The Montreal Victoire have something special going on. From their on ice chemistry, toughness, and the fun you can see on their bench, to packed houses following the team this season, Montreal is having a year to remember.
The Montreal Victoire have something special going on. From their on ice chemistry, toughness, and the fun you can see on their bench, to packed houses following the team this season, Montreal is having a year to remember.
There's something special going on this season with the PWHL's Montreal Victoire. The team, of course, is sitting comfortably in first overall in the PWHL standings. But it's not just the on ice results that are lending to the Victoire's magic this season.
Watching the team play, some observations jump off the page. First, this is a cohesive group that believes in their coaching, and their teammates. It would be hard to point to a player who is not contributing in a meaningful way each time they step on the ice from this group. What's more, however, is this team is having fun doing it, including on their current six-game winning streak.
Whether it's after a fierce post-whistle scrum, a missed opportunity, or a highlight reel goal, you can spot Montreal's players with smiles of confidence communicating. The chemistry is evident. Montreal's top line of Marie-Philip Poulin, Abby Boreen, and Jennifer Gardiner leading the way. Poulin, the greatest player in the history of the game, is playing alongside a rookie who captained Ohio State to a national title last year in Gardiner, and a player in Boreen who was cast off by Minnesota days after winning a Walter Cup, and is proving to herself and the league that she's an elite player. Poulin leads the league in goals, while Gardiner and Boreen both sit in the top 20 in league scoring, with Gardiner second among all rookies, behind only Sarah Fillier.
This line is not only clicking on the ice, but you can see the preparation, communication, and fun they're having on the bench. Beyond Montreal's top line, you can look up and down their lineup from Laura Stacey, to Alexandra Labelle, or Claire Dalton, and you'll find players contributing, and buying into a team game. Montreal has struck out an identity for their team this season that's hard to play against. The team is physical, and in your face.
On the back end, all seven Montreal defenders are consistent at both ends of the ice, and it's allowed Montreal to manage the ice time their stars, like reigning PWHL Defender of the Year Erin Ambrose, are playing. Last year Montreal sunk themselves in the playoffs riding one line. This year, it shouldn't be as tempting to make the same mistake. In net, Ann-Renee Desbiens hasn't looked this good...ever. She's at the top of her game, which is incredible to say about a goaltender with Olympic and World Championship gold to her name. Desbiens sits atop the PWHL statistically with a .935 save percentage and 1.79 GAA.
Beyond their roster, Montreal's management team led by Daniele Sauvageau deserve kudos for building a roster where the whole is greater than the parts, and head coach Kori Cheverie has managed to put those parts together in a way where they can be as effective as possible.
Off the ice, Montreal's fan base is the strongest in the PWHL. They've drawn more than 10,000 fans four times in only seven home games, including a trio of sold out 10,171 crowds at Place Bell. This season, the PWHL has drawn more than 10,000 fans on 11 occasions. The Montreal Victoire played in nine of those games.
Montreal is comfortably in first overall, and they look like they're still getting better. There's something special going on in Montreal, and it's bad news for the rest of the PWHL, and good news for the Victoire and their fans.