Montréal Victoire hits the ice for training camp ahead of second PWHL season
Posted November 14, 2024 2:23 pm.
Last Updated November 14, 2024 6:00 pm.
Montréal Victoire is ready for the second PWHL season.
Before their upcoming 30 games — they hit the ice at the Verdun Auditorium on Thursday for their first training camp practice.
“We’ve made some amazing positive strides since year one,” said Montréal Victoire forward, Laura Stacey. “We’re learning, we’re growing and I think we’re going to continue to do so moving forward.”
They are one of six teams in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), which had an incredible inaugural season last year in 2023.
Minnesota — now known as Minnesota Frost — took home the first ever Walter Cup.
“We’ve learned a lot obviously from last year,” said Danièle Sauvageau, General Manager of the Montréal Victoire. “First of all is that the credibility of the league is there to stay. The player wants to be part of it.”
“This summer they all trained to be ready at that level.”
“We’re refreshed, we’re rejuvenated,” said Stacey. “We worked hard this summer, we have a new group here.”
“It’s a new era,” she added. “I think we’re all really excited about it.”
All six PWHL clubs had revealed their team names and logos back in September.
The six names are:
• Victoire de Montréal
• Ottawa Charge
• Toronto Sceptres
• Boston Fleet
• Minnesota Frost
• New York Sirens
The PWHL’s inaugural season, which took place across 24 games between January and April 2024, was played without team names and with generic jerseys. For the second season, the league extended it from 24 to 30 games.
As for the clubs jersey’s, those were revealed one week ago — designed to reflect each team’s identity and to be sold to the public as replicas.
According to the Victoire, “the home jersey reflects Montreal’s timeless elegance and strength.”
“I think every time you wear that jersey there’s motivation right there,” said Montréal Victoire captain, Marie-Philip Poulin. “I think it’s a lot of pride here, it’s a privilege to wear that jersey.”
The team had also announced back in September that Place Bell will be the team’s main home arena for regular-season games.
The organization says it made the decision based on the “overwhelming fan response” in its inaugural year.
“A lot of new things, very exciting,” said Montréal Victoire goaltender, Ann-Renée Desbiens. “I guess we had too many fans so we needed bigger venues so it’s a pretty cool problem to have.”
Last year, the team split games between the Verdun Auditorium, Place Bell and the Bell Centre – where they broke an all-time women’s hockey attendance record with over 21,000 in the crowd.
Montreal’s first game for this season is set to be against the Ottawa Charge at Place Bell on Nov. 30.
Season tickets are already on sale and can be purchased by clicking here.
The regular season will end on May 3.
“With a renewed kind of attitude,” said Stacey. “I think anything’s possible this year.”
