Game 5 between Victoire, Frost postponed due to multiple illnesses

Game 5 of the Walter Cup Semifinal between the Montreal Victoire and Minnesota Frost, originally scheduled for Monday night in Laval, has been postponed due to health and illness concerns.

There have been no reports of what exactly has broken out, or how many players have been affected. However, in a statement, the league confirmed that the symptoms are not “consistent with hantavirus.” The PWHL consulted with medical professionals prior to making the decision.

Whatever the issues is, it’s enough to postpone the final game of the series between the two teams, with the winner punching their ticket to the Walter Cup Final. No decision will be made on a make-up date until “medical guidance determines it is appropriate to resume play.”

The league might be on a bit of a time crunch, in terms of getting the last game in. Earlier on Monday, the PWHL announced the dates for Games 3 and 4 of the Walter Cup Final, hosted by the Ottawa Charge. Games at the Canadian Tire Centre are scheduled for May 18 and 20. Since the Charge are the No. 4 seed, whoever wins the series between Minnesota and Montreal would have home-ice advantage for the final, meaning a total of three games would need to be held between now and next Monday.

The fifth and deciding game was set to be the climax of a thrilling series between the two-time defending Walter Cup champion Frost and the Victoire, who finished first during the regular season. Montreal earned the right to choose its opening-round opponent, electing to choose Minnesota, despite the team’s already immense championship pedigree.

The first two games at Place Bell were thrilling. After the Frost took Game 1 in overtime, the Victoire bounced back by winning in triple overtime a couple of days later. Then, in a back-to-back in St. Paul, Montreal won Game 3 to put the Frost on the brink of elimination, but Minnesota forced the series to go the distance with a 3-1 win last Friday.