‘We’re not done yet.’ Toronto Six earn first shot at Isobel Cup championship

The Toronto Six played their best game of the season. And now they’ll be playing for the Premier Hockey Federation championship.

By downing the Connecticut Whale 3-0 in the deciding game of their best-of-three Isobel Cup semifinal on Monday night, the Six punched their ticket to the Isobel Cup final for the first time in franchise history. They’ll take on the Minnesota Whitecaps for the title Sunday night in Arizona.

“It’s awesome, but we’re not done yet,” captain Shiann Darkangelo said after the victory at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.

There were two boxes the Six needed to check with the season in the balance: attention to defence, and a strong forecheck. That was the formula for victory in Game 2, after losing the series opener. And it worked to perfection in Game 3.

“I’m super proud of the way we battled in that game … that’s probably one of the best games I’ve seen this group play this year,” said goalie Elaine Chuli, who stopped all 32 shots she faced.

The Six finished second in the regular season behind the Boston Pride, who were upset by the Whitecaps in the other semifinal. One more win and they’ll become the first Canadian team ever to win the Isobel Cup, which has been handed out since 2016.

Sitting next to Chuli while fielding questions from reporters, Darkangelo said: “I’m not going to get too far ahead of myself (but) we’re both excited to see how we do … having built this thing from the ground up.”

Amid the excitement of the franchise’s biggest victory to date, coach Geraldine Heaney added a reminder of what it will take to finish the job starting 9 p.m. Sunday at Mullett Arena, home of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes.

“Sometimes, we have left Elaine out to dry,” Heaney said. “But I said in the dressing room, I believe (Chuli) is the best goalie in the league. Then in the last five minutes of the game, you have every player down blocking shots. That takes commitment.

“It’s not easy … and that’s what wins championships. That’s the reason we’re going to Arizona.”

In another first, both finalists will be coached by women, with Ronda Curtin Engelhardt behind the Whitecaps bench.

“I think it’s great for the game,” Chuli said about the coaching matchup. “It’s a huge positive to have women in leadership in our sport, and we’re all super excited to get there and see how things go.”

The Six scored early in the first and second periods, while keeping the Whale’s top duo of Kennedy Marchment and Taylor Girard off the scoresheet.

Michela Cava opened the scoring at 5:21 off a rebound, her team-leading third of the playoffs. The Six also came out on the positive end of a goal challenge by Whale coach Colton Orr with 91 seconds left in the first period. Leah Lum roofed a wrist shot just 32 seconds into the second period for a 2-0 lead, and Kati Tabin scored on the only power play of the game midway through the third.

Cava’s goal gave the Six a first-period lead for the first time in the series.

“We have been talking about that all year, how important that is to get a lead,” said Heaney. “So it was nice to see us get that job done today.”

There were tears in the losers’ dressing room after what was likely the final game of an eight-year career for captain Shannon Turner of Markham.

“Mostly, I’m proud of where the league is going, the growth from year one to year eight,” Turner said. “I’m emotional because I love my team, and I’m proud of all the hard work that’s been done by everyone, and the future it has brought for female athletes.”

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