PWHL: Montreal team gets ready for first home game

Montreal’s PWHL team – Professional Women’s Hockey League – is getting ready for their home opener on Saturday afternoon at the Verdun Auditorium.

The team is ready to play its first game in front of their fans. Then they’ll play Place Bell in Laval on Jan. 16.

“It helps to have a full crowd that is cheering for you. So we’re excited for that tomorrow. I think we’re the last home opener and probably a much awaited home opener for everybody. Our players are really looking forward to it,” said head coach Kori Cheverie.

Montreal has been on the road since the club started on Jan. 2 — a win in overtime against Ottawa.

Since then, they fell to Minnesota 3-0, but bounced back to beat New York 5-2 on Wednesday – with Marie-Philip Poulin netting a hat trick in the win.

Poulin, widely considered one of the best women’s hockey players of all time, collected the league’s second three-goal game. She’s been called “Captain Clutch” by her Canadian teammates because she scored the game-winning goal in three Olympic games (2010, 2014, 2022).

“It’s hard to put into words. I feel like I cannot wait to wake up tomorrow morning and come into this ring in front of our fans, family and friends. It’s going to be quite a moment. It’s going to be a special moment for all of us,” said Poulin.

The league was formed in the summer of 2023 and is made up of six teams: Boston, Ottawa, Minnesota, Montreal, New York and Toronto.

The regular season ends May 5 – with each team playing 24 games. The schedule will pause in February for an IIHF national team break, and in April for the 2024 Women’s Ice Hockey World Championships.

“When I was younger, there was no NHL League for women, so it’s something that they can dream of right away and they see it. So they want to push harder as a younger age. As us, we didn’t like have any of this, so we were always pushing for something we didn’t know, but they can see it right away. I think it’s pretty special for them and for us,” said Catherine Dubois, Montreal PWHL player.

“I think women’s hockey has come a long way and tomorrow is kind of the birth or the finally the arrival of everything,” said Ann-Sophie Bettez, Montreal PWHL forward from Sept-Îles.

“We’ve got to see a couple of other home openers, but to get to play in Montreal in this rink with this team right now, I think it’s been a special moment for all of us. All our families are coming in and we’re really excited about it,” added Laura Stacey, Montreal PWHL forward and two-time Olympic medalist.

“Every time I have the chance to step on the ice, I just remind myself how lucky I am,” explained Poulin. “I fell in love with hockey when I was five years old and still to this day, I still love it.”

-With files from The Associated Press