Maschmeyer, Vancouver Goldeneyes eager for PWHL Takeover Tour’s Edmonton stop

Growing up in rural Alberta, Emerance Maschmeyer didn’t have a lot of examples of women’s hockey players to emulate.

Now the Vancouver Goldeneyes goalie is an idol for a new generation.

“As a young girl, I really didn’t know what was out there. And I think at the time, too, women’s hockey, there wasn’t a lot to aspire to. It was really to play for Team Canada. I always dreamed of playing in the NHL, like most other women my age that are still playing,” she said.

“But there’s a league now, and even beyond that, there’s a lot of opportunities for women’s hockey players.”

Maschmeyer grew up in Bruderheim, Alta., about 50 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.

This week, her journey will take her back to the region as the Goldeneyes (2-4-1-0) take on the Minnesota Frost (3-2-0-1) in Edmonton on Saturday as part of the PWHL’s Takeover Tour.

The 31-year-old netminder knows what it’s like to play a pro game in the provincial capital, having suited up for the Ottawa Charge there in February when they faced the Toronto Sceptres in front of more than 17,500 fans.

The crowd featured lots of big, blown up cut-outs of players faces and the unique signs that have come to populate many PWHL games.

“I feel like the ‘We want a team’ sign became a big thing,” Maschmeyer said. “I feel like in every market since, there’s been signs that say ‘We want a team.’

“That just shows how desperate cities are to have a PWHL team and how excited they are to have us there.”

Saturday’s tilt is the third of 16 neutral-site matchups the league is staging across North America this season.

Edmonton will get a second game on April 7 when Vancouver returns to take on the Boston Fleet, and Calgary will get a battle of Ontario on April 1 when the Charge face the Toronto Sceptres at the Saddledome.

It’s no surprise the province is embracing women’s hockey, Maschmeyer said.

“Alberta is a big hockey community. Edmonton, especially, it’s kind of the way of living here. Everyone is involved in hockey,” she said.

“I truly believe that Edmonton, and possibly Calgary, they deserve a team. I think that it’d be really welcomed here. It’d be a really fun, exciting environment and community, and I think that it would really help to grow the women’s game out here.”

So far this season, the Takeover Tour has stopped in Halifax and Chicago, where Ottawa downed Minnesota 3-2 in overtime on Sunday.

Playing in new markets is still a thrill for Frost forward Kelly Pannek.

“It’s really fun just to see new fans, people that are excited to see us, that are grateful that we’re in their communities. They don’t have to log in on YouTube wherever, they can watch the game,” she said.

“It just means a lot to be able to bring our sport, bring our game, to people that might not be able to usually see it in person, and hopefully create more lifelong fans.”

The tour’s next stop in Edmonton will bring familiar faces for Minnesota — seven of Vancouver’s players previously suited up for the Frost.

Losing teammates to expansion clubs is simply part of playing a growing sport, Pannek said.

“We miss them, but we also wish the best for them,” she said. “It’s kind of just the reality of being a professional hockey player now, where your teammates with people one season, and then they might be somewhere else, or you might be somewhere else the next.

“So it’ll be fun to see them on the ice. Probably have some commentary in between the whistles and whatnot, but it’ll be exciting to play them. They obviously have a lot of talent on their team, and it’ll be exciting to play a new team for the first time.”

One former Frost player now donning a Goldeneyes jersey is Sophie Jaques.

The Canadian defender had seven goals and 15 assists over 25 regular-season games for Minnesota last season, then added another seven points (two goals, five assists) in eight playoff appearances as the team captured a second straight Walter Cup.

Jaques has kept the same level of productivity in Vancouver, where she has two goals and two assists in seven games this season.

Heading into Saturday’s matchup, she hasn’t thought much about playing her former team.

“But I am excited to play them. I mean, getting to play your old teammates is always a lot of fun,” Jaques said. “Sucks being on the other side from them. But I just think it’s going to be a really cool game.

“And then getting to play it in a takeover city, I think those games always come with a lot of excitement, and a lot of fans show up. So I think it’s going to be a great environment for my first time playing against Minnesota.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 22, 2025.