Elaine Chuli shut down Boston, and Laura Stacey scored the overtime winner as PWHL Montreal defeated PWHL Boston in Lowell, MA.
Elaine Chuli shut down Boston, and Laura Stacey scored the overtime winner as PWHL Montreal defeated PWHL Boston in Lowell, MA.
LOWELL, MA – Elaine Chuli has been overlooked for most of her life.
With minimal recruitment out of her hometown of Waterford, Ontario, Chuli found her way to the University of Connecticut, where she was named to the CCM/AHCA All-American second team. Last season, she backstopped the Toronto Six to an Isobel Cup championship in the PHF.
“Nothing has really ever been handed to me, I think that makes you who you are,” said Chuli. “You have to put your head down and keep working. If you keep doing your thing for a long time, good things will happen.”
Despite being drafted to Montreal in the 13th round of the PWHL Draft, the netminder has taken a huge role alongside Ann-Renee Desbiens.
On Sunday afternoon, against a Boston offensive unit headlined by Hilary Knight and Alina Muller, Chuli was excellent, stopping Boston with 26 saves, en route to a 2-1 Montreal win in overtime.
“They (Boston) have a deep lineup, they generate a lot of good scoring chances,” said Chuli after the victory. “Overall, I think we cleaned up a lot of things defensively, and happy to come away with the win.”
The win brings Montreal to a 6-1-1-1 record, which coach Kori Cheverie knows is a testament to the group’s hard work and determination.
“Obviously, there’s still some things we need to work on, but I'm happy with the team overall,” said Cheverie.
Montreal took an early 1-0 lead late in the first period, when Erin Ambrose was able to get one past Aerin Frankel in the crease.
Despite the score, Frankel had an impressive first, stopping three Montreal attempts on a power play, and finished the evening with 32 saves.
After a quiet third, Boston was able to tie things up at one apiece after a Montreal mistake in front, in which Sophie Shirley scored her first goal of the season.
“It was a chip to Hannah (Brandt), she made a really good forecheck play, and I just tried to shoot it as hard as I can,” said Shirley. “It felt really good to see that one go in.”
After both sides were unable to score in the final 15 minutes of the third, we were headed to extra time, Montreal’s fourth overtime game of the year.
Despite losing to Boston in the first overtime game on January 13th, Montreal was able to win it with just about one minute left in extra time, as Ambrose found Laura Stacey in front of the net for the game-winner.
Montreal holds first in the PWHL, as the league is headed to a 10 day international competition break.