PHF's Toronto Six Beat Minnesota Whitecaps To Win Isobel Cup

It took a thrilling back-and-forth game and extra time, but the Toronto Six captured their first PHF title after defeating the Minnesota Whitecaps 4-3.

The Toronto Six are bringing their first-ever Isobel Cup championship back to 'the Six' after winning an overtime thriller to capture the PHF title. 

Tereza Vanisova was the overtime hero giving Toronto its first PHF title in only its second year in the league with a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Whitecaps.

The opening goal of the game came off the stick of Dominika Laskova, who took a backhand feed from Michela Cava on the rush and finished top shelf beating Minnesota netminder Amanda Leveille over her glove. It proved to be the only goal of the opening frame, which was dominated by the  Whitecaps despite the score. Minnesota outshot Toronto 8-5 in the first period, and if not for key saves by Toronto’s Elaine Chuli, the score would have been different.

Brittyn Fleming tied the game at 1-1 in the second period for Minnesota. Off a broken play and giveaway below the goal line, Fleming found the loose puck and walked out front, turning and shooting while drifting away from the next and beating Chuli five-hole.

Crossing the midway point of the game, Leveille stepped out of her crease to settle a dump-in, but Toronto’s Emma Woods was there to steal the puck from Leveille behind the net before finding Breanne Wilson-Bennett out front for a tap-in. Minnesota, however, answered back with a stretch pass from the Whitecaps zone, sending a trio of Minnesota skaters in against one Toronto defender. Brooke Madsen was the recipient of a Natalie Snodgrass pass to beat Chuli and tie the game at 2-2.

Heading into the third period, Jonna Albers gave Minnesota its first lead of the night, scoring 20 seconds in on the power play from a penalty carried over from the second. Several minutes later, Taylor Woods evened the score yet again, as the Six capitalized off a Minnesota giveaway before Woods got the final touch on a goalmouth scramble to make the score 3-3.

That’s how it ended for regulation, sending the Isobel Cup final to 3-on-3 overtime. In the extra frame, Toronto had several excellent scoring chances before Czechia’s Tereza Vanisova stole a puck, walked the goal line and beat Leveille short-side for the Isobel Cup-winning goal.

Vanisova was named player of the game, while Toronto’s Michela Cava was named the Isobel Cup playoff MVP.

“As Toronto has proven all season, they just keep getting better,” said PHF commissioner Reagan Carey addressing the crowd at Tempe, Ariz.’s Mullett Arena after the game.

Toronto’s victory marks the first time in PHF history that a Canadian team has captured the Isobel Cup. Toronto was the PHF’s first Canadian franchise when they expanded into the league last year. This season, the PHF added a second Canadian franchise in the Montreal Force.