Julia Gosling’s playoff debut with the Toronto Sceptres was a memorable one. The native of London, ON netted a pair of goals to help lift her team to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Frost – the defending Walter Cup champions – to open the PWHL semifinal series.
“It was really exciting, and super fun to get that done at home,” Gosling said after the game. “To get two goals against a really great goalie (Nicole Hensley) just shows that I really need to use my shot.”
With the victory, Toronto exacted a small measure of revenge on their opponents. Last year, the same two teams met in the postseason. The Sceptres won the first two games at home, only to lose the series when the Frost prevailed in the next three outings.
Sceptres captain Blayre Turnbull reflected on the lessons of the previous disappointment.
“Last year’s playoff, I think maybe we thought we had the series in the bag, and that obviously wasn’t the case. So I think we understand the importance of looking too far ahead,” she said.
Turnbull strikes early
Turnbull opened the scoring at 11:59 of the first period, coming out of the corner after winning the puck battle in the corner and skating the width of the crease, beating Minnesota goalie Nicole Hensley to the outstretched far side.
The second period was the setting for Gosling’s heroics. Just under eight minutes in, Gosling capitalized on a turnover at the blue line for a partial breakaway, scoring on her own rebound after Hensley made the initial save.
One minute and 55 seconds later on a Toronto power play, Gosling unleashed a slap shot from just outside the faceoff circle to extend her team’s lead to three goals.
Minnesota’s Britta Curl-Salemme responded for her team, converting on a rebound at the edge of the crease on a Frost power play to break the shutout.
A heated moment occurred moments after the goal. Skating out of the Frost zone, Curl-Salemme hit Toronto defender Renata Fast with an elbow to the head, resulting in a major penalty and game misconduct. As the officials used video review to confirm the call, the throng of 6,868 fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum echoed cries of “Throw her out!” in unison.
Katy Knoll rounded out the scoring for Minnesota with a third-period tally. The Frost pressed hard for the equalizer in the dying moments of regulation, to no avail. “I love the way our team responded. We didn’t quit,” coach Ken Klee said. “We expected going in that it’s going to be a tough series.”
Sceptres goalie Kristen Campbell was solid between the pipes, stopping all but two of the 26 shots directed her way, including a breakaway attempt from Michela Cava.
Big year for Gosling
The whirlwind year continues for Gosling. In April 2024 she earned gold with Team Canada at the Women’s World Hockley Championship. Then In June she was the Sceptres’ first pick, sixth overall at the 2024 PWHL draft. Gosling returned to the national team last month as a replacement after Hannah Miller was declared ineligible; Canada earning silver at this year’s Worlds.
“Julia has such a quick release from that bumper spot on the power play,” said Toronto coach Troy Ryan. “And her 5-on-5 goal was set up by an unselfish line change by Turnbull’s line.”
Game 2 of the series is on Friday night in Toronto.
