Get to know Sarah Nurse, one of the PWHL stars joining Vancouver’s new team this fall

Vancouver’s inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League team has already signed some big names: this week, the team signed Surrey’s Jenn Gardiner, all-star defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques, goalie Emerance Maschmeyer and all-around hockey legend Sarah Nurse. 

Nurse has two Olympic medals under her belt: a silver in 2018 and a gold from the 2020 Tokyo Games. 

She’s been with the Toronto Sceptres since the PWHL launched in 2023, as one of the team’s first three signings. During the inaugural season, she tied for second in league scoring with 23 points in 24 games and was voted a Second Team All-Star. 

Vancouverites saw her play this past season at the sold-out PWHL game at Rogers Arena in January, where the Montreal Victoire beat the Sceptres 4-2.

This week, she signed a one-year contract with PWHL Vancouver.

“It’s like a whirlwind,” she said. “I am so excited to be able to play professional hockey in Vancouver. I think it’s really the opportunity of a lifetime, and being here in January, I saw the passion, I saw the zest, I saw the excitement for women’s hockey. If the fans could show up for a Toronto and Montreal team, I can’t even imagine how amazing it’s gonna be for their own hometown team.”

Nurse joined Amy Bell on CBC’s On The Coast for an interview following the announcement. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

Did this move to Vancouver come as a surprise for you?

A little bit. With the expansion draft and the rules and how everything was going to shake out, I knew it was a possibility that I would be left unprotected by Toronto. I knew that if I went to an expansion team, Vancouver was my target. After talking to Cara Gardner Morey from Vancouver, I couldn’t be more excited because I just know that it’s the right fit for me.

What has playing for the Sceptres been like? 

I think from day one, when this league started, I was blown away by the support everywhere. Toronto embraced us with everything that they have. We were the first professional women’s sports team in Toronto. Now, we’ve been joined by the NSL soccer team and also the WNBA team that’s coming. There’s so many hockey fans, there’s so many young hockey players who are coming up within the Greater Toronto Area. They’re absolutely incredible, and I’m so grateful for their support.

How important was it for a new Vancouver team to sign a high-profile name like yours?

I was obviously very honoured to be in consideration to be brought to Vancouver. I take a lot of pride in what I do off of the ice and my impact in the community on the fans and the supporters. 

But I think, ultimately, my biggest goal is to make a splash and make an impact on the ice. I want to be the best possible player that I can be for this organization and really put my best foot forward because I know that I have a lot of skills and abilities that I think are going to be great on this team.

What kind of role do you think you’re going to be able to play with this new team?

I have very high expectations of myself. I definitely want to be a leader on and off of the ice.

I think with the other girls and Sophie and Claire, they’re pretty locked down on the back end. They’re two very, very world-class defencemen. And then Emerance in net, an absolute brick wall. I think she’s been probably the best goalie in the PWHL for the last two years. Jenn Gardiner, who’s young, new, fresh talent who has so much potential, and it’s going to be great to see her blossom and grow.

You battled a long-term injury this past season. How are you feeling as you get prepared to hit the ice in Vancouver this fall?

I’m feeling so optimistic. I’m excited to have some time to actually fully rehab my knee and be able to be the absolute best that I can be when November comes. I’m excited to put in the work. I think I’m going to get on the ice next week, which I’m actually itching to do, especially with the news and signing in Vancouver. I want the season to start now.

Off the ice, your contributions are just as huge. You hosted Nursey Nights in Toronto to provide community groups tickets to the Sceptre games. You helped found the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association and are also a part of the PWHL players’ union. And you’re an advocate against racism in hockey. What do you hope to continue here in Vancouver?

All of the above. I really have a passion for making this sport as inclusive as possible and making sure that our sport represents the fabric of our nation. I think that we are such a diverse, multicultural society, and I think that our experiences should really reflect that in our game. I’m so encouraged to come to Vancouver and continue the work. 

I’m excited to bring Nursey Nights to Vancouver. We’ve been able, we brought 200 girls over this last year into Toronto Sceptres games, and so I’m looking to do something very similar in Vancouver. I think there’s so many great community initiatives that our team can be a part of, and that’s something that’s a passion for all of us. 

Your cousin, Darnell Nurse, plays for the Edmonton Oilers, who are currently battling it out for the Stanley Cup. How exciting is it to see him and the Oilers in the finals again?

I could not be more proud of that boy. He has gone through so much, that team has gone through so much and honestly, they are absolutely rolling right now. So I’m very hopeful and I know they’re going to have a different result than they had last year. They’ve been on the stage. They know how big it is, and they’ve been absolutely rolling. So I’m so proud of him.