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Toronto Sceptres Stymie Montreal Victoire As Playoff Race Tightens
The Montreal Victoire returned to Place Bell in Laval, Que. for the first time in 19 days, hoping to clinch a spot in the PWHL playoffs with a regulation win. The Toronto Sceptres, however, foiled the home team’s efforts with a 2-1 win.
“The team did exactly what we asked them to do,” said Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie. “We out shot them 33 to 20, [...] we need to be able to put those pucks in the back of the net, but in terms of where the puck is going, where the bodies are going, we just need to continue on the path we’re going on.”
It was a strong return performance from Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse, who saw her first on-ice action since being placed on long-term injury reserve after enduring a lower-body injury in the Rivalry Series back on Feb. 6. The forward from Hamilton, Ont. assisted on a goal to linemate Natalie Spooner in the second period. Jesse Compher scored the other goal for Toronto, while Marie-Philip Poulin scored Montreal's sole goal and her 15th marker on the year.
“I hope I didn’t stick out as much as I thought I did,” Nurse joked post-game. It’s nice to come to a group that’s so supportive and has supported me throughout the entire (return) process here, and to come back as we’re heading into the last couple of games this season is definitely a good runway.”
Montreal dealt with an injury situation on the other side of the ice. With starting Victoire netminder Ann-Renée Desbiens placed on LTIR following an injury in the last game against the Boston Fleet, second-string goaltender Elaine Chuli was thrust into action. Chuli made 18 saves on 20 shots in the loss, and her season record fell to 3-4-0 on the year.
Cheverie said that there was no update on Desbiens’ status, and that it is unlikely the goaltender will travel with the team to Minnesota.
In the other crease was Kristen Campbell. Her performance simply stole the show and the game away from Montreal. The netminder stopped 32 of her 33 shots faced, landing her the first star of the game honours. Her record on the year improves to 8-6-2-0, with a .918 save percentage and a 2.09 goals against. She has surrendered just four goals in four games in March.
“Montreal did a really good job of just getting pucks into the blue paint and creating a bit of a scramble,” said Toronto head coach Troy Ryan. “[Campbell] looked really engaged and did a really good job trying to find pucks.”
Victoire forward Kaitlin Willoughby was traded to Montreal at the trade deadline for now Toronto Sceptres blueliner Anna Kjellbin. Kjellbin spoke on returning to Montreal.
“I thought it was going to be weird,” admitted Kjellbin. “[The team] just wanted me to do the first shift, just to get into it, and then get into your hockey bubble and you don’t really think about it, to be honest. It’s just a normal hockey game.”
Montreal will now head back on the road to Minnesota. The Victoire will take on the Frost on Wednesday, March 26 at Xcel Energy Center. The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m. CDT.
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Ann-Renée Desbiens’ 40 Save Performance Steals the Show For Montreal
Montreal Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie commences every post-game media availability with a few lines in French. After a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Frost on Tuesday, March 3, the bench boss simply stated, “Ce soir [Ann-Renée Desbiens] a été la difference.” (Tonight, Ann-Renée Desbiens was the difference maker.)
Ann-Renée Desbiens showcased another Goaltender of the Year calibur game at Place Bell. The Montreal backstop denied 40 of her 41 shots faced in regulation and overtime, and went a perfect five for five in foiling the Frost’s shootout attempts.
“She’s just getting better with time,” explained Cheverie, white talking about her goalie’s play. “She has found a way to figure out the pro-life better than a lot of people and she comes to work everyday and competes.”
Desbiens currently leads all PWHL goaltenders with a .938 save percentage and a 1.70 goals against average. The only other netminder to play over 900 minutes and average a sub-two goals against is Boston’s Aerin Frankel.
“To have Ann-Renée back there, we’re fully confident that we have a chance to win every single night,” said Stacey.
The second period saw the most drama in the game.. Montreal started scorchingly hot when forward Laura Stacey collected the puck off of a fortunate bounce, drove to the net, and barried an opening goal 17 seconds into the frame. Thanks to three of Montreal’s five penalties on the night occuring later in the second period, Frost forward Taylor Heise notched the game-tying goal.
“When you’re in the box a lot, not everybody can get into the game,” said Stacey. “You lose rhythm, you’re not playing in their end as much.”
Cheverie echoed her forward’s sentiment.
“We certainly take too many penalties right now,” Cheverie stated. “The refing was not on our side tonight, that was very evident, but we have to earn our power plays as well.”
After the overtime win Tuesday, Montreal continues to maintain control of first place in the PWHL standings with a record of 10-5-1-4. While the top-dog status is crucial for playoff positioning, the team has a tough roadtrip coming up.
Montreal will travel on a challenging road trip that includes games against the Toronto Sceptres, New York Sirens, and two matches against the Boston Fleet. The Victoire will not return to Place Bell until March 23.
The Victoire’s next contest is against Toronto on Thursday, March 6 at Coca-Cola Coliseum.The puck-drop is set for 7 p.m. EST.
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Laura Stacey’s OT Heroics and Kati Tabin’s Two-Goal Effort Lift Montreal Victoire Over Boston Fleet in Front of Electrifying Bell Centre Crowd
With 17,324 fans on their feet, the Victoire snapped the Fleet’s four-game winning streak in a thrilling 3-2 showdown, fueled by Kati Tabin’s outstanding performance in the second installment of the Duel au sommet
A total 17,324 Montreal hockey fans flooded the Bell Centre for the second installment of the Duel au sommet.
The home crowd was treated to overtime action, and nearly blew the roof off of the arena when Montreal Victoire forward Laura Stacey scored the game-winning goal with 16.3 seconds remaining. Montreal walked away with a 3-2 win, snapping the Boston Fleet’s four-game winning streak.
“We said it in the room after the game,” shared Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie when talking about dealing with the pressures and bright lights that an NHL venue brings. “We have to take this moment and bank it, and remember it because we have to come back to this moment later on in the season. It’s really important for us to be able to perform and find a way [to win] in front of the amount of fans that were out there tonight.”
It was a momentous game for Montreal defender Kati Tabin, who scored two goals in the game. It not only marked her first mutli-goal game in the PWHL, but also marked her first season with more than one goal. Sidney Morin and Amanda Pelkey scored the two goals for Boston.
Tabin has only scored in big arenas in 2024-25, with her registering the other marker at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City as part of the Takeover Tour.
“I was just trying to get pucks on net,” Tabin said humbly post-game. She was then asked about her lively interaction with Cheverie after scoring the second goal.
The game was quite the battle between the pipes. The contest resembled the opening round of the PWHL playoffs last year between the two teams. It was the seventh instance in ten games between bean town and Montreal where the match was settled after regulation.
Aerin Frankel shined in goal for Boston despite the loss. She stopped 27 of the 30 shots she faced and Montreal acknowledged her vision as one of her biggest strengths.
“Our game plan was to get pucks on net, take away [Frankel’s] eyes,” said Stacey. “Because if she sees it, she’s generally going to stop it.”
Ann-Renée Desbiens was impressive for Montreal, albeit with 13 less shots faced compared to her Boston counterpart. The Victoire held their opponents to zero shots in the third frame, but it was in overtime where Desbiens wowed.
“Ann-Renée is obviously paramount for us,” said Cheverie. The bench boss then used the example of Desbiens shutting down Fleet forward Jamie Lee Rattray’s breakaway attempt in overtime. “I saw her come out of her net and challenge, and I knew that she was dialed in.”
Montreal now augments their standing points total to 39, with a first-placed record of 10-4-1-4.
The Victoire will return to Place Bell, their regular arena, on Tuesday, March. 4. The team will battle against the fourth placed Minnesota Frost. The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m. EST.
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Poulin-Stacey Reunion Sparks Offense as Desbiens Shines in 3-1 Victory
It was thanks to a combination of goaltending brilliance and top line excellence that led to the Montreal Victoire’s win over the Toronto Sceptres on Feb. 25.
Montreal returned to the win column after a two-game skid with a 3-1 triumph at Place Bell.
Tuesday night’s game marked the first instance of Laura Stacey paired alongside Marie-Philip Poulin in the starting lineup since Stacey endured a lower-body injury back in January. The tandem played with Jennifer Gardiner and all three forwards tallied a goal in the game.
“We were rewarded tonight with thse three each getting a goal,” said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie. “It was the right decision [playing that line together].”
Victoire netminder Ann-Renée Desbiens had another impressive showing, improving to ten wins and an impressive 1.72 GAA/.936 SP. Desbiens stopped 24 of the 25 shots she faced, making 24 straight saves after surrendering the opening goal to Sceptres forward Jesse Compher.
“I don’t think we need to say much [to each other],” said Poulin when asked about whether she and Desbiens feed off of one another.
“You always want to give your team a chance to win,” siad Desbiens. “[Poulin] always tries to do that, and I try to do that. I think we can build momentum and also just make sure the other players are trying to play as hard as she does.”
Toronto was on a hot streak heading into their contest against Montreal. The team from the six had won six-straight meetings leading up to Tuesday, and were finishing off the tailend of an eleven-day road trip. Toronto sits in second place in the overall PWHL standings with 32 points, a complete 180 from the last place positioning the team found themselves in earlier in the campaign.
“Where we were seven or eight games ago to where we are today, and to do that all on a 12-day road trip with some East to West travel,” said Toronto head coach Troy Ryan. “I think these players deserve a lot of credit for just the effort they put forward.”
Montreal has a firm hold of the first place spot in the standings, improving to 10-3-4-1 following the win against Toronto. The game comes off of back-to-back losses for the team, and Tuesday’s win marked a fair deal of relief for the team.
“We needed that one,” said Cheverie. “For so many reasons. Two games [with a loss] in this league is probably equivalent to like six or eight in the NHL, and it feels that way too.”
Montreal will turn their attention to Saturday’s matchup against the Boston Fleet at the Bell Centre. The puck is set to drop at 2 p.m. EST.
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Minnesota Frost Snap Montreal’s Streak With 4-0 Shutout Victory
The Montreal Victoire struggled to generate offense in a sluggish home performance, while Maddie Rooney backstopped the Frost to their biggest win of the season.
The Minnesota Frost handed the Montreal Victoire its first loss in seven games, snapping a six-game winning streak on Feb. 18. Montreal remains in first place of the PWHL standings despite the loss.
The Frost prevailed 4-0, thanks to goals from Liz Schepers, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and two goals from Denisa Křížová. Coyne Schofield’s goal extended her point streak to four games.
It was a noticeably bleak energy compared to the usual liveliness of Place Bell. A mere 6,696 fans were in attendance, with the 70 cm (27.5 inches) of snow that pelted the city of Montreal playing a factor. The lull in energy manifested on the ice, in a rather lethargic showing for the home team.
“We could tell that the team was a little flatter than what they usually are,” said Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie. “You can feel it. You can tell when your team is just not having the level of executionin the detail. In those moments, it’s not about trying to help them find it [...] it’s not about being harder on them. It’s about trying to help them find a solution, because they know. They feel it.”
The past two games for Montreal have registered low shot quanity. In the matchup against the New York Sirens last Saturday, the Victoire mustered just 23 shots. On Tuesday, Montreal managed just 21 shots, and didn’t break the 20-shot mark until under five minutes remaining in regulation. The difference for Kori Cheverie between both games was the quality of chances.
“Quality and location,” Cheverie specified. “Because that aat the end of the day is what gives us expected goals and our ability to win games, and tonight, we didn’t have enough inner slot shots.”
Credit does go to Minnesota netminder Maddie Rooney, who’s performance merited her first shutout of the 2024-25 campaign. It was also Montreal’s first instance of being shutout on home ice.
“I thought we shut it down defensively,” expressed Rooney post-game.
“[Rooney] made a lot of great saves,” said Victoire forward Laura Stacey, who finished with a team-high six shots on the day. “We didn’t have a crazy amount of traffic in front [...] We gotta give her credit too. She’s a great goaltender.”
Montreal will look to bounce back at practice over the next few days before traveling to Ottawa for a game against the Charge on Saturday, Feb. 22. Puck-drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST at TD Place.
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From Idol to Adversary: Emmy Fecteau’s Physical Battle with Marie-Philip Poulin
A dream moment at puck drop quickly turned into a test of toughness as Fecteau and Poulin battled in a gritty, hard-hitting showdown.
For the ceremonial face-off ahead of the New York Sirens and Montreal Victoire game on Saturday, both team captains were called to centre-ice for the puck drop. Sirens’ captain Michah Zandee-Hart gave the nod to her teammate Emmy Fecteau, a Quebec-born forward, who would skate into the circle across from her idol Marie-Philip Poulin.
Fecteau explained in French post-game how fortunate she was to get to stand across from Poulin, saying that was a memorable moment thanks to her captain’s decision. After pleasantries and friendly gestures pre-competition were exchanged, however, a new narrative formed.
It started in the second period. Montreal defender Amanda Boulier lept into the air, attempting to knock down an airborne puck, and her five-foot-one frame took the brunt of a Fecteau hit to the chest. No call was made, and Poulin took exception, retaliating by shoving Fecteau into the boards, resulting in a boarding call.
“I like the decisions that Pou makes in order to stick up for her teammates,” said Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie, while adding that she doesn’t like when it costs the team a player due to a penalty call. “Obviously, we don’t want to be a team that goes out there to hurt anybody.”
From there, viewers saw the quintessential display of Fecteau’s physicality. She threw out four hits in total that game, the same number as the Victoire threw throughout 60 minutes of play, and was seen later throwing Poulin into the opposing net. Fecteau endured countless responses from Victoire players such as cross-checks, whacks and just brute force. To her credit, the former Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec All-Star held her own.
“I think we’re lucky that we play in a league where we can play physically,” Fecteau said. “I think both of us embrace it and it’s fun to play against Pou. I’m not going to give her a chance and she’s not going to give me a chance. I think we go into the corner at 129 percent.”
Fecteau is a gritty player. She racked up 68 penalty minutes in her 83 regular season contests with the Concordia Stingers, and as she pointed out Saturday night, the PWHL’s physicality allows her to utilize that toughness.
“I had a lot of penalties in U Sports for [playing physically],” Fecteau said. “Because sometimes people are not ready for it. I really love it, and I’m going to try to continue to apply it in my game and be physical and gritty with every presence that I have.”
Fecteau’s game is similar to that of her idol, Poulin. Both players play with an edge of physicality that often gets them two minute timeouts in the sin bin. Both are devoted, hardworking ambassadors of the game. Fecteau’s adoration of Poulin is so apparent to the point that she dawns 29 as a tribute and sometimes wears a T-shirt from a youth Poulin camp as pajamas. Yet, the PWHL is no place for favoritism on the ice, and the battle the two displayed this past weekend proves that.
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Montreal Victoire Dominate Early, Outlast New York Sirens in Heated Clash
The Montreal Victoire extended their win-streak to six games with a 6-2 victory over New York in a heated contest on home ice.
What started as a 4-0 Montreal Victoire steamrolling quickly turned into a full-on bar brawl at Place Bell on Feb. 15. The Victoire walked away with a 6-2 beat down of the New York Sirens, extending their winning streak to six games, and clinching an eight point lead atop the PWHL standings.
It started with a hit from Sirens forward Emmy Fecteau, which Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin took exception to, and promptly retaliated by throwing Fecteau into the boards following the whistle. From there, hits became much dirtier, and the game became much scrappier.
When all was said and done, seven total penalties were handed out by the officiating team in the last 40 minutes of action. The game ended with the Sirens out-hitting the Victoire 23-4, with Fecteau getting four of them.
Following a hard to swallow second period, the Victoire knew an adjustment had to be made.
“We kind of took our foot off the gas there,” said Victoire defender Amanda Boulier. “In the second cool down, someone said that we had more goals in the first than shot in the second period.”
The Victoire secured the win after not playing together for 13 days. Yet, the break proved to be a positive. The initial scoring barrage was the decisive factor.
“It was a good start for two weeks off,” said Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie. “I didn’t like our start in the second, but the group responded well in the third. New York woke up a bit and decided they were going to push back, and we expected that.”
Among the scorers for Montreal were Poulin, Mariah Keopple, Abby Boreen, Mikyla Grant-Mentis, and Lina Ljungblom. The latter registered two goals, marking her first multi-goal game in the PWHL. Ljungblom, however, did not want to credit herself for the second goal, stating that she didn’t believe the shot from Amanda Boulier deflected off of her stick.
“We’ll have to watch the video. I’m pretty sure Lina tipped it,” joked Boulier.
The Sirens continue to endure a dreadful losing skid that stretches to four games, yet they now have a fast turnaround, and are set to face the Boston Fleet on Monday.
“The recipe is come ready to play, play the way that we played in the second period and do it over the course of three periods for 60 minutes,” said Sirens head coach Greg Fargo when asked about aiming to get back in the win column.
The Victoire will play their next game on Tuesday, Feb. 18 against the Minnesotta Frost at home. Puck-drop is set for 7 p.m. EST.
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Laura Stacey Shines in Triumphant Three-Point Return as Montreal Downs Toronto
After 18 days sidelined, Laura Stacey notched three points, including a clutch shootout goal, to lead Victoire to victory.
Laura Stacey had a return for the ages against the Toronto Sceptres on Thursday night. The forward notched three points, including a goal late in the third period and a nifty five-hole shootout goal. Her effort was enough to propel Montreal to a 4-3 victory.
Stacey sustained a lower body injury on Jan. 12 against the Minnesota Frost. Eighteen days later, she was a key piece in her team’s offensive presence throughout sixty-plus minutes of play, tallying points on all three Victoire goals.
“It’s always tough sitting in the stands, just watching your teammates play and wanting to be a part of it,” Stacey said. “The feeling that we had at centre-ice after the win would be my favourtie moment of the night. This crowd is electric. I’ve never felt so much love skating out there for warm up.”
Stacey found out that she was playing earlier in the day, and had a brief skating session in the morning to make sure she felt right. Ahead of the game she was listed as the thirteenth forward, but played over 20 minutes while spending time on each line.
“I don’t think you believed for a second that she was going to be the thirteenth forward,” said Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan after the game.
“A lot of it is a feeling. It’s where we think she can most have an impact,” said Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie. “She played on every single line in every single situation and that was the plan going into it, that she could play anywhere.”
Montreal’s two other goal scorers were Mariah Keopple and Maureen Murphy, with Marie-Philip Poulin scoring the shootout winner. Jesse Compher, Darryl Watts and Hannah Miller were the goal scorers for the Sceptres.
Thursday’s game marked the second of back-to-back nights of action for the Victoire. The team trounced the Ottawa Charge 4-1 a day prior,
Not lost in the Stacey celebration was the play of Victoire netminder Elaine Chuli. Through four periods of action, she stopped 37 of the 40 shots faced, and shut the door on many high-quality scoring chances from the opposition. When it mattered most, in the shootout, she stopped four of five attempts, with a chance from Watts clanging off the cross-bar.
Chuli’s performance merited the Montreal faithful chanting her name on more than one occasion. She was forced to come up big both in the three-on-three overtime and in the shootout.
“I honestly felt pretty confident in both,” said Chuli when asked which situation felt like it had more pressure. “That’s only my second shootout. Usually we do score in overtime,” she added with a laugh.
The Victoire now improve to 7-3-1-2, and take a more firm hold on top seed in the PWHL standings. With the win against Toronto, Montreal has won five of their last six matches.
Montreal will now make their way to New York for a game against the Sirens on Sunaday. The puck is set to drop at 2 p.m. EST.
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Montreal Victoire Return Refreshed After Bye Week, Face Busy Schedule Ahead
After a much-needed week off, the Montreal Victoire return to practice, manage injuries, and prepare for a three-game stretch and the upcoming Rivalry Series.
The Montreal Victoire returned to Verdun Auditorium for practice following a league mandated week off. The team experienced a lengthy roadtrip weeks prior, and used the open calendar for rest and recovery ahead of their three games this week.
Here is an inside look at Victoire practice:
A week off
In the span of two weeks, stretching from Jan. 5 to Jan. 19, the Victoire travelled from Seattle to Quebec City as part of the Takeover Tour, with stops in Vancouver, Denver, and a game at home in Montreal.
Each PWHL team is thankfully granted a week off of practice and media availability during the season, and Montreal deservedly had theirs last week. Many players took the time to recuperate, while others spent time with friends and family.
“All the fans of the Victoire have been showing up with puzzles at games, so I’ve had a couple to do,” said defender Erin Ambrose when asked how she spent her time. She noted that one puzzle in particular has caused trouble. “It’s of flowers and it’s a crazy design, and it’s kicking my butt right now.”
“[It’s] a good reset, sort of a third of the way through the season,” said forward Claire Dalton. “We have a few breaks here and there, but having one mandated by the league was nice.”
Injury updates
Laura Stacey and Dominika Lásková have missed time dealing with injuries this season. Stacey sustained a lower body injury against Minnesota on Jan. 12 while Lásková has not played since January 2024. Both players have practiced, however, dawning red non-contact jerseys. The positive sign is that both players were seen engaging in special teams drills this week.
Another spot of worry from Monday’s ice time was seeing forward Claire Dalton practice in a red non-contact jersey. Yet, when Tuesday’s practice rolled around, she was back in black and taking up her role on special teams.
Dalton stated that it was for precautionary, stemming from a minor injury she sustained against Ottawa on Jan. 19, but that it is no longer an issue.
There is still no clear timeline for Stacey and Lásková’s returns, but head coach Kori Cheverie did speak on the plan for the two players' rehabilitation.
“Having three jerseys at practice in red is obviously something that you don’t want to see,” said Cheverie. “But we try to put our players in the best scenario to keep them engaged by making sure that they’re not receiving the contact that they’re not ready for.”
Cheverie also spoke on how relieving it is that Dalton was back at full speed.
“She’s been a big part of our team,” she said. “She’s been crucial for us. She’s on the power play, the PK, she plays five-on-five. She’s an unsung hero.”
Three games this week and Rivalry Series
The Victoire must now transition from resting to racing, enduring a marathon of three games; today against the Ottawa Charge, tomorrow against the Toronto Sceptres and on Saturday in New York against the Sirens.
Cheverie was asked about playing back-to-back games and any issues that may arise with having to do so after a week away from the rink.
“I think that anytime there’s time off, we run the risk of a slow start,” said Cheverie. “But, you know, that hasn’t been an issue for us all year. I’m really looking forward to getting on the [Place Bell] ice and so are the players.”
An additional topic of conversation was the upcoming Rivalry Series starting on Feb. 6. Ambrose was asked about representing Canada alongside players she faces throughout the PWHL season, such as Ottawa goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer, who the Victoire will face tonight.
“I think the best part about it is that we all understand and we respect each other,” said Ambrose. “We’ve been through everything together on the National Team… But, at the same time, we understand that we’re professionals, and we have to go out there and make sure that we’re competing to put our [PWHL] team in the best position.”
Stacey was named to the Team Canada roster, but as Cheverie detailed, the Victoire have first say on whether or not the veteran forward will compete given her injury.
“There’s a big collaboration piece that has to happen there, and it depends on what the club team would want,” said Cheverie. “It’s prescribed by us, but there’s collaboration. The national teams are great in terms of following that prescribed formula for each player.”
The Victoire take to Place Bell tonight to face the Ottawa Charge. The puck will drop at 7 p.m. EST.
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Quebec City Shows PWHL Potential with Historic Videotron Centre Turnout
With 18,258 fans, the PWHL’s Quebec City debut ignited dreams of expansion, proving La Belle Province’s passion for Professional hockey is far from forgotten
When 18,259 attendees flocked to the Videotron Centre on Jan. 19, they did not solely witness history in the making with the first ever PWHL game held in Quebec City.
The attendance figure was the second-highest attendance in 2024-25 and for a Takeover Tour game, trailing Vancouver with 19, 038. The result was the world witnessing a passionate hockey city buzzing at the thought of PWHL expansion in their own backyard.
When the Quebec Nordiques moved from La Belle Province to Colordado in May 1995, it left an apparent void in the city, one longing for a professional hockey team to return to the city. As last weekend’s festivities showcased, the possibility of return isn’t unimaginable, and the response from city politicians echoes that notion.
“[Quebec City mayor Bruno Marchand] said, ‘Listen, we would love for professional hockey to come back to Quebec,’” PWHL VP of hockey operations Amy Scheer told the media during the second intermission of Sunday’s game. “And what a great story it would be if it was the women’s in the PWHL.”
Scheer also explained that cities will submit requests for proposals, and from there, more conversations will be had with the eager cities.
“I think for us, there are other criteria that are much more important like venues,” said Scheer. “Not just for games, but where they practice, what is the economic opportunity for a fanbase from a partnership, sponsorship base? What does travel look like for players in and out of the city?”
It also helps to have star players, especially when they hail from the same stomping grounds as fans in attendance. Quebec City is not lacking such glamour. Three Victoire players had over 100 tickets set aside for friends and family to watch the game: Catherine Dubois, Ann-Renée Desbiens, and of course, Captain Cluth Marie-Philip Poulin.
“As kids, we had the greats, we had Gretzky, we had all these men we could look up to,” said Ottawa Charge head coach Carla McLeod following the Quebec City game. “And to see the response by this crowd to [player introductions], Poulin is Gretzky.”
“It’s a privilege. We don’t take this for granted,” expressed Poulin post-game. “It makes us smile pretty big when we jump on the ice and we see little girls in the stands wanting to be there one day, not only in Montreal, but the six markets. And seeing Quebec City, it means a lot to us, because we’ve seen women’s hockey back in our day, where you have to see what it’s all about. Now, it’s unbelievable.”
One hot-button topic that stems from the topic of Quebec City expansion is language. According to census data from 2021, 58.7 percent of the population could converse in English compared to 40.6 percent in Quebec City. Despite this, both players and operations personnel are not deterred.
“We love everyone and hope our games are accessible for everyone,” explained Scheer when prompted on the subject. “Whether you speak French, English, or any other language, we’re happy to go to a city that wants us and where fans will exmbrace us regardless of language.”
“I think nowadays there’s so many resources, there’s so many ways to get around,” said Desbiens. “We’ve traveled to many countries to play hockey where we didn’t speak the language and we still got around [...] I know the population would go above and beyond to make sure that they are helped and that they feel like they belong.”
“Aujourd’hui, ce moment a été très spécial pour notre équipe,” expressed Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie. “La préparation pour ce jour était très importante pour les joueuses et pour les joueuses du Québec. C’était un moment spécial pour elles.”
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Desbiens, Tabin Play Heroes For Montreal Victoire In Quebec City Takeover Tour Win
Kati Tabin scored the game winning goal in the Quebec City Takeover Tour Game, with home-grown talent Ann-Renée Desbiens and Catherine Dubois shining in the win.
Quebec City — A sold out crowd of 18,259 participants flooded the Videotron Centre on Jan. 19. The attendees took in the most recent stop of the 2024-25 PWHL Takeover Tour, a game between the Montreal Victoire and the Ottawa Charge in the first ever PWHL neutral-site game held in Quebec City.
Victoire defender Kati Tabin scored the game winner on the powerplay in a 2-1 win for her team. Hometown forward Catherine Dubois, and Ottawa Charge forward Shiann Darkangelo scored for their respective teams.
The game was an elite exhibition of quality goaltending, with Team Canada’s best Ann-Renée Desbiens and Emerance Maschmeyer combining to stop 60 of the 62 total combined shots. Machmeyer has faced 290 shots, the most shots of any goaltender in the league.
“These women (Maschmeyer and backup goaltender Gwyneth Phillips) have had too much work,” said Charge head coach Carla MacLeod. “Now, we’re grateful they’re as great as they are at their jobs, but certainly, the objective has been to eliminate high-end chances.”
This was the first Takeover Tour game for Ottawa this year. Machmeyer took the time to speak on the lineup intros and the atmosphere.
“I had chills standing on the line,” said Maschmeyer. “When they announced the roster, and specifically, when they mentioned [Marie-Philip] Poulin, I was like, ‘Oh. This is insane.’ The energy was so incredible.”
Sunday’s matchup had a major significance for the slew of players hailing from Quebec City and the surrounding area. Players such as Montreal’s Poulin, Dubois, and Desbiens had over 100 tickets set aside for friends and family to attend. Poulin’s 91-year-old grandmother attended the game, while Dubois was seen pointing up to the stands following her goal.
“It was just unbelievable,” Dubois said, speaking on the game overall. “That crowd in front of us in Quebec City, where I’m from – I had chills the whole time.”
“That was an important decision for us as a team to start our Quebec players,” said Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie. “I’m not surprised at all [by the atmosphere], and I know the importance that those players mean to this province.”
During the player introductions, Poulin was visibly emotional when her name was announced and following the warm ovation the crowd showered the team with. She was asked about what the moment meant for her.
“I think a lot of us had a lot of special people in the stands,” said Poulin. “Especially my grandma making the tips here. It’s always very special, and it makes those games very enjoyable.”
Montreal now holds onto sole possession of first place in the PWHL, advancing to a record of 6-2-1-2, and remain undefeated against the Charge for the 2024-25 campaign.
The Victoire now have a week off, and won’t return to action until Wednesday, Jan. 29, when they face the Charge once more. The game will take place at home at Place Bell, and puck-drop is set for 7 p.m. EST.
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Boreen Shines On Montreal’s Top Line In Win Over Former Team
Abby Boreen’s two-goal effort on the first line propelled the Montreal Victoire to a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Frost.
The Montreal Victoire returned to Place Bell for the first time in 2025 on Jan. 17. The game was a battle for positioning atop the PWHL standings, sparring with the Minnesota Frost for the third time this season.
With Laura Stacey listed out with an injury, Abby Boreen took her spot on the top line alongside Marie-Philip Poulin and Jennifer Gardiner. The decision paid off, as Boreen tallied two goals in the game. Poulin and Claire Dalton added goals, while Erin Ambrose compiled three assists, securing a 4-2 win for the Victoire, who are now tied with Minnesota for first place in the PWHL standings with a record of 5-2-1-2.
“It feels pretty good to do that against Minnesota,” Boreen said. “But, honestly, I just love this group here. We have something really special.”
Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie did praise Boreen’s performance, stating how proud she was of the forward playing hard against her former team. Cheverie also took the time to speak on the value that Stacey brings to the lineup, saying that she isn’t replaceable.
“We never want to have Laura Stacey out of the lineup,” Cheverie said. “She brings so much to our team [...] but we have a deep team that can step up.”
Minnesota was in the midst of enduring a three game road trip, including a matchup two nights prior against the New York Sirens, before facing Montreal. Frost head coach Ken Klee spoke on the importance of battling hard on the road.
“For us, it’s about getting points,” said Klee. “You’re just trying to give yourself a chance to get points, and on the road, just make sure that we keep fighting the good fight.”
A goal late in the second period from Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield provided a resurgence of energy that was sustained at the start of the third frame.
“We knew it was coming,” stated Cheverie. “I thought we were on our heels a little bit, but once we refocused the group, and they refocued themselves, I thought the response was really good.”
Montreal took to the ice Friday night with a league worst 6.25 power play success rate. Poulin and Boreen both tallied special teams markers, with the latter scoring in the final frame and taking the wind out of Minnesota’s sails. Coach Cheverie had spoken previously about the struggles for this special teams unit, saying that it was close to finding twine.
“We put so much time and effort into our special teams, and the looks we’ve been getting, it was only a matter of time,” said Cheverie.
Montreal will now head to Quebec City on Sunday as the Videotron Centre will play a host to the next stop in the 2024-25 Takeover Tour. Montreal will face the Ottawa Charge, and puck-drop is set for 1 p.m. EST.
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Montreal Victoire Return Home After Thrilling West Coast Tour
After a challenging 10-day West Coast stretch, the Montreal Victoire prepare for a packed weekend, facing the Minnesota Frost at home and the Ottawa Charge in Quebec City
MONTREAL — The Montreal Victoire are finally home… for the time being.
After an exciting yet gruelling 10 days playing in three arenas on the North American West Coast as part of the 2024-25 Takeover Tour, the team practice on their usual ice in Verdun, Que on Wednesday and Thursday. There isn’t much time for rest, unfortunately, as the team will face the Minnesota Frost at Place Bell on Friday before travelling to Quebec City and squaring off against the Ottawa Charge at the Videotron Centre.
West Coast Tour
The team made stops in Vancouver, BC; Seattle, WA; and Denver, CO. The Victoire lost two of their three contests, going 1-0-1-1 in the process. They are still situated second overall in the PWHL standings, and the positives from the trip far outweighed the results.
“It was honestly a phenomenal experience for us,” said defender Erin Ambrose. One of the blueliner’s biggest takeaways was the time the team spent together.
“I love the city of Montreal, but we’re not going to get those opportunities when we’re all living separately,” Ambrose said. “When you’re all in a hotel, you get to do things together.”
Ambrose was asked about memories that stuck out most from the West Coast adventure. Apart from the gondola ride and fish toss in Seattle, the reception in Vancouver was most memorable.
“Obviously, I had a great time in Seattle and Denver, but being in a Canadian market just hits different a little bit,” Ambrose expressed. “And then to see everybody’s excitement for [Surrey, B.C.-native Jen Gardiner] was really exciting as well.”
“I’ve never been to all three cities, and, of course, never been into all three of those rinks,” said defender Mariah Keopple. While Keopple remembers throwing the fish in Seattle, she echoed her fellow defender’s sentiment of being with Gardiner in her home province.
“Jen knew a lot about all the mountains and everything we were around,” said Keopple. “So every single time we were on the bus, we were like, ‘What’s that mountain?’ and she knew. Little things like that will definitely stick with me.”
The team also endured ten days living out of carry on luggage, and despite needing to pack only the essentials, certain players were up for the challenge. Keopple in particular was asked about planning out her iconic game day fits.
“I’m like a Tetris packer,” Keopple chuckled. “My parents and all my family say I’m really good at packing. I very much plan out what I’m going to wear every single day [...] I had little packing cubes, so I was like, ‘This is for Seattle, this is for Denver, and this Vancouver.’”
The Absence of Laura Stacey
There were significant souvenirs captured along the West Coast, but also a crucial loss for the team. During the game in Denver against Minnesota, veteran forward Laura Stacey left the game within her first six minutes of ice time with an apparent injury. The team kept her out of the remainder of the matchup for precautionary reasons, and she was not seen at practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie told the media Thursday that there was no timeline for Stacey’s return, and that she had not spoken to the medical staff yet regarding the attacker.
In the meantime, Abby Boreen has found herself playing on Stacey’s line alongside Marie-Philip Poulin and Gardiner, whereas Claire Dalton was seen substituting for her teammate on the first power play unit.
“I like the speed, I like the ability to allow Boreen to use that and hunt pucks and find some offensive ability in the offensive zone,” said Cheverie. “I’ve liked what I’ve seen with Gardiner and Boo. So, we’ll keep going with that and Boreen’s a good fit on that line, at least for right now, to see what we have there.”
Quebec City this Sunday
The first ever PWHL game in Quebec City will take place this Sunday, Jan. 19.
Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and forward Rebecca Leslie met with media on Zoom Thursday afternoon to talk about the upcoming game and what to expect. The game will be Ottawa’s first in the Takeover Tour this season.
“I’ve played for a few years in Montreal, so I know how French fans are and how passionate they are,” said Maschmeyer.
“[Quebec City] is such a close market to Ottawa, so I’m sure that we’ll have a ton of Charge fans travelling down,” said Leslie. “We’re just as excited to have another competitive game against Montreal.”
Similar to the West Coast Tour, some Montreal players have yet to experience the wonders of Quebec City, meaning there is only speculation of what is to come.
“Coming to Montreal, I felt like I was in Europe,” said Keopple, who is originally from Wisconsin and played her college years at Princeton University. “And [Quebec City] is like a whole other level it seems. I’m really excited to enter that city and just immerse myself in the culture up there. It seems beautiful.”
Before then, however, Montreal must prepare to take on Minnesota, who they have crossed paths with already twice this season. The most recent contest saw the Frost surpassed the Victoire in the standings following a 4-2 regulation win for Minnesota.
Following practice, Montreal vocalized the importance of containing the speed that Minnesota plays with.
“Slow them down in the neutral zone,” Cheverie specified. “Getting body positioning, getting on the D-side and physically slow them down.”
“I think we have a little vengeance from that game in Denver,” said Keopple. “So, I think it’s going to be a hard fought battle.”
Friday’s puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EST.
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Takeaways: Denver Sets A Record, Laura Stacey Hurt, Frost To First
Montreal’s loss to Minnesota in Denver not only set a U.S. attendance record but also shook up the standings, with a key injury concern to Laura Stacey and looming challenges ahead for the Victoire.
The Montreal Victoire acquired their second regulation loss of the 2024-25 campaign against the Minnesota Frost in Denver, CO as part of the Takeover Tour. The game broke a United States attendance record for a professional women’s hockey game with 14, 018 fans present on Sunday.
Montreal’s record is now 4-2-1-2 for the season. With the win, Minnesota leapfrogged over Montreal to recapture first place in the standings. Here are three takeaways from the game on Jan. 12:
Laura Stacey Injury
While Laura Stacey crawling off the ice seemed like a potential equipment malfunction, the grimace that painted the veteran attacker’s face proved to be of serious concern. The team stated that Stacey missed the remainder of the game as a precaution, but if she misses upcoming games, or worse, lands on LTIR, her absence will create a hole in the top six forward lines for the Victoire.
Aside from the veteran leadership and mach speed, the Victoire will miss a dynamic forward who plays roughly 18 to 20 minutes per game. In a season where the added depth stemming from the offseason has been the key factor to a lot of Montreal’s success, how much can head coach Kori Cheverie rely on the roster to fill the void? Stacey has three goals and four points in her nine appearances of the 2024-25 season.
If the team does in fact lose Stacey for the foreseeable future, Cheverie will need to turn to forwards usually seen in the bottom six jump up to act in Stacey’s role. A player with experience such as Mikyla Grant-Mentis has shown she is capable of fitting into any scenario she is tasked with, but could it dampen the solid chemistry she has displayed on a line with Claire Dalton and Alexandra Labelle?
Much Needed Physicality
Montreal has added an extra edge to its physical presence on the ice in year two that was lacking in the inaugural season. Yes, returning players such as Catherine Dubois have a knack for throwing the body around, but an addition such as power forward out of Colgate University Dara Greig makes it so that more opposing players need to have their heads on a swivel.
The opening marker was credited to Dubois, but it was how her linemate Greig transitioned with the puck from the defensive zone, and created a chance in the slot area infront of Minnesota’s crease that was most impressive. Montreal is a team that works hard to battle in corners, forechecks with puckhound tenacity, and steer opposing attackers out wide instead of down the middle of the ice like matadors. If you couple all this with players who showcase blazing speed, they prove to be a tough team to contend with. They’ll need to roll up their sleeves if the injury to Stacey is significant.
Results on the Table
If Montreal were able to force overtime, they would be co-leaders alongside the Frost for first place in the PWHL. However, the team faltered in regulation, meaning that Minnesota stands alone as top dogs before the two square off again on Friday, Jan. 17.
It may be too early in the year to talk about positioning, but the few upcoming games will prove to be crucial for the Victoire. After taking on Minnesota again this Friday, the team will take on the third place Ottawa Charge in consecutive games on Jan. 19 and 29, with the former being held at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Que., as part of the Takeover Tour.
It could do the team some good staying in La Belle Province following this lengthy roadtrip where players are fitting only necessary belongings in carry-on baggage.
Montreal returns home to Place Bell where they face the Minnesota Frost yet again in Laval, Que. Puck drop on Jan. 17 is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.
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Takeaways: First Place Victoire Continue To Get Stronger
Marie-Philip Poulin shines with another two-goal performance in Vancouver, as the Montreal Victoire defeat the Toronto Sceptres 4-2, regaining top spot in PWHL standings during Vancouver Takeover Tour stop.
The 2024-25 PWHL Takeover Tour stopped in Vancouver, B.C. on Jan. 8, where the Montreal Victoire trounced the Toronto Sceptres 4-2 at Rogers Arena.
With the Victoire improving to 4-2-1-1, and reclaiming first place in the PWHL standings, here’s a look at three key takeaways from the Vancouver victory:
If You Can’t Shoot, You Can’t Score
A three-goal lead provides a comfortable cushion, but is not set in stone. The Victoire were reminded of that tonight when, after the early second period goal by Marie-Philip Poulin, Toronto took the reins and slowed down Montreal’s pace. The team hailing from the 514 were held to five shots in the second period before eventually finding their stride late in the game. Toronto held on to much of the momentum, winning battles along the boards, creating chances around Ann-Renée Desbiens’ crease and wreaking havoc in the neutral and offensive zones.
Ahead of the third period, Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie told the broadcast that she doesn’t want to deter from the game plan, a strategy that has worked through the first eight games of the campaign. The Victoire did walk away with the win, but it was as much thanks to the three-goal start as it was the effort of Desbiens, stopping 29 of 31 shots.
MVP MPP and Third Line Excellence
There must be something about playing in Vancouver that sparks a feat of brilliance from Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin. The two-goal performance showcased by Poulin is small compared to the two-goal performance back in the 2020 Olympic Gold Medal Game, but is still as memorable for much of the Vancouver faithful in attendance.
The impact that Poulin has on the ice is felt each game, yet the statistical upside of finding twine augments the 0.5 points per game pace she was on heading into Wednesday’s game. It’s fair to say that the superhero athleticism displayed on the eventual game winner is stiff competition to teammate Abby Boreen’s marker from the previous Sceptres matchup in goal of the year submissions.
Poulin was not the sole goal scorer, as it was the trio of Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Claire Dalton, and Alexandra Labelle who added two of the four goals for the Victoire on the night. Much has been said concerning the depth that has benefitted Montreal in 2024-25. Coach Cheverie being able to turn to more than just the top-six forwards for offense solves the most glaring issue stemming from Montreal’s early exit last playoff run.
The Standings Do-si-do
There was another game decided before the puck dropped at Rogers Arena, and it was thanks to overtime heroics from Minnesota Frost star Taylor Heise that repositioned her team first in the PWHL standings. With Montreal winning in regulation, they reclaimed top seed with 17 points to the Frost’s 16. Don’t get comfortable if you’re a fan of either franchise, as the two teams will face off on Jan. 12 and 17.
It’s been a different looking table compared to last season. The once top dog Toronto find themselves in last place, and are still the only team under ten points overall. Boston was third at season’s end in 2024, but find themselves in fifth currently, while Ottawa and New York are muscling for room for third and fourth place.
There is still much more hockey to be played, and the season is still young with only eight games now under the belt for Montreal. This just means that the Victoire can’t take their foot of the gas. Remaining in good health, and “sticking to the game plan” seem to be working wonders, so there is virtually no need for panic in La Belle Province.
Montreal will head to Denver, CO in the next stop of the Takeover Tour, facing off against the Minnesota Frost on Jan. 12. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. MST.
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Victoire Fueled By Raucous Crowd And Punishing Physical Play
The Montreal Victoire exacted revenge against the Boston Fleet on Dec. 30 at Place Bell, securing a 3-1 victory in a heated rematch. With goals from Kristin O’Neill, Claire Dalton, and Anna Wilgren, Montreal climbed to first in the PWHL standings while showcasing their physical edge in a penalty-filled battle.
The Montreal Victoire returned home to Place Bell on Dec. 30, seeking revenge against the team that sent them packing in the opening round of the playoffs last campaign: the Boston Fleet.
In a game that had hits thrown out like cars in a demolition derby, the contempt the two teams had for one another was palpable. Nonetheless, Montreal was able to execute the revenge plan, beating their opponents by a score of 3-1. Montreal goals were scored by forwards Kristin O’Neill, Claire Dalton, and defender Anna Wilgren. Boston’s sole goal was scored by captain Hilary Knight.
Knight was booed on a few instances by the 10,172 reported Montreal faithful, but none as loud as after her game tying goal in the second period.
“You’re buying a seat to watch us play. We’re here to entertain,” said Knight when asked about the atmosphere and jeers. “So, that’s how I deal with it, put on a show. Obviously, we wanted a closer show for all the people buying tickets to this game.”
With the win, Montreal moves into first place in the PWHL standings with a 3-2-0-1 record. The team also set a franchise record with four straight wins.
Tempers flared throughout the game, and it added an extra edge to the game’s physicality, for better and for worse. Before the second period ended, Victoire forward Catherine Dubois landed a fierce hit on Fleet forward Megan Keller, resulting in a check to the head penalty, and after a lengthy review, a game misconduct for Dubois.
“Number one, Dubois doesn’t want to hurt anybody,” said Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie. “And number two, you know she doesn’t want to be out of the game and she wants to contribute, and I thought she was having a great game.”
By game's end, a total nine penalties were called, four for Boston and five for Montreal. However, the total time was slanted toward Montreal, with a total 23 penalty minutes to Boston’s eight. Montreal’s penalty kill prevailed, and in the third period, lent to dwindling Boston’s offensive might to just two total shots in the final frame.
“I think our PK was probably hungrier than their power play,” said Cheverie. “I didn’t think we gave up a lot of quality opportunities to them… PK is something that we talk about every single game, and in practice as well, so I hope that when we work on something a lot, it tends to click.”
Montreal was able to stave off Boston on all penalty kills, but also continued on a downward trend with the power play. The Victoire fell to 2/25 on the season after Monday night’s game.
The Victoire did not have to worry about Aerin “The Green Monster” Frankel in the match, whose 52-save performance was key in Boston’s sweep last playoffs. Instead, Fleet head coach Courtney Kessel turned to Emma Söderberg. The netminder stopped 28 of the 31 shots faced.
“We have three tremendous goaltenders and we’re on the road here for another nine days,” said Kessel when asked about giving Söderberg the nod. “It’s a total of 17 days kind of living out of our bags, so it’s going to be hard.”
Montreal won’t return home until Jan. 17, wherein they will take on the Minnestoa Frost. The team’s next game is against Boston, but this time at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Jan. 5 as a part of the PWHL Takeover Tour. Puck drop is set for 1 p.m. PST.
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Three Takeaways: Montreal Victoire Hand Frost First Regulation Loss
The Montreal Victoire handed the Minnesota Frost their first regulation loss of the season with a 4-2 victory at the Xcel Energy Center. A strong defensive showing, the return of star goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens, and persistent power play struggles highlighted the night.
The Montreal Victoire headed into the Xcel Energy Center on Saturday, and left after handing the Minnesota Frost its first regulation loss on the 2024-25 campaign. Montreal moves into second place in the overall standings with 15 points and a 4-1-0-0 record.
Here are three takeaways from the match:
A really solid defensive showing
All three lines shut down a tough Minnesota offense. The Frost managed 19 goals in the first five games prior to the Montreal matchup, yet Saturday’s contest saw them held to just two tallies on the day.
Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie paired out her defensive duos effectively, allowing for a very even ice time for the blueliners. Players saw their time on ice stretch between 14 and 17 minutes, with the exception of Cayla Barnes and Erin Ambrose playing 21 and 19 respectively because of the power play units they both quarterback.
Holding Minnesota to just 24 shots on the day is worth celebrating, but so is the first career PWHL goal for Montreal’s Mariah Keopple. Montreal seemingly strategized putting bodies in front of Frost netminder Maddie Rooney, and Keopple’s point shot found twine as a result. If it hadn’t been for the waved off goal by Laura Stacey, Keopple would have had two points on the day. Regardless, she meritted first star honours.
All in all, the ability to stifle transition rushes, block shots, and make it easier on the goaltender are what led to Montreal’s win against the Frost.
Ann-Renée Desbiens back in action
It’s been three weeks since Victoire starting goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens took to the crease for her team.
Yes, making 22 saves on 24 shots in a win is not a newsworthy headline compared to the performances Victoire fans are accustomed to witnessing when the 2017 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner gets the nod. Yet, Desbiens did not look rusty at all on Saturday, and it was in the third period where she really shined.
Leading by just one goal in the third period, Desbiens stopped all ten shots faced in the final frame, including one monstrous pad save moments before the Frost sent out an extra attacker. Consistent goaltending and staunch defense wins games, and eventually championships according to the old adage. Therefore, Desbiens’ performance is a statement to just how beneficial it is having her as the number one and Elaine Chuli as a stud backup.
Following the win, Desbiens now moves to 2-1-0-0 on the season, with a 2.61 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.
Power play woes
It’s unfortunately time to forget about the positive aspects and address the thorn in the Victoire’s side: the power play. Montreal has scored just two power play goals on the year, sitting at 9.52 percent (2/21). Even worse, the team has not scored a power play goal on the road in its 11 chances.
If the Victoire’s record was reverse and they found themselves at the bottom of the table, then the power play would be an even more apparent blemish. Currently, it’s not a factor of the game to harp on, nor even hit the panic button over, but it is a detail that needs correction. It’s also nothing new to see the Victoire unsuccessful on the supériorité numérique, as the team had trouble in the inaugural season as well. Being able to turn to the special teams unit down the stretch, or down a goal, is the difference between winning and losing.
If there is a silver lining in all this, it’s that sticking to a gameplan has worked wonders for the Victoire this season, and led to wins. Whether or not the strategy works for the power play is a different story. With the aforementioned Barnes and Ambrose controlling the point, and the powerhouses of Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, Kristin O’Neill and so forth comprising the power play units, it’s up to coach Cheverie as to whether or not to scrap the plan and start taking risks.
The Victoire will return home to Place Bell on Monday, Dec. 30 wherein the team will face the Boston Fleet at 7 p.m. EST.
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Three Takwaways from Montreal’s Third Win And How They Finally Beat Toronto
Three takeaways following Laura Stacey's overtime heroics propelling the Montreal Victoire to a thrilling 4-3 win over the Toronto Sceptres, marking a historic first for the PWHL team against it’s rivals from the six.
For the first time in the history of the PWHL, the Montreal Victoire defeated the Toronto Sceptres by a score of 4-3, thanks to the overtime heroics of forward Laura Stacey.
Here are three takeaways for the Victoire following the team’s third win of the campaign from Saturday, Dec. 21 at Coca Cola Coliseum:
Kirk’s first PWHL start
It’s admittedly strange including an opposing player in a takeaways piece, but with Raygan Kirk having appeared in her first PWHL start, the Victoire initiated her to the league by peppering a slew of shots her way and it’s worth addressing.
Kirk should have thanked her goalposts in the opening frame, as three Montreal shots found iron through the first 20 minutes. She did play wonderfully when called upon, thwarting 35 of her 39 shots faced. Toronto’s penalty kill received much attention heading into the game, finding success in roughly 54 percent of attempts headed into Satuday’s game, but it was thanks to the terrific effort from Kirk that shut down Montreal’s four power plays, including one five minute major.
However, Kirk did walk away with the loss, and much of that is due to a sound gameplan from Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie, and even better execution from the players. The past two weeks of Montreal practice saw particular focus on breaking out, transitioning with the puck, forechecking plus getting pucks in deep, and setting up in the offensive end. Headed into the third period, Cheverie told CBC sideline reporter and former Olympian Anastasia Bucsis that, despite being down one goal at the time, sticking to the gameplan and correcting the smaller mistakes woud lead to success, and the bench boss was correct.
Tango Boreen
Following the reserve campaign where she won the Walter Cup with Minnesota, there was much that Abby Boreen added to the Victoire depth chart. When the Victoire front office drafted Boreen 17th overall in the 2024 draft, they new what she could bring to the table: solid physicality, wicked hands, and an incredible work ethic.
The opening marker for Montreal, scored by Boreen, exemplifies these characteristics of the Wisconsin born forwards’ game. Able to maneuver around a world-class defender in Renata Fast before rifling the rubber by Kirk is an early goal of the year candidate. She was also credited later on with an assist on the game tying, and first career goal for former SDHL MVP Lina Ljungblom.
Boreen is one of many invaluable additions for the Victoire stemming from the offseason. Season one was a year in which much reliance was placed on the shoulders of Team Canada staples Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Erin Ambrose. Year two has far more depth alleviating the workload thrust on the veterans.
With players such as Boreen and Ljungblom showcasing scoring abilities that will lift the Victoire to knew heights, and players such as Team USA standout defender Cayla Barnes able to quarterback a strong second powerplay unit and eat up crucial minutes on the blueline, the depth is proving to be a huge factor in the early success for Montreal. Knock on wood that injuries don’t creep in to hinder this momentum…
Stay competitive. Win in clutch time
With starting netminder Ann-Renée Desbiens under the weather, second string goaltender Elaine Chuli was called to the crease for Montreal. She got the win in an otherwise unlucky game at times—specifically, the third goal given up to Toronto’s Izzy Daniel, wherein Chuli lost her stick before Daniel scored five-hole—and it shows a sort of resilience that the Victoire possess, keeping the game close throughout.
Chuli steered away 19 of the 22 shots she faced, and it was the all around play from Montreal that mounted the comeback victory… or, if you will, victoire. Despite the two goals surrendered in the final minute of the first period, the composure from Chuli was an essential part to the comeback win.
Such reliance on depth from both the players and your goaltenders leads to clutch moments, and it is here that veteran star power is undeniably beneficial. The overtime winner by Stacey is a perfect end to an all-around hard fought game for Montreal.
In an early season where the team played four games over the span of three weeks, being able to manage the ebbs and flows of the calendar is a strongsuit and staying competitive against a Toronto team that returned to action three days prior is no small feat.
Montreal’s next matchup is against the Minnesota Frost, and will take place at 1 p.m. CST at the Xcel Energy Center.
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Montreal Victoire: Tune Up For Toronto, Return From Break, And A Christmas Elf Causing Chaos
The Montreal Victoire spent the week sharpening their speed and zone-entry strategies ahead of Saturday’s physical clash with the Toronto Sceptres. Amid intense drills and festive locker room antics, the team is focused on building chemistry and staying sharp during a season full of challenges and holiday cheer.
The Montreal Victoire spent the last week of practice preparing for Saturday’s game against the Toronto Sceptres. With a physical matchup in store, head coach Kori Cheverie and company had a week of drills focused on zone entry, and staying game ready with some Christmas chaos.
Practice makes perfect
The Victoire currently sit at a record of 1-1-0-1 through it’s first three contests of the 2024-25 campaign. While notching a couple wins is seen as a positive by the team, there is still room for improvement.
“We’re still trying to find our identity and build our foundation,” said Cheverie. “But through that, we test different things and look at different line combinations, [defensive] pairings… we’re still in our build it phase.”
Experimenting aside, strategy became the name of the game this past week. With a physically demanding game against Toronto on the horizon, the week saw much of Montreal’s drills working with the speed that comprises the Montreal roster.
“Anytime that our players who have that type of speed can utilize it during the game, it’s going to be crucial for us,” said Cheverie. “We want to play fast, but we want the puck to move fast as well.”
Friday morning saw two pucks suspending a bar on both ends of the ice, the purpose of which was for two players to enter the offensive zone and make a pass underneath the bar before firing a shot on goal. Cheverie made a quick correction after a few reps, stating to her team that the drill was not meant to be two-on-zero, but emulate zone entry.
“Toronto we know is going to be physical and therefore checking is going to be good, so we’ve got to be able to breakout under pressure,” shared Cheverie. “And that’s been a focus for honestly the past two weeks.”
Last year’s results
Toronto finished the 2024 regular season with a 13-4-0-7 record, good enough for 47 points and a first place finish. To make matters worse for Montreal, the team from the six got the better of it’s opponents in their five matchups, outscoring the now named Victoire 15-6 in overall goal differential.
Despite the overall result, the historic Toronto-Montreal hockey rivalry was apparent in each game in 2024. Hits were thrown, skirmishes sparked, pushing and shoving ensued.
The game that exemplified this the msot is arguably the March 8 contest. Toronto won 3-0, but the main storyline was the viral hit from Sarah Lefort that catalyzed a full-blown scrum of players, leading to five players—three for Toronto and two for Montreal—in the penalty box.
This level of intensity is still palpable, and the expectation is Toronto’s tenacity and physicality is to be expected.
“I think anytime we play Toronto, it’s very physical,” said Victoire defender Erin Ambrose after Friday’s practice. “And it’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s going to be probably a sold out, really loud building, and I’m really excited to have our first matchup against them.”
Holiday hijinks
Less than one week before Christmas, and all through the Montreal Victoire dressing room, a creature was stirring… hijinks.
Entire locker stalls have been gift wrapped to ornaments hanging with old player photos, someone, or something, has been causing some seasonal shenanigans. Ahead of the start of Friday’s drills, both Laura Stacey and Kristin O’Neill dawned wrapping bows on the back of their helmets. The culprit, according to Ambrose, is an elf.
“We’ve got a little elf in the dressing room. So, Elfie is doing some good little Christmas shenanigans and keeping the Christmas spirit alive,” said Ambrose with a chuckle. “He’s been around I think five days now, so ‘Elfie’ is making his stay very welcome.”
The pranks being pulled is a sign that the team is avoiding boredom, and in good fashion considering the 2024 Euro Women’s Hockey Tour put a pause in play for one week, one of three international breaks appearing in the 2024-25 season. Montreal hasn’t played a match since the Dec. 8 win against the Ottawa Charge, and will not play another match at home until Dec. 30 when they take on the Boston Fleet.
Yet, it isn’t just prank pulling that is keeping the Victoire engaged throughout the hiatus. Practices have aided the team in staying game-ready.
“I think we’ve done a great job the last two weeks of having high intensity practices, being physical and making sure that we’re preparing ourselves for tomorrow,” said Ambrose. “But I think it’s just kind of something that’s a part of the game. It’s part of pro hockey life and ebs and flows happen in a season happen in the schedule as well.”
The game between Montreal and Toronto will take place at Coca-Cola Coliseum at 2 p.m. EST.
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Key Takeaways From First Regulation Win For The Montreal Victoire
The Montreal Victoire bounce back with a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Charge. Mikyla Grant-Mentis shines, Poulin sparks momentum, and Chuli holds down the fort in her season debut
The Montreal Victoire took to the ice of the Canadian Tire Centre looking to leave the recent 4-1 loss against the New York Sirens in the rear-view mirror on Friday night, and they did so with a 2-1 win against the Ottawa Charge.
Here are three takeaways from Montreal’s first regulation win of the season:
Mikyla Grant-Mentis’ has Ottawa’s number
Mikyla Grant-Mentis scored the game winning goal in the contest against her former team. There doesn’t appear to be any love lost following her departure from O-town, and the forward has said that she does play with something extra.
After recording two goals in the pre-season matchup against the Charge, "MGM" was asked about playing with an assumed edge against Ottawa. She responded by saying that she forgot the two clubs were playing, but that “there’s definitely a little something there every time” she plays them.
The success Grant-Mentis found tonight also stems from her ability to play wherever needed. While there were a number of acquisitions over the offseason that bolstered the forward depth for the Victoire, when head coach Kori Cheverie shuffles the lines, Grant-Mentis fits wherever she lands. Whether it’s providing sound forechecking and two-way acumen to the top line or throwing her weight around and utilizing a sound stick on the second, she can fill her role. It was her fight for the puck around Ottawa’s crease and potting the aforementioned game-decider where she came in handy tonight.
With her first goal of the season now on the score sheet, Grant-Mentis has accumulated three points in three games.
All Marie-Philip Poulin goals are galvanizing
The initial 30 minutes of play felt as though there was some flash, but no definitive spark when it came to scoring. Both offenses eventually got hot thanks to some shorthanded excellence from Marie-Philip Poulin. After picking the pocket of Charge defender Aneta Tejralová, 'Captain Clutch' fired the puck glove side by Emerance Maschmeyer for the games opening marker.
This is Poulin’s first goal of the season, but not the first time she’s beaten Maschmeyer, following the shootout winner between the Team Canada’s teammates in the opening game. It’s just amazing how whenever she scores it feels like a defining characteristic of any game, either shifting momentum, providing some kind of spark, or in the clutch. Her goal provided the spark this evening, as Ashton Bell found twine for Ottawa, only for Grant-Mentis to respond moments later.
Elaine Chuli gets her first call to the crease, and she answered it
Coming off the success Elaine Chuli had last season–with a 6-1-0 record, a 1.61 goals-against, and a .949 save percentage–she entered Friday night’s affair poised and ready.
It’s clear that whenever your netminder is calm, your team is calm. There was no panic to Chuli’s game, tracking pucks and thwarting attempts in and around the crease with ease. The big save in the third period was obviously the most notable goaltending moment on the night, handling Ottawa’s six-on-five frenzy as a reliable goaltender should.
Between Chuli and Ann-Renée Desbiens, Montreal has a strong case for the best goaltending in the league, and the addition of Team Germany standout Sandra Abstreiter as the third-string reinforces that notion. Chuli’s 26-save, one-goal performance is not only a strong side for the season to come between the pipes, but was also crucial in order for Montreal to get back on track following the loss at home to New York.
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