Maude Poulin-Labelle discusses her love for joining the rush and creating excitement, her NCAA career, gives scouting reports on her former teammates, and talks about the Connecticut Whale.
Maude Poulin-Labelle discusses her love for joining the rush and creating excitement, her NCAA career, gives scouting reports on her former teammates, and talks about the Connecticut Whale.
Maude Poulin-Labelle had options. She spoke to multiple teams about the possibility of signing this offseason. In the end, Poulin-Labelle chose to sign with the Connecticut Whale feeling it was the best place to develop.
While she sees room to improve her game, Poulin-Labelle, 23, is also ready to bring the excitement for Whale fans.
"I join the rush a lot," said Poulin-Labelle, who has consistently been one of the top scoring blueliners in NCAA hockey over her six year college career. She spent four seasons with Vermont before transferring to Northeastern last year.
"I think I can do some exciting plays," she continued. "I take risks, but I think it's fun, it can be fun to watch."
Alongside blueliners including Kacey Bellamy and Allie Munroe, and with Emma Soderberg between the pipes behind her, Poulin-Labelle will have the freedom to join the rush and take her risks.
On the defensive side of the puck, Poulin-Labelle is bringing some inside knowledge to the league this season having played four seasons with new Montreal signee These Schafzahl, and playing last year with Boston's Alina Muller and Chloe Aurard at Northeastern.
"I think she's a huge player for any team and I think Montreal is really lucky to have her," Poulin-Labelle said of Schafzahl.
As for Muller and Aurard, who were linemates at Northeastern, Poulin-Labelle expects their chemistry to continue in the PHF.
"If you watch them just for one game, you just see the chemistry they have on the ice and it's so special. Individually they're so good, but together they're even better."
Watch the elite interview above to hear Maude Poulin-Labelle discuss topics ranging from finding an agent and the guidance they provide in women's hockey, her college career, other NCAA talent in the league, and what she hopes to gain and contribute from playing with Connecticut.