New York shuts out Toronto in 1st PWHL game

History was made in front of a sellout crowd at Mattamy Athletic Centre on Monday as New York defeated Toronto 4-0 in the first Professional Women's Hockey League game.

Canadian defender Ella Shelton scored the first goal in league history in the opening period when she beat Toronto's Kristen Campbell on a shot through traffic.

HANG IT IN THE LOUVRE!! pic.twitter.com/BIFP4wdOd3

- PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) January 1, 2024

"I didn't even notice at first, and then when all of your teammates look at you and are jumping, you just go, 'Oh my gosh, that actually went in,'" Shelton told theScore. "Probably a very surreal moment for me. I couldn't tell you if I remember it all that well, but a little victory. An exciting, humbling, historic moment."

After a goalless middle frame in which Toronto outshot New York 16-4, the away squad jumped on the hosts in the third. American Alex Carpenter sniped a perfect wrister 2:53 into the final period before Canadian Jill Saulnier added another just over two minutes later to put the game out of reach.

New York goaltender Corinne Schroeder stopped 29 shots for the shutout.

Team captain and defender Micah Zandee-Hart didn't play due to injury for New York, emphasizing the team's strength on the back end in the opener.

"I think we have a really strong defensive core," Shelton said. "I think when we're making plays and making the right smart plays and keeping things super simple, no one's getting by us."

Toronto head coach Troy Ryan noted his team's slow start was due in part to the magnitude of the moment.

"Special (day), a lot of emotion definitely for our group," Ryan said. "I think some of that emotion is probably part of the reason we started that way."

Ottawa hosts Montreal on Tuesday for its home opener. New York hosts Toronto on Friday in both teams' next contest.

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