BURSTThe expectations are high as the Vancouver Goldeneyes are set to drop the puck in front of a nearly sold-out crowd in Vancouver on Nov. 21 against Seattle Torrent for their inaugural season.
As of 10:20 a.m., Tuesday (Nov. 18), only four accessible seats are remaining for the game.
The Goldeneyes will face off against the Torrent at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Coliseum.
“Expectations are high,” Goldeneyes general manager Cara Gardner Morey said during a virtual media availability Tuesday (Nov. 18). “We hold ourselves to high expectations within. I think externally, there’s a little bit of outside, I wouldn’t say pressure there, but challenge, and it’s really exciting. I think it’s really fun to see this the way this group is embracing it. You can tell that they know they have a lot of talent and they also have a lot of grit and heart, and I think that expectations all around are very high, and I think we’re going to rise to those challenges.”
Head coach Brian Idalski said he is impressed with the team’s skill level after training camp and two preseason scrimmages.
“The intangibles immediately are really good. As far as the energy, people and communication, those things are awesome,” Idalski said. “I think it’s easy to see the talent, but we’re also in a people business, and so the interactions and the getting to know people, and just what a kind-hearted group we have is amazing.”
The Vancouver Goldeneyes won its first preseason scrimmage against the Seattle Torrent 3-0 on Saturday (Nov. 15) at the Pacific Coliseum, then lost its second scrimmage to Seattle the following day (Nov. 16) 4-2.
The Goldeneyes announced Tuesday (Nov. 18) that three forwards (Chanreet Bassi, Brianna Brooks and Taylor Lind), three defenders (Madison Clough, Karley Garcia, and Kennesha Miswaggon) and goaltender Erica Fryer have been released following training camps. Two additional players will be released this week.
Gardner Morey said that the cuts are “one of the harder parts” of her role as general manager.
“It was hard because the players did their job, and they made it really hard on us, making the final decisions,” Gardner Morey said. “Going forward, there’s going to be looking at the waiver wire and seeing what opens up from other teams, and seeing if we need to make any adjustments in the next few days. So it’s also going to be busy and exciting.”
The released players are still eligible to be signed by other teams in the league. The final Goldeneyes 2025-26 season roster will be submitted on Wednesday (Nov. 19) and can include a maximum of 23 active players.
All Vancouver Goldeneys games will stream live on the PWHL YouTube channel (@thepwhlofficial) and at thepwhl.com.
In Canada, Tuesday night games will stream on Prime Video, Wednesday night games will be on TSN, Thursday night games will air on TSN and Sportsnet. Friday, Saturday and Sunday games will air on CBC, TSN, and Sportsnet.
Friday’s (Nov. 21) season opener between Toronto Sceptres and Minnesota Frost will air on TSN at 4 p.m. EST, followed by Vancouver Goldeneyes vs. Seattle Torrent at 7 p.m. PT on TSN.
The PWHL will enter its third season on Friday (Nov. 21) with its original six teams: Toronto Sceptres, Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Minnesota Frost, Boston Fleet, and New York Sirens, along with the two new teams, Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent.
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About the Author: Anna Burns
I cover breaking news, health care, court, Vancouver Rise FC, Vancouver Goldeneyes and social issues-related topics for the Surrey Now-Leader. anna.burns@surreynowleader.com Follow Anna on Twitter.