PWHL sets new women's hockey crowd record

Scotiabank Arena drew 19,285 on Friday for the matchup between the PWHL's Toronto and Montreal teamsGetty Images

PWHL Toronto's 3-0 win over Montreal on Friday "set an attendance record for women’s hockey" with a crowd of 19,285 at Scotiabank Arena, surpassing the 18,013 who took in a game at the 2013 world championship in Ottawa. Toronto coach Troy Ryan said that he had "never coached a game as aloud as this." Ryan: “I was emotional, so I can’t even imagine what some of the players who have fought so long to get these opportunities (felt)” (TORONTO STAR, 2/16).

This is the third time this season the PWHL set an attendance record for a professional women’s game. Friday's crowd topped the previous record mark of 13,316 for the Montreal-Minnesota game at the Xcel Energy Center on Jan. 6. The previous record in Canada had been the 8,646 fans who came to Place Bell on Jan. 27 to watch Montreal beat Ottawa 2-1 in overtime (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 2/17).