Victoire to host Sceptres at third annual ‘Duel at the Top’ at Bell Centre
Two of the premier teams in the PWHL will meet again at one of North America’s biggest arenas.
On Monday, the league announced that the Montreal Victoire and Toronto Sceptres will meet in the annual “Duel at the Top” at the Bell Centre. The game will take place on Dec. 27 at 2 p.m. ET.
This is the third time the league has infiltrated the usual home of the Montreal Canadiens. The first time Montreal called the Bell Centre home, at least for one night, was during PWHL’s inaugural season in April 2024. Along with a thrilling contest against Toronto, which was capped off by Sarah Nurse scoring the overtime goal, the game set a women’s hockey attendance record, with 21,105 jamming inside the barn.
In March of last season, the Victoire took on the rival Boston Fleet, with the home side rallying to come away with a 3-2 win in overtime. While the attendance didn’t eclipse the record-breaking event from the season prior, 17,324 piled into Bell Centre to see stars like Marie-Philip Poulin and Hilary Knight go head-to-head.
Victoire forward Laura Stacey, who was the one who potted the game-winner against the Fleet, says it’s going to be another thrilling event in Montreal.
“Every special moment we’ve experienced since the beginning of this league is first and foremost because we share them with our loyal fans,” Stacey said in a release. “Playing in front of our amazing fans and Victoire family, in the loudest arena I’ve ever had the chance to play in, during such a special time of year, promises to be magical once again.”
This won’t be the only time the Victoire will play a “home” game away from the team’s usual home, Place Bell in Laval. Montreal will also take on the Vancouver Goldeneyes in Quebec City on Jan. 11, one of the 16 games across 11 cities in the 2025-26 PWHL Takeover Tour. The Victoire will also play in the second Tour stop in Detroit against the New York Sirens on March 28.
The Victoire and Sceptres will also face off at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax in the first stop of the Tour on Dec. 17.