Mae Batherson brings the PWHL Walter Cup to N.S. for the first time

Nova Scotian Mae Batherson brings the PWHL Walter Cup to the Maritimes for the first time.

“And it’s, I think, more exciting than the Stanley Cup for me for sure.”

That was Fallyn MacIntosh’s reaction when asked about seeing the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) Walter Cup for the first time.

Thanks to Mae Batherson of the Minnesota Frost, MacIntosh was able to see the cup up close and personal.

“It’s just the excitement in the community, people showing up, wanting to see it and, having it around,” said Batherson, with regards to bringing the cup to Nova Scotia for the first time.

“Everyone’s supportive or if they don’t exactly know what it is, to inform them and maybe they’ll become fans and follow the league more. So, it’s pretty great.”

Batherson made the PWHL team in 2024 as a defensive player and walked away with the championship in 2025.

“It was a big adjustment from college to pro and playing with girls who are so experienced in world championships, and the professional level too,” added Batherson of her first season in the PWHL.

“But I mean, since the first game, I kind of just jumped right in and tried to play my game and do what I can to help the team. And we ended up winning. So, can’t ask for much more in my first year.”

MacIntosh is from Sydney, N.S., and started podcast “Pass The Puck” to give teens access to stars like Batherson when access seems limited because the PWHL doesn’t have a Maritime team.

“It was really important for me to do something in the community,” explained Batherson.

“To see the cup. You know, there’s no games to really see live, but the closest game is Montreal or Boston. So, to get to have the East Coast girls in a place to show it and just be here, see the Minnesota Jersey, and me, to have a player live, it’s just really important.”

“And you know I try to do lots of local camps so they can see us on the ice and try to help them and just show them how fun hockey is,” she added. “And they have something to dream towards now.”

Something hundreds of fans saw when they went to the RBC Centre in Dartmouth on Saturday.

“It’s very exciting and she’s a role model for girls like me,” said Avery Walters. This was Walters second time meeting Batherson, she’s become a fast fan, even attending one of the camps Batherson was involved with.

“She taught me to be confident when you’re playing hockey,” Walters told CTV about her time at camp.

For MacIntosh and her friends from the Cape Breton Blizzard’s, moments like this matter to the community.

“We’re all from Cape Breton, and it’s just amazing that Nova Scotia has finally won this year,” she said. “I mean, Blair [Turnbull] and Jill [Saulnier] and Allie [Munroe], Carly [Jackson], they were all in the PWHL last year, but unfortunately, none of their teams won. But the first Nova Scotia is on Minnesota this year, so we’ll finally have the Walter Cup here.”

“People are going to know a lot more information about hockey here,” added Kaylee Primmer. “Like people who don’t play the sport. I definitely think they’ll be curious and come down to see more, come see the players.”

“I remember when Mae was saying about Turnbull, she looked up to her as a kid and all that,” said Emily Herridge. “And then she’s the one with the cup.”

Batherson recalled playing against Turnbull for the first time, and how she knows young girls in the province would want to feel that feeling.

“To play against girls like Blair and Jill that I grew up idolizing, it’s pretty unreal,” she said. “Like my first game was against Blair and my first shift was against her was pretty cool. She was coming down and she’s not just like any player. She’s an awesome player and a big leader for the Toronto team, one of the best in the league. And just to know that she came from the same province as me and just being kind of my big role model.”

“And it’s fun to know her off the ice now too and have a friendship. And then also learn a lot from her too.”

Continuing to be involved in the community and growing the game is important for Batherson, as she knows Nova Scotia’s got the talent, having seen both professional hockey cups in the province through one summer.

“I think it just shows how we’re a small province but that we produce great athletes, hockey players for sure,” she said. “And I mean, I know the community and the city of Halifax would really support a team if we did have one. So hopefully that’s in the near future and I know I would want to play on that team.”

As for the time being, she gave the Walter Cup it’s first taste of the East Coast.

“I wanted to do something East Coast,” she laughed. “So yeah, we had some mussels and lobster out of it, there’s not much more than seafood out of the Walter Cup that I could do to show the East Coast.”

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page