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Goldeneyes players were blown away by support from sold-out Vancouver crowd

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
|
Nov 22 2025, 4:13 pm
Goldeneyes players were blown away by support from sold-out Vancouver crowd
PWHL

It was a night that players on the ice, nor fans in the stands, will soon forget.

“I played a lot of hockey games, a lot of really big hockey games, and I’ve never felt emotional like I have in that first 20 minutes of the game,” Sarah Nurse said.

“It felt like something different was in the air, like I’ve never experienced it.”

The Pacific Coliseum was absolutely rocking on Friday night for the Vancouver Goldeneyes’ first-ever regular-season PWHL game.

There were more signs in the crowd than in your typical Vancouver Canucks game. Fans were singing along more frequently. And chants of “Let’s go Goldeneyes” erupted often and vociferously.

The game itself was a top-notch, physical, back-and-forth affair between two evenly matched expansion teams.

Defenceman Claire Thompson snuck down from the point with less than three minutes to go, tying the game 3-3 after the Seattle Torrent took a late third period lead.

In overtime, Abby Boreen scored the first game-winning goal in Goldeneyes’ history.

“That was a pretty surreal moment for me,” Boreen said. “Just happy to be here and happy to be with these girls.”

Those late-game heroics had a sold-out Pacific Coliseum buzzing. The 14,958 fans in attendance represented the largest crowd in PWHL history at a primary home venue. Only PWHL Takeover games, like the one at Rogers Arena back in January, have had more fans in attendance.

It was also the first time that a PWHL team has played a game with its logo at centre ice.

“It’s really everything, getting to come to work every day and seeing it all be about us,” Nurse said. It’s something that we’ve never, ever had before.”

“We’ve never, ever been a priority before, and the main priority. You know, maybe priority number two, three, four, five, or six, but to be number one is something that we’ve never experienced.”

“This is what’s going to set the standard for the rest of the league.”

goldeneyes vancouver

Goldeneyes players celebrate at centre ice after winning their inagura game. (@PWHL__Vancouver/X)

The Goldeneyes got things started right before the game even started. They played into the ‘GoldenEye’ double meaning, playing the James Bond theme song as their players skated out onto the ice.

They had Canadian sports legend Christine Sinclair drop the puck at centre ice. Three-time Canadian Olympic gold medalist, Meghan Agosta, also joined her.

The crowd was singing and bumping to music throughout the game, which leaned into more star female artists than your typical Canucks, Lions or Whitecaps matches.

Music from Taylor Swift, Doja Cat, Lady Gaga, Icona Pop, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, The Cranberries, Blondie, Aqua, Spice Girls, Beyonce and Kelly Clarkson was all played throughout the night.

Another female pop star got the nod for the Goldeneyes’ goal song, which is “Let’s Get Loud,” by Jennifer Lopez.

In the crowd, BC Lions stars James Butler and Nathan Rourke were down near ice level, cheering the Goldeneyes on.

Some Vancouver Canucks players, including Thatcher Demko, Teddy Blueger, and Nils Höglander were also at the game.

Aatu Räty, who talked on Thursday night about wanting to find tickets to the game, was also in attendance.

“It just seems like every other sports team has been here for us and been cheering us on and really excited for us,” said Nurse, who also scored the first goal in Goldeneyes’ history late in the first period.

“I haven’t seen it in my previous places that I played.”

More notable than the presence of pro athletes were the number of young female fans, many of whom were holding up signs.

“That’s super special to see.” Gabby Rosenthal said postgame. “I have younger siblings, one who’s a U12, so I think that’s super cool that she’s able to, like, look up to us and everyone.”

Considering that the team has played just one game, there was an impressive amount of Goldeneyes gear in the crowd.

“I took a second to just look around the entire arena, and it just seemed like everybody had a piece of Goldeneyes merch, and we got a logo, like, two weeks ago,” Nurse said.

“I just… I can’t even, it was so special, just seeing how we’re embraced.”

Even Torrent captain Hilary Knight, one of the most decorated female hockey players of all time, was impressed with the energy from the crowd.

“It’s phenomenal to have 15,000-plus fans in the stands, cheering you, booing you, it doesn’t matter,” Knight said. “It’s a testament to the work that we’re putting in day in and day out.”

“Fans should be in for a ride for the season.”

The ride certainly got off to a rocking start on Friday night.

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