TV personality, WWE commentator on Netflix and former Montreal Force GM Kevin Raphaël held the 10th edition of La Classique KR, a charity hockey game reuniting players from the PWHL, NHL, AHL, QMJHL, NCAA, as well as local celebrities.
And once again, it was a real success, raising $50,000 for the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation. In ten years, a total of $350,000 was raised.
Held at Complexe Sportif CN, where the Montreal Canadiens are training, Goalie Eve Gascon was the star of the main attraction, a game between Team Kevin Raphaël and Team Anthony Duclair. Sharing the net with Montreal Canadiens’ goalie Jakub Dobes, Gascon allowed only two goals in one period and a half.
Especially at the end of the third period, with her team winning by two goals, she multiplied the stops, making at one point three back-to-back-to-back saves to frustrate her opponents. In the end, her team won 7-5.
And take a look at the players going against her.
NHLers like Joe Veleno and brothers Mathieu and Pierre-Olivier Joseph, as well as Pittsburgh’s first-round draft pick in 2025 Bill Zonnon, and former Duck Max Comtois.
Only two goals against these guys, not too shabby some would say!
It was then to no surprise that Gascon was selected the MVP of the game, the second time she wins this award in the last three Classique KRs.
Ann-Sophie Bettez Back on Skates
The game also saw former Montreal forward Ann-Sophie Bettez on the ice, playing only a second game since getting a knee surgery during the inaugural PWHL season.
The veteran played on a line with Kevin Raphaël and former Montreal Force teammate, now with the Montreal Victore, Jade Downie-Landry. JDL actually scored a beauty on a solid pass by Bettez.
Aside from Gascon, Bettez and JDL, Montreal Victoire forward Alexandra Labelle was also on that team. Against them, former Montreal Carabins Audrey-Anne Veillette, who will be at the Victoire training camp. She as the lone woman on her side of the ice.
Celebrating Women’s Hockey
Team Raphael vs. Team Duclair is the main game because that’s the one that started everything 10 years ago. That said, another game was held before, in which two other women were part of.
Clarkson University newcomer Arianne Leblanc shared the net with Montreal Canadiens’ EBUG goalie Patrick Chevrefils, while Montreal Victoire’s 2025 fifth-round draft pick, forward Maya Labad, was on the opposite team. Labad ended up being on the winning side of this friendly, but still competitive game.
In total, seven women were part of this year’s event. In the past, players such as Marie-Philip Poulin, Hilary Knight, Emerance Maschmeyer, Laura Stacey, and Melodie Daoust played as well. Raphael always made a point of celebrating women’s hockey through his charity event.
Always there to also promote women’s sports, he also invited pro wrestler Kacey Diamond and mogul skiing Team Canada member Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert to be part of the ceremonial puck drop.