Blayre Turnbull hat trick secures first pre-season win for PWHL Toronto over Boston

Blayre Turnbull's hat trick was years in the making. 

About 14 minutes into the first period of the first pre-season Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) game, Toronto's Blayre Turnbull put a puck past Boston goaltender Cami Kronish.

And then she did it again, and again. 

Powered by Turnbull's three goals, Toronto defeated Boston 5-3 in pre-season action in the PWHL on Monday in Utica, N.Y., where teams have gathered all week for games, meetings and practices before the inaugural season begins on Jan. 1.

Four and a half years have passed since the 30-year-old Turnbull got to play regularly with a team. She lifted the Clarkson Cup in the spring of 2019 with the Calgary Inferno without knowing they'd be the last team to lift the silver cup, as the Canadian Women's Hockey League folded soon after.

"It's been a long time for not only me but so many of these girls who have been waiting for so long to play hockey at this level," Turnbull said after Monday's pre-season game.

"For it to all come together, even though it is pre-season, rosters aren't finalized yet, everybody I feel is feeling the same emotions. We're all really excited and happy for this moment to finally be here."

On her national team, the Stellarton, N.S. native has often played a defensive role, but the creation of the PWHL is seeing her take on more importance. On Monday, she played on the top line with Sarah Nurse and Victoria Bach.

"In this league, she's going to be expected to score and produce a little bit," Toronto head coach Troy Ryan said of Turnbull, who was one of the team's marquee free-agent signings in September.

And score she did, notching her second goal on a break and her third as Toronto enjoyed a 5-on-3 advantage.

Nurse had Toronto's