Montreal Victoire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Montreal VictoireVictoire de Montréal (French) |
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| City | Laval, Quebec |
| League | Professional Women's Hockey League |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Home arena | Place Bell |
| Colours | Burgundy, sand, storm |
| Owner(s) | Mark Walter Group |
| General manager | Danièle Sauvageau |
| Head coach | Kori Cheverie |
| Captain | Marie-Philip Poulin |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 2 (2024–25, 2025–26) |
| Walter Cups | 1 (2025–26) |
 Current season |
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The Montreal Victoire (which means Victory of Montreal in French) is a professional ice hockey team. They play in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). This team is based in the Greater Montreal area of Quebec, Canada. The Victoire was one of the first six teams to join the league. They play their home games at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec. The Montreal Victoire are the champions of the Walter Cup, having won this important trophy in 2026.
Contents
Team History: From Founding to Champions
Starting the Team (2023-2024)
The PWHL announced on August 29, 2023, that Montreal would host one of its first six teams. Soon after, Danièle Sauvageau, a famous coach for Canada's national team, became the team's general manager. Kori Cheverie was named the first coach. She was also a coach for the Canadian national team.
The team signed its first three star players on September 5, 2023. These were Canadian national team members Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Ann-Renée Desbiens. Later, in the 2023 PWHL Draft, the team picked 15 more players. Their first pick was Erin Ambrose.
The team's official colors were announced in November 2023. They chose burgundy, "sand," and "storm." Most games were played at the Verdun Auditorium. Some special games were held at Place Bell. Marie-Philip Poulin was chosen as the team captain. Laura Stacey and Erin Ambrose became assistant captains.
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Montreal played its very first game on January 2, 2024, against PWHL Ottawa. A huge crowd of 8,318 fans watched, setting a new record for women's professional hockey. Claire Dalton scored the team's first-ever goal. Ann-Sophie Bettez scored in overtime, giving Montreal its first win.
The team's first home game was on January 13. They played against PWHL Boston at the Verdun Auditorium. The game was sold out. Montreal also played in record-breaking games. One game in Toronto had 19,285 fans. Another game at the Bell Centre in Montreal had 21,105 fans. These games showed how popular women's hockey was becoming!
Montreal made it to the first PWHL playoffs in April 2024. They won against PWHL New York to secure their spot. In the playoffs, they faced Boston. They lost three close games in overtime and were eliminated. After this first season, Erin Ambrose was recognized as the league's best defender.
Winning Titles and the Walter Cup (2024-2026)
For the 2024–25 season, Place Bell became the team's main home arena. The Victoire had a fantastic regular season, finishing first in the league. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin was the top goal scorer. She also won the Billie Jean King Most Valuable Player award. The team reached the semi-finals of the Walter Cup playoffs but lost to the Ottawa Charge.
In 2025, the PWHL added new teams, the Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Goldeneyes. The Victoire lost four players in the expansion draft. Despite this, the 2025–26 season was also very successful. Even with Marie-Philip Poulin injured for some time, the team played very well at home. They finished first in the league again, winning their second regular season title in a row.
The Victoire then won their first playoff series, beating the Frost in five games. This led them to the 2026 Walter Cup Finals for the first time. In the finals, they played against the Ottawa Charge. The Montreal Victoire won the series in four games. They became the first Canadian team to win the Walter Cup, making history!
Team Name and Look
How the Victoire Got Its Name
In its first season, the team was simply called PWHL Montreal. They wore jerseys with the city's name on the front. Their colors were burgundy, black, and beige. In September 2024, the league gave the team its official name: Victoire. This name means Victory in French. It celebrates Montreal's rich history of winning in ice hockey.
The team also revealed its new logo. It features the letters "MV" for Montreal Victoire. It also includes a fleur-de-lis, which is a special symbol for Quebec. The team kept its original colors.
Key People and Players
Team Captains
- Marie-Philip Poulin, 2023–present
Head Coaches
- Kori Cheverie, 2023–present
First-Round Draft Picks
- 2023: Erin Ambrose (6th overall)
- 2024: Cayla Barnes (5th overall)
- 2025: Nicole Gosling (4th overall)
Team Achievements and Awards
Franchise Milestones
- First goal: Claire Dalton (January 2, 2024)
- First win: Ann-Renée Desbiens (January 2, 2024)
- First hat-trick: Marie-Philip Poulin (January 10, 2024)
- Longest goal streak (4 games): Laura Stacey (February 22, 2025 – March 5, 2025)
- Players in the 50-Point-Club (3): Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, Abby Roque
- First playoff hat-trick: Laura Stacey (May 02, 2026)
Awards and Honours
- PWHL Defender of the Year: Erin Ambrose (2023–24)
- PWHL First Team All-Star: Erin Ambrose (2023–24), Marie-Philip Poulin (2023–24, 2024–25), Ann-Renée Desbiens (2024–25)
- PWHL Goals Leader: Marie-Philip Poulin (2024–25)
- PWHL Forward of the Year: Marie-Philip Poulin (2024–25)
- Billie Jean King Most Valuable Player: Marie-Philip Poulin (2024–25)
- PWHL Goaltender of the Year: Ann-Renée Desbiens (2024–25)
- PWHL Coach of the Year: Kori Cheverie (2025)
- Ilana Kloss Playoff Most Valuable Player: Marie-Philip Poulin (2025–26)
