Willoughby reflects on first PWHL Championship

Willoughby and the Victoire had to battle for the Walter Cup. In the semifinal, Montreal needed all five games to eliminate defending champion Minnesota Frost. In the final, the Victoire won the first two games at home in overtime, lost Game 3 in Ottawa, then clinched the series with a 4-0 victory over the Charge.

The final also featured Prince Albert’s Brooke Hobson, who played for Ottawa. Willoughby said it was a tight defensive series.

“Two really good defensive teams with two good goaltenders. I think it came down to just who could find the offense in the end. Our final game, we ended up winning 4-0 and luckily we found the offense first. Ottawa is a great team, they put up a great fight against us and yeah, just so happy to come out on top.”

Like the Stanley Cup, the Walter Cup travels to each player on the championship team for a day. Willoughby does not yet know her date, but she said she is looking forward to bringing the trophy to Prince Albert to celebrate with friends and family.

“I’m really excited to find out what day I’ll be able to bring it home to Prince Albert and throw a party with my friends and family. Honestly, one of the biggest highlights I think of winning a championship is being able to share that with your team first, but then second being able to bring it home to your friends and family and all the people who have supported you back home. So I’m really looking forward to that part of it.”

Originally with Toronto before being traded to Montreal in her second season, Willoughby has played in all three years of the PWHL. She said watching Canada win women’s hockey gold at the 2002 Olympics inspired her to take up the sport. With regular television broadcasts, rapid expansion and neutral-site games in markets without teams, interest in women’s hockey has grown sharply, and Willoughby said she is proud to be part of it and in a position to inspire the next generation of players.

“To hear that little girls are seeing a game on TV and it sparks their interest, I think that’s the biggest thing is the visibility that this league has given to the young girls. Being able to inspire them and, even if it’s not hockey, just getting kids in sports and them being inspired that they can be a professional athlete one day. Yeah, it means the world to all of us. We think that’s one of the biggest things about playing right now. We obviously love the game and that’s why we want to keep playing, but the second part to that is just growing the game that we do love. Yeah, it’s amazing to see.”

With the season over, the focus now shifts from the next game to preparing for next year.

Along with training and planning a celebration in Prince Albert, Willoughby said she will work this summer as a nurse to maintain her registered nursing licence.

—

nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com

by Nick Nielsen

Willoughby reflects on first PWHL Championship

What's Trending