Grant-Mentis scores winner as Victoire edge Charge 2-1
The Montreal Victoire emerged victorious over the Ottawa Charge in a thrilling 2-1 win at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Friday night. The game saw Mikyla Grant-Mentis, who previously played for Ottawa’s Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) team before being released, scoring the winning goal for the Victoire.
Grant-Mentis expressed her joy at scoring against her former team, stating, “It felt great. Every time I play Ottawa I have a little bit of oomph in me, but it was nice to get a goal this time.” Despite her history with Ottawa, Grant-Mentis shared that she harbors no ill feelings towards her former teammates, saying, “I love all the girls.”
Captain Marie-Philip Poulin also contributed a goal for the Victoire, while goaltender Elaine Chuli made 29 saves to secure the win. The Charge managed to score a lone goal through Ashton Bell, with Emerance Maschmeyer making 29 saves in a valiant effort.
In a tense final few minutes, the Charge pulled Maschmeyer from the net in favor of an extra attacker. With under a minute left, Savannah Harmon came close to tying the game, but her shot deflected off Chuli and hit the crossbar, preserving the Victoire’s lead.
Despite a record-breaking crowd of 11,065 fans at the Canadian Tire Centre, the Charge couldn’t capitalize on the home advantage. Coach Carla MacLeod admitted that her team came out flat in the early periods, stating, “We were responding to Montreal and not sort of dictating.” However, she commended her team’s effort in the third period, where they showed signs of their true potential.
The game remained scoreless after the first period, but the Victoire took control in the second period, scoring two goals to take a 2-1 lead. Poulin capitalized on a turnover to score on a breakaway, while Bell responded for the Charge with a goal of her own.
Looking ahead, Charge captain Brianne Jenner emphasized the importance of learning from the defeat and improving in the next game. She acknowledged the energy from the crowd and expressed excitement about being back on the ice with her teammates.
Montreal sealed the win with a goal from Claire Daulton, who found Grant-Mentis in the slot for a decisive shot past Maschmeyer. The Victoire will face the Sceptres in Toronto on December 21, while the Charge will embark on a road trip starting with a game against the Boston Fleet on December 17.
