VANCOUVER – Dara Greig is showing growth in her game.
Greig scored her first Professional Women's Hockey League goal early in the second period and added an assist as the Montreal Victoire defeated the Vancouver Goldeneyes 4-2 on Saturday afternoon at the Pacific Coliseum.
“It’s a good feeling,” said Greig, who had three assists in 29 games for Montreal last year in her rookie season. “I think I made a move in the offseason. I wanted to be able to contribute a little more offensively this year.”
“It was nice to get one.”
Greig's goal came just 108 seconds into the second period.
Hayley Scamurra stopped a pass attempt at the Vancouver blue line.
“She shot at me and hit me in the pants or something,” laughed Greig, who turns 25 on December 30. “I was just trying to find it.
“I saw the defender fall behind the screen, so I tried to shoot him in the opposite direction and it went in.”
Greig also earned her first assist of the season midway through the third period when Sianne Darcangelo made it 4-2 Montreal.
Marie-Philippe Poulin and Nathalie Mlynkova also scored on a beautiful breakaway for Montreal (4-1-0-0), which took sole possession of second place in the PWHL with 11 points.
Sophie Jacques and Michela Cava scored for Vancouver (3-4-0-0), which entered the game in second place against Montreal. A crowd of 12,127 at Pacific Coliseum watched the GoldenEyes suffer their first loss on home ice.
Montreal goalkeeper Sandra Abstriter, making her first start of the season, made 28 saves.
Vancouver goalie Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 24 shots.
Greig, originally from Camden, New Jersey, scored 62 goals and 70 assists while playing 174 games during her collegiate career split between Wisconsin and Colgate. She helped the University of Wisconsin Badgers win the 2021 NCAA National Championship.
Victoire head coach Corey Cheverie said Montreal liked Greig's scoring and physical play when they drafted her in the fourth round, 23rd overall, in 2024.
“We knew what she could bring to our team,” Chevery said. “We knew she had the physical ability that you saw tonight. She has that scoring punch.
“Her getting the puck from our zone into their zone was very important.”
In addition to the goal and assist, Greig played 15:24 of ice time and had five hits, second-most on the team.
Poulin likes the edge Greig brings to her game.
“She was the first one on the team to make those shots, and that makes a huge difference,” she said. “To see her grow from last year. She was ready and it showed from the beginning of the season.”
Chevery said Greig's game has changed so she can be used in any situation.
“We use it in a lot of different scenarios,” Cheverie said. “Five-on-five, penalties, the last five minutes of the game, five-on-six situations. She can get the puck out of our zone and put the puck in safe spots.
“I think this particular game is a big step for her.”
Greig's younger brother Ridley is a center for the NHL's Ottawa Senators.
“We're pretty close,” Greig said. “I'm lucky to have him in my support system. “We text and FaceTime when we can. I'm looking forward to going to Ottawa for Christmas and spending some time with him.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 20, 2025.
