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

Montreal is 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).

History

On August 29, 2023, it was announced that one of the PWHL's first six franchises would be located in Montreal.[3] On September 1, Daniele Sauvageau, the one-time coach for Canada's national team, was announced as the team's general manager.[4] 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.[5][6]

Montréal's first three players—Canadian national team members Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Ann-Renee Desbiens—were signed on September 5, 2023.[7] 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.[8]

The team colours were officially announced on November 14, 2023 as burgundy, "sand", and "storm".[9] 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.[10][11] On December 29, the team announced that Poulin would serve as team captain, with Stacey and Erin Ambrose serving as assistant captains.[12]

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.[13] 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.[13] 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.[14]

Team

Current roster

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

Reserves

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
25 Canada Melodie Daoust F L 32 2023 Valleyfield, Quebec
17 Canada Alexandra Poznikoff F L 28 2023 Edmonton, Alberta

Draft history

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.[18][19]

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 Laskova  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)

References

  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. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ Laframboise, Kalina (September 7, 2023). "'Women's hockey is growing': Poulin, Desbiens and Stacey sign with PWHL's Montreal team". globalnews.ca.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Kennedy, Ian (November 23, 2023). "PWHL Releases Jersey Designs". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "PWHL teams release final 23-player rosters ahead of Jan. 1 season opener". CBC. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  16. ^ "PWHL Montreal Roster 2024 Regular Season". PWHL-Professional Women's Ice Hockey League. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  17. ^ Book, Jared (December 29, 2023). "Marie-Philip Poulin named captain of Montreal PWHL". habseyesontheprize.com.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "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

PWHL Montreal
Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)
Professional women's hockey seasons
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