Montreal Crowd Provides Moving Moment For Marie-Philip Poulin

Montreal lost, but it was a moving moment for Marie-Philip Poulin and the 21,105 fans in attendance for the first PWHL game at the Bell Center.

Echoes of 21,105 cheers filled the Bell Centre on Saturday afternoon, as PWHL Montreal stepped onto the ice to face Toronto, with none louder than those for Marie-Philip Poulin – who was visibly fighting back tears.

“It was moving for sure,” Poulin said of her ovation during the pregame introductions. “I was having chills. Seeing all those white towels waving, people on their feet, [...] it’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

Poulin has been to the Bell Centre at different times in her life. She first saw the Montreal Canadiens play at the age of 16. She also played here in the CWHL, where only the lower bowl was sold. Today, she returned and set the world attendance record for women’s hockey.

“When I was watching that game, I probably never thought this would be possible,” Poulin said. “To be playing in this rink, it being at full capacity, cheering for Montreal, a women’s team in the PWHL, [...] it’s surreal.”

Despite the electric atmosphere, Montreal fell short of securing the two points. Poulin’s national teammate Sarah Nurse sealed the game, scoring her second goal 13 seconds into overtime to win it 3-2 for Toronto.

Montreal fought hard to extend the game, firing 39 shots and netting two late-period goals. Sarah Bujold scored the first and Erin Ambrose got the other on a power play, earning her own round of applause.

“It was incredible,” Ambrose said of the sellout crowd. “Everybody was just rooting for you. Like anytime you caught eyes with somebody, they were so passionate about trying to fire you up, it was pretty special.”

It was also meaningful for Toronto defender Lauriane Rougeau of Pointe Claire, Que. Rougeau, who played alongside Poulin in Team Canada and the CWHL, was excited for her during the standing ovation.

“Seeing the appreciation of the fans today, giving her the longest ovation, I think she deserves it,” Rougeau said of Poulin. “I was getting teary-eyed for her on the bench, I was like ‘You go girl. This is your moment.’”

A moment that Poulin and everyone present will always remember.

“Today was bigger than ourselves,” Poulin said. “Obviously, you do dream about the national team, the Olympics, but this one is something different. We’ve dreamt to be part of a professional league, and having 21,105 in the rink is unbelievable.”