Kirk makes 32 saves to earn first PWHL shutout in Toronto’s 2-0 win over Seattle

By Canadian Press on March 15, 2026.

TORONTO — Raygan Kirk woke up in a grumpy mood Sunday.

Her Toronto Sceptres had gone more than three months between wins at the Coca-Cola Coliseum and the second-year goalkeeper was determined to earn her keep.

She delivered a victory with her first career Professional Women’s Hockey League shutout, a 32-save effort in the Sceptres’ 2-0 win against the expansion Seattle Torrent.

“I woke up this morning and was a little bit mad I hadn’t won at home yet,” said the 25-year-old from Ste. Anne, Man.

She did make 23 saves in a 2-1 win against the expansion Vancouver Goldeneyes before 17,856 at Scotiabank Arena. But the only other occasion the Sceptres managed to win at their usual home was Dec. 4 when backup Elaine Chuli was in goal for a 3-1 win against the Ottawa Charge.

“I think we owed it to our fans after those past few home games,” Kirk said. “Taking advantage of being at home is a huge edge, and with this crowd and this energy, being able to sleep in your bed.

“That was my mentality coming in, and it worked out. We have had a lot of close games and we weren’t taking advantage.”

The Sceptres have two wins, one overtime victory, five overtime losses and three more defeats in regulation for only 11 games at the Coca-Cola Coliseum. The 13 points are the lowest home total in the PWHL.

When a team is as offensively challenged as the Sceptres have been this season, the timing was right for Kirk to step up. She was especially sharp in the second half of the second period, making nine stops.

“I think for teams to have success and to win games, you need your goalie to step up and make saves when you have those little lulls, and Kirky definitely did that tonight,” Toronto head coach Troy Ryan said.

The Sceptres have scored just 41 goals in 21 outings this season. Only the Torrent, with 40 goals in 19 games, and the Goldeneyes, with 35 in 19, have scored fewer times.

With offensive standout Daryl Watts on the sidelines because of a lingering flu bug she picked up on the return trip playing for Canada at the Olympics, captain Blayre Turnbull provided some early offence.

She scored four minutes in, keeping the puck on a 2-on-1 break before a capacity crowd of 8,270. Sara Hjalmarsson added an empty-net goal with 7.8 seconds remaining in the third.

The Sceptres not only lost key offensive players in expansion, Sarah Nurse and Hannah Miller to Vancouver, and Julia Gosling to Seattle, but also forfeited netminder Kristen Campbell to the Goldeneyes.

Campbell began last season as Toronto’s No. 1 goalie with Kirk backing her up. But now Kirk has been the undisputed No. 1, having turned in five consecutive 30-or-more save outings since the Olympic break.

“Losing Soupy (Campbell) and having that opportunity to take the No. 1 spot, I think having a swagger is a piece of it,” Kirk said. “If you have the opportunity to take over, you want to build consistency through your games.”

Kirk believes handling the puck as much as possible early in a game has been good for her mentally.

Ryan has also witnessed growth in Kirk this season.

“A big part of it has been being a backup,” Ryan said. “She even was a backup in college (Ohio State).

“A lot of it has knowing now she’s going to play and she’s gaining that confidence. A lot of it is mental. Our team has confidence with her in the net.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 15, 2026.

Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press