The Montreal team of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has announced their first signings, all of whom were members of the Canadian Olympic Gold-winning roster in 2022.
At a news conference in Montreal, goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens, along with forwards Marie-Philip-Poulin and Laura Stacey, were introduced as the team’s newest players.
“Women’s hockey is experiencing tremendous growth in Quebec,” said Danièle Sauvageau, the team’s general manager. “And I believe fans are eagerly looking forward to being here.”
The PWHL’s inaugural season will commence in January with six teams across the United States and Canada. The teams will be based in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and New York.
Nicknamed “Captain Clutch,” Poulin will be the star player for Montreal in the upcoming season. She has an impressive record of 103 goals and 107 assists in 175 career games, making her the all-time active scoring leader for the Canadian women’s hockey team.
Poulin expressed her excitement about playing the sport she loves and the joy of seeing the smiles and sparkling eyes of fans who are excited to meet the players. She believes that there is no better feeling than being able to inspire others through the game.
Poulin, a four-time Olympian from Beauceville, Que., has long been an advocate for a sustainable professional women’s league that offers fair wages and support similar to their male counterparts. She sees this moment as historic and is proud to wear the Montreal logo, emphasizing the importance of being a good person and inspiring young children.
Another prominent player on the Montreal team is Desbiens, a goaltender from Malbaie, Quebec. She has an impressive record of 31 wins and 6 losses for the Canadian team, having won gold in the 2022 Olympic Games as well as the 2021 and 2022 world championships.
“We understand that this is an incredibly exciting moment for us, and we are confident that we will be great ambassadors both on and off the ice,” said Desbiens.
Stacey, from Kleinburg, Ontario, was a significant contributor to the Canadian team, scoring four goals and providing two assists in the 2022 Olympic tournament. She expressed her astonishment and gratitude at the opportunity to play professional hockey in Canada, especially in one of the greatest cities like Montreal.
Stacey hopes that when she takes to the ice this winter, she will inspire young girls to pursue their passion for hockey.
“I am most excited about having the chance to inspire countless young girls to dream about wearing the same jersey that the three of us will be wearing in a few months,” Stacey said.
The PWHL’s first-ever entry draft will be held on September 18, with Minneapolis-St. Paul selecting first, followed by Toronto, Boston, New York, Ottawa, and finally Montreal. The draft will follow the snake method, inverting the selection order after each round.
— with files from Global News’ Amanda Jelowicki, The Canadian Press, and The Associated Press
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