Abby Boreen talks about Team USA, Kori Cheverie's coaching, and Marie-Philip Poulin's leadership...and in turn members of the Montreal Victoire rave about Boreen.
Abby Boreen talks about Team USA, Kori Cheverie's coaching, and Marie-Philip Poulin's leadership...and in turn members of the Montreal Victoire rave about Boreen.
Abby Boreen not being invited by Team USA for the Rivalry Series was the talk of the town at Montreal Victoire’s practice today.
First of all, let’s get something out of the way: Boreen confirmed she wasn’t invited by Team USA.
“No, I wasn’t. I respect their decision and I’m just going to move forward with Montreal,” she said, adding that her studies had nothing to do with her not being part of the team, and if called, she would have gone.
No one knows for sure why she wasn’t invited. But one thing is certain: both Montreal’s players and management have nothing but good things to say about Boreen.
“She’s an excellent player,” said forward Alexandra Labelle. “She plays well, she skates well, and she has a great vision. I didn’t know her at all before the season, either as a person or a player, and it’s a great discovery. She works hard, she’s fun to be with in the locker room, and she fits well into the team. I’m getting to know her better and she’s just great!”
No one wants to play Team USA general manager and say outright that the team made a mistake and should have invited her. But the feeling we got talking to people is about the same. Abby Boreen is playing well and is appreciated from all accounts.
A complete player
“She’s a great acquisition,” said assistant coach Eric Houde, who was in charge at practice since head coach Kori Cheverie is with Team Canada at the Rivalry Series. “What she has given us since the beginning of the season is excellent. She puts points on the board, she has a great attitude, she loves Montreal. A top player. I don't know the criteria of Team USA, but all I can say is that we are fully satisfied with her work.”
Boreen has had quite a year so far with 10 points in 14 games, playing on the first line for the best team in the league. And Houde explained what makes Boreen so good.
“She's a pretty powerful skater, she has a good size, she's strong on the puck, able to support a player like Marie-Philip Poulin, she does the work in the corners, able to complete her passes; she’s a pretty complete player. She’s a power forward and that's what she brings us this year.”
Learning from Poulin
Her success forced Cheverie to promote Boreen to the first line alongside Poulin and Jennifer Gardiner when Laura Stacey got injured, something that the 24-year-old truly enjoys.
“Playing with Pou, you got to bring your best every day," says Boreen. "I’m learning from her every day. As you start to play with her, you kind of know her tendencies, just trying to get her the puck, get her good scoring opportunities, but she’s a great playmaker too. The line itself, we’re just work horses, and we grind, and we’re starting to know where everyone is so we’re creating chemistry out there too. I’m having a ton of fun. It’s been great so far!”
Asked to say more about what kind of captain Poulin is, Boreen couldn’t stop complimenting her.
“It’s been amazing to play with Pou, just for the leader that she is. Pou makes everybody feel welcome. She’s always laughing, cracking jokes, it’s just so heartwarming to see her so welcoming to everyone. She speaks in the locker room, she holds everyone accountable and is just a great person.”
“One of the best coaches I’ve ever had!”
Even with Laura Stacey back in the line-up, Cheverie decided to keep Boreen on the first line, likely a vote of confidence from her coach.
“Kori has been one of the best coaches I’ve ever had,” Boreen expressed. “She holds me accountable out there, she pushes me and challenges me to be a better player, and a better person off the ice too. I have a great relationship with her.”
Although she has to study and adapt to a new country and a new language, Boreen seems to have fallen in love with Montreal.
“I didn’t know what to expect coming to Montreal, but it’s been great. I’m so happy to play for Montreal and the fan base is amazing. It’s been a great experience. It exceeded my expectations. I love the girls, and I love the staff!”
A deserving love from the fans
And while Montreal’s GM Daniele Sauvageau wasn’t scheduled to talk to the media today, she didn’t shy away from commenting on the situation with Boreen and Team USA.
“As an organization, we talk with all the national teams and there's a great relationship there. What is new is the PWHL. Will the national teams make invitations based on the level of play that the players currently have or will the teams keep their initial plan? And in light of what I see, they have a plan. But I hope that what she's doing right now will allow her to get an invitation one day.”
That said, what really put a smile on Sauvageau’s face was to talk more precisely about the player she drafted in the third round, and the person Abby Boreen is.
“She's doing well in Montreal, we love her in Montreal, we're very happy to have drafted her, she's part of the core of our team. She deserves to be on our top line. She deserves the love of the fans. She's humble, she's authentic, both on and off the ice. Her work is impeccable. We really liked what we saw from the games she played last year. So, when we got to the third round, we were surprised to see her name still available. We knew what she was capable of doing, but what she brings to the team is beyond what we expected.”
As the saying goes, somebody’s loss is somebody else’s gain. And Abby Boreen seems to be Minnesota and Team USA’s loss, but definitely Montreal’s gain!