Newly signed Montreal Force forward Audrey-Anne Veillette talks hockey with Ian Kennedy When the Montreal Force signed Audrey-Anne Veillette [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/phf/montreal-force-sign-four-including-usports-stars], they locked in one of the top graduating collegiate athletes on either side of the border. Veillette, 22, spent the past two seasons with the University of Montreal Carabins, last season scoring 26 goals and 35 points in 22 games before adding seven points in six playoff games. Her efforts landed Veillette on the First Team All-Canadian lineup, as a finalist for USports Player of the Year, and earned her a spot on the Canadian Universaide roster. Veillette won gold at Universaide, adding to her medal count having won a pair of medals with Canada's national U-18 team, including serving as assistant captain in 2018. "I wanted to play with better players and to play in a better league," Veillette said of choosing to turn pro with the PHF's Montreal Force. Veillette played against Montreal's leading scorer from last season Jade Downie Landry, and also Rosalie Begin-Cyr who signed with Montreal for next season in USports hockey. Veillette wants to find her way back to Team Canada's senior national roster and believes the PHF is the best route to do that this season. "For my decision to stay in the PHF, not the PWHPA, well right now the PWHPA doesn't really have a league. It's not announced yet, I don't know when it's going to be announced....I'm taking it one year at a time and I'm going to work toward my dream to play for Team Canada." For now, the focus for Audrey-Anne Veillette is on impacting the Montreal Force, and helping to keep the Isobel Cup in Canada...just not in Toronto. "We're going for a Cup," she said. Alongside Montreal's new and yet to be announced additions, the Force will be just that, a Force to be reckoned with when the puck drops on the 2023-2024 PHF season.
