Montreal Victoire fans eager for PWHL playoff opener against Ottawa Charge
Posted May 8, 2025 5:17 pm.
Last Updated May 9, 2025 12:43 am.
Excitement is building outside Place Bell as fans eagerly await the start of the 2025 PWHL playoffs, with Montreal Victoire set to face the Ottawa Charge in the first game of the series tonight at 7 p.m. in Laval.
Fans arrived early, proudly wearing their team colours and excited for what promises to be an action-packed series.
“It’s very exciting. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time. It’s a long time coming,” said Sandrine Gendron, a devoted Montreal Victoire fan. She and many others are ready to make their voices heard in the building.
“We will cheer very loudly,” she added.
Having finished first in the league standings, Montreal Victoire had the chance to choose their playoff opponent. After a tiebreaker, Ottawa was selected, setting the stage for a highly competitive matchup.
“If we want to win the championship, we need to play the best,” Gendron said confidently.
“It doesn’t matter who we play, they will play hard and will win,” she added, showing her faith in the team.
She didn’t offer a specific prediction for the final score but believes in the team’s effort: “They will play very hard.”
Others in the crowd shared that optimism. Longtime fan Jason Maurice predicted a tight battle.
“It’s going to be a close game. Montreal will win by one or two goals,” he said.
Maurice’s dedication to the team is evident. He proudly wears a captain Marie-Philip Poulin jacket, and a pair of shoes signed by Captain Clutch herself.
“We have the best player in the world, MPP,” he said, proudly showing off the footwear.
“People everywhere I go—they go crazy for them,” he added with a smile.
When asked how he was feeling before the puck drop, Maurice said, “Very fine. Very good. Anxious.”
He also reflected on how far the sport has come: “Women’s hockey—it’s been a long time that they should have a professional hockey league.”
Maurice is a season ticket holder and a devoted road fan, having travelled to watch the Victoire play in Boston, Toronto, and Ottawa.
“I love it,” he said.
Montreal’s management has also approached this moment with preparation and clarity. In a recent podcast interview, general manager Danièle Sauvageau explained the team’s strategic thinking when choosing their opponent.
“Ever since the league implemented this rule in its first year of existence, we’ve considered how we would think about it if we ever had the privilege of finishing first, and we didn’t deviate from our plan. We followed our process, we had internal discussions and we tried to keep emotion out of this decision-making, and it’s going to give us a series close to home.”
Game 2 of the series is set for Sunday, May 11. Tickets are still available on the official league website.
The stage is set for an unforgettable series, and Montreal fans are ready to cheer their team to victory.
