PWHL Montreal

Summary

Montreal are a professional women's ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec. They are one of the six charter franchises of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They play home games at the Place Bell in Laval and the Verdun Auditorium in Verdun.[3]

PWHL Montréal
LPHF Montréal (French)
CityMontreal, Quebec
LeagueProfessional Women's Hockey League
Founded29 August, 2023 (29 August, 2023)
Home arenaVerdun Auditorium
Place Bell
ColoursBurgundy, sand and storm
     
Owner(s)Mark Walter Group
General managerDaniele Sauvageau[1]
Head coachKori Cheverie[2]
CaptainMarie-Philip Poulin
Websitemontreal.thepwhl.com
Current season

History edit

On August 29, 2023, it was announced that one of the PWHL's first six franchises would be located in Montreal.[4] On September 1, Daniele Sauvageau, the one-time coach for Canada's national team, was announced as the team's general manager.[5] Kori Cheverie, a former assistant coach with the Canadian national team and the first woman to have coached a Canadian men's hockey team, was named the team's inaugural coach on September 13.[6][7]

Montréal's first three players—Canadian national team members Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Ann-Renee Desbiens—were signed on September 5, 2023.[8] At the 2023 PWHL Draft on September 18, the team selected 15 players; their first pick, at sixth overall, was Canadian national team member Erin Ambrose.[9]

The team colours were officially announced on November 14, 2023 as burgundy, "sand", and "storm".[10] Later that month, it was revealed that the team would host the majority of its games at the Verdun Auditorium, with four games at Place Bell.[11][12] On December 29, the team announced that Poulin would serve as team captain, with Stacey and Erin Ambrose serving as assistant captains.[13]

Montréal's first ever game took place on January 2, 2024, against Ottawa; the 8,318 fans in attendance at Ottawa's TD Place Arena set a new attendance record for professional women's hockey.[14] Claire Dalton scored the first goal in franchise history. Although Montréal twice trailed in the game, Ann-Sophie Bettez scored in overtime to secure the team's first win by a score of 3–2.[14] The team hosted its first home game on January 13, with Boston securing a 3–2 overtime win in front of a sold-out crowd at Verdun Auditorium.[15]

On February 16, 2024, Montréal played a match hosted by Toronto at Scotiabank Arena in a game dubbed by the league as "The Battle on Bay Street".[16] The game set a league and women’s hockey attendance record with a sellout crowd of 19,285, beating the previous record of 18,013 at the 2013 IIHF Women's World Championship.[17] Two months later, on April 20, Montréal hosted Toronto in its first-ever home match at the Bell Centre (the home of the NHL's Canadiens), selling out the arena and setting another new attendance record (21,105).[18] This game was known as "The Duel at the Top."[19]

Team edit

Current roster edit

As of March 20, 2024 [20][21][22][23]
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
23   Erin Ambrose (A) D R 29 2023 Keswick, Ontario
24   Ann-Sophie Bettez   F L 36 2023 Sept-Îles, Quebec
6   Madison Bizal D L 24 2023 Elk River, Minnesota
1   Marlène Boissonnault G L 26 2023 Dundee, New Brunswick
44   Amanda Boulier D R 31 2024 Watertown, Connecticut
26   Sarah Bujold F L 28 2023 Riverview, New Brunswick
20   Elaine Chuli G L 29 2023 Waterford, Ontario
42   Claire Dalton F R 24 2023 Toronto, Ontario
4   Catherine Daoust D R 29 2024 Île Bizard, Quebec
25   Melodie Daoust F L 32 2023 Valleyfield, Quebec
8   Gabrielle David F R 24 2023 Drummondville, Quebec
14   Jillian Dempsey F L 33 2023 Winthrop, Massachusetts
35   Ann-Renée Desbiens G L 30 2023 La Malbaie, Quebec
28   Catherine Dubois F L 28 2024 Charlesbourg, Quebec
13   Mikyla Grant-Mentis F L 25 2024 Brampton, Ontario
2   Mariah Keopple D L 23 2023 Hudson, Wisconsin
96   Dominika Lásková   D R 27 2023 Prague, Czechia
16   Sarah Lefort F L 30 2023 Ormstown, Quebec
10   Brigitte Laganiere D L 27 2023 Montreal, Quebec
12   Leah Lum F L 27 2023 Richmond, British Columbia
22   Kennedy Marchment   F R 27 2023 Courtice, Ontario
15   Maureen Murphy F R 24 2023 Buffalo, New York
43   Kristin O'Neill (A) F L 26 2023 Mississauga, Ontario
17   Alex Poznikoff F L 28 2024 Edmonton, Alberta
29   Marie-Philip Poulin (C) F L 33 2023 Beauceville, Quebec
7   Laura Stacey (A) F R 29 2023 Mississauga, Ontario
9   Kati Tabin D L 27 2023 Winnipeg, Manitoba

Reserves edit

As of March 20, 2024[23]
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
34   Liliane Perreault F R 24 2024 Toronto, Ontario
3   Brooke Stacey F L 27 2024 Kahnawake, Quebec

Draft history edit

Held on September 18, 2023, the inaugural PWHL draft used a "snake draft" format with the selection order reversing after each round; Montreal held the sixth and final pick in the first round.[24][25]

2023 PWHL Draft
Rd Pick Player Nationality Position Previous team
1 6 Erin Ambrose   Canada Defence Team Sonnet (PWHPA)
2 7 Kristin O'Neill   Canada Forward Team Adidas (PWHPA)
3 18 Maureen Murphy   United States Forward Northeastern (Hockey East)
4 19 Dominika Lásková   Czech Republic Defence Toronto Six (PHF)
5 30 Kati Tabin   Canada Defence Toronto Six (PHF)
6 31 Kennedy Marchment   Canada Forward Connecticut Whale (PHF)
7 42 Tereza Vanisova   Czech Republic Forward Toronto Six (PHF)
8 43 Madison Bizal   United States Defence Ohio State (WCHA)
9 54 Gabrielle David   Canada Forward Clarkson (ECAC)
10 55 Maude Poulin-Labelle   Canada Defence Northeastern (Hockey East)
11 66 Jillian Dempsey   United States Forward Boston Pride (PHF)
12 67 Claire Dalton   Canada Forward Yale (ECAC)
13 78 Elaine Chuli   Canada Goaltender Toronto Six (PHF)
14 79 Ann-Sophie Bettez   Canada Forward Montreal Force (PHF)
15 90 Lina Ljungblom   Sweden Forward MoDo Hockey (SDHL)

Franchise milestones edit

Milestone Player Date Opponent
First penalty Marie-Philip Poulin for Holding January 02, 2024 PWHL Ottawa
First goal Claire Dalton

Assisted by Jillian Dempsey and Kennedy Marchment

January 02, 2024 PWHL Ottawa
First win Ann-Renée Desbiens January 02, 2024 PWHL Ottawa
First hat-trick Marie-Philip Poulin January 10, 2024 PWHL New York

References edit

  1. ^ "PWHL names six general managers as teams begin roster construction". Sportsnet. Rogers Media. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  2. ^ Kennedy, Ian (September 13, 2023). "Kori Cheverie To Coach PWHL Montreal". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Puleo, Mark (March 13, 2024). "PWHL to play game in Bell Centre, could challenge women's hockey attendance record again". theathletic.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  4. ^ Wyshynski, Greg (August 29, 2023). "Six inaugural franchises revealed for new PWHL". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  5. ^ "PWHL names six general managers as teams begin roster construction". Sportsnet. Rogers Media. September 1, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  6. ^ Kennedy, Ian (September 13, 2023). "Kori Cheverie To Coach PWHL Montreal". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  7. ^ "Kori Cheverie to become 1st woman to coach a Canadian men's hockey team". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. April 14, 2022. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  8. ^ Laframboise, Kalina (September 7, 2023). "'Women's hockey is growing': Poulin, Desbiens and Stacey sign with PWHL's Montreal team". globalnews.ca.
  9. ^ Donkin, Karissa (September 19, 2023). "New beginnings and dreams coming true: 3 stories from the inaugural PWHL draft". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  10. ^ Kennedy, Ian (November 23, 2023). "PWHL Releases Jersey Designs". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  11. ^ "Montreal PWHL team begins season Jan. 2, home opener Jan. 13 in Verdun". Montreal Gazette. November 28, 2023. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  12. ^ Donkin, Karissa (November 30, 2023). "PWHL releases full 72-game schedule ahead of inaugural season". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  13. ^ Donkin, Karissa (December 29, 2023). "Marie-Philip Poulin, Brianne Jenner named captains of PWHL Montreal, Ottawa". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Brennan, Don (January 2, 2024). "A Night to Remember: Montreal scores OT win in Ottawa's historic PWHL opener". Ottawa Sun. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  15. ^ Rainbird, Daniel (January 13, 2024). "Boston's Pelkey spoils Montreal's PWHL home opener in OT after Poulin's disallowed goal". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  16. ^ "Scotiabank Arena to host PWHL's 'Battle on Bay Street' between Toronto, Montreal". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. January 25, 2024. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  17. ^ Ibrahim, Abdulhamid (February 16, 2024). "PWHL Toronto tops Montreal 3-0 in front of record-setting crowd at Scotiabank Arena". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  18. ^ Rainbird, Daniel (April 20, 2024). "PWHL-leading Toronto clinches playoff berth, wins in OT before record crowd in Montreal". CBC Sports. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  19. ^ Rowe, Daniel J. (April 20, 2024). "Nurse OT winner breaks Montreal hearts as Toronto wins PWHL 'Duel at the Top'". CTV News. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  20. ^ "PWHL teams release final 23-player rosters ahead of Jan. 1 season opener". CBC. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  21. ^ "PWHL Montreal Roster 2024 Regular Season". PWHL-Professional Women's Ice Hockey League. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  22. ^ Book, Jared (December 29, 2023). "Marie-Philip Poulin named captain of Montreal PWHL". habseyesontheprize.com.
  23. ^ a b "Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Roster Updates". March 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Burgess, Melissa (September 2, 2023). "PWHL Introduces General Managers, Announces Draft Order". The Victory Press. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  25. ^ "Minnesota wins lottery, will select first in PWHL player draft". Sportsnet. September 1, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.

External links edit

  • Official website