammate of Angela James, Geraldine Heaney. It was evident the Six were building a team full of winners and they had one goal for the season: win the Isobel Cup.
A Playoff Run to Remember
The Six continued their strong regular season play as they finished second in the standings behind Boston, the back-to-back champs. Toronto had a 17-5-2 record with a +25-goal differential, and Brittany Howard led the charge on offence in her first PHF season with 16 goals and 10 assists in 20 games played. Kat Tabin led all PHF defenders with 18 points in 24 games.
As the second seed, Toronto was set to meet the third seed Connecticut Whale in a best-of-three semi-final. Led by Kennedy Marchment and Taylor Girard, the Whale were sneaky good all season long, but seemed to have flown under the radar with Boston and Toronto leading the charge a top of the standings.
After dropping game one to the Whale, the Six were on the brink of another disappointing semi-final elimination. However, first year T6 player, Emma Woods, had other plans. Just 2:31 into overtime, Woods iced the game two victory for the Six with a beautiful wrist shot that forced a third and deciding game.
With a packed crowd at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto, the Six were one win away from their first ever Isobel Cup appearance. One of the biggest consistencies the Six have had the last three seasons is solid goaltending from Elaine Chuli. In game three, Chuli put on a masterclass performance leading the Six to a 3-0 win, booking their ticket to the Isobel Cup Final in Tempe, Arizona.
On the other side of the PHF Playoff bracket, the Minnesota Whitecaps shocked the hockey world by sweeping Boston, the back-to-back champs. Throughout the regular season, the Six had the Whitecaps’ number winning all four games played. But this Whitecaps team was coming into the Cup Final with momentum on their side.
Isobel Cup Champions
The 2023 Isobel Cup Final was one for the ages. We saw two expansion franchises go toe-to-toe in a historic matchup in a market that was new for the PHF. Minnesota and Toronto gave the Mullet Arena crowd in Arizona a game full of goals, saves, hits and everything in between.
The Six found themselves down 3-2 early in the 3rd period and were reminded exactly why the Whitecaps were able to sweep the Pride just a week before. However, the Six didn’t hit the panic button. They continued to play a strong forechecking game that had the Whitecaps on their heels, and eventually first-year Six player Taylor Woods scored the equalizer with 8 minutes remaining in regulation.
The game continued tied 3-3 at the end of the 3rd period. After many high-danger scoring opportunities in three-on-three overtime, where the Six dominated most of the time, Tereza Vanišová scored at the 4:23 mark of overtime give the Six a thrilling 4-3 victory. And just like that, the PHF had crowned its first Canadian Champion.
When the hockey world met the first Canadian team in the PHF three years ago, not many could’ve guessed they would win a championship so soon. From day one, the Toronto Six have made it clear winning was the top priority. It will be fun to watch a team that was born during a pandemic continue their historic reign in their fourth season.
