Montreal Victoire Overview
The Montreal Victoire (French: Victoire de Montréal) are a professional women’s ice hockey team based in the Greater Montreal area, competing in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Founded in 2023 as one of the league’s six charter franchises, the Victoire play their home games primarily at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec. The team is owned by the Mark Walter Group and features notable personnel such as General Manager Danièle Sauvageau and Head Coach Kori Cheverie, with Marie-Philip Poulin serving as captain. The franchise has quickly become a flagship club for the league, capturing the Walter Cup championship in 2026 and earning consecutive regular season titles in 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Identified by their burgundy, sand, and storm colors and a logo that incorporates the fleur-de-lis, the Victoire represent the deep hockey tradition of Quebec. The team’s identity, performance, and consistent postseason appearances have established Montreal as one of the PWHL’s most visible and successful franchises.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The Montreal Victoire were established on August 29, 2023, when the Professional Women’s Hockey League announced that one of its first six franchises would be located in Montreal. The announcement marked a significant moment for the city, which had long been a center of hockey culture in North America. Within days of the franchise announcement, the team’s front office began taking shape.
On September 1, 2023, Danièle Sauvageau, a one-time head coach of the Canadian women’s national team, was named the franchise’s general manager. Less than two weeks later, on September 13, Kori Cheverie was introduced as the team’s inaugural head coach. Cheverie, a former assistant coach with Canada’s national team, was also recognized as the first woman to have coached a Canadian men’s hockey team. The club is owned by the Mark Walter Group, a holding organization that has backed major professional sports ventures.
The team’s first three players, all members of the Canadian national team, were signed on September 5, 2023: Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens. At the 2023 PWHL Draft on September 18, the Victoire selected 15 players, with their first pick, sixth overall, being Canadian national team defender Erin Ambrose.
Growth Into Professional Women’s Hockey League Competition
The Victoire entered PWHL competition in 2024 and immediately drew national attention. Their inaugural game took place on January 2, 2024, against PWHL Ottawa at TD Place Arena, where an attendance record of 8,318 was set for professional women’s hockey. Claire Dalton scored the first goal in franchise history, and Ann-Sophie Bettez scored in overtime to secure Montreal’s first win, 3-2.
The club’s home schedule during the inaugural season was split primarily between the Verdun Auditorium and Place Bell. On December 29, 2023, the team announced that Marie-Philip Poulin would serve as captain, with Laura Stacey and Erin Ambrose serving as assistant captains. The team later unveiled official colors of burgundy, sand, and storm on November 14, 2023.
Montreal’s debut season was marked by record-breaking crowds. On February 16, 2024, the Victoire faced PWHL Toronto at Scotiabank Arena in a contest dubbed “The Battle on Bay Street,” which set a league and women’s hockey attendance record with 19,285 fans. Two months later, on April 20, Montreal hosted Toronto at the Bell Centre in “The Duel at the Top,” drawing a sold-out crowd of 21,105, another new record.
Montreal Victoire Competitive Journey
Across its first three seasons in the PWHL, the Montreal Victoire have evolved from an expansion startup into the league’s most decorated active franchise, capturing consecutive regular season titles and the 2025-26 Walter Cup. The team’s competitive arc is defined by elite individual play, particularly from captain Marie-Philip Poulin, and a roster built around Canadian national team talent. With each passing season, the Victoire have translated regular season success into deeper postseason runs.
Early Seasons and Development (2023-2024)
The Victoire’s first season set the tone for the franchise’s long-term ambitions. Operating under the temporary name PWHL Montreal, the team wore league-wide jerseys featuring the city’s name diagonally across the front, while still using their own burgundy, black, and beige color scheme. The franchise quickly built a strong identity around its star players and its deep connection to Quebec’s hockey heritage.
Montreal clinched a playoff berth in the league’s inaugural postseason on April 24, 2024, with a 5-2 win over PWHL New York. The Victoire faced Boston in the first round and were eliminated after three consecutive overtime losses, including a triple-overtime matchup in the second game of the series. Following the season, defender Erin Ambrose was named the PWHL’s top defender for its inaugural year, validating the team’s early investment in elite defensive talent.
Breakthrough in PWHL Competition (2024-2026)
In September 2024, the Victoire announced that Place Bell would serve as their primary home venue for the 2024-25 season, signaling a commitment to the Laval market. The team enjoyed a dominant regular season, finishing first overall in the league. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin led the PWHL in goals and became the first Victoire player to receive the Billie Jean King Most Valuable Player award. The International Ice Hockey Federation also named her the IIHF Female Player of the Year for her combined work with the Victoire and the Canadian national team. Despite their regular season success, the Victoire were eliminated in the Walter Cup semifinals by the Ottawa Charge in four games.
The 2025-26 season marked a transformative chapter. With the arrival of expansion teams, the Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Goldeneyes, Montreal lost four players in the 2025 expansion draft, including defender Cayla Barnes to the Torrent. The Victoire remained dominant, posting an 11-2-1-1 home record at Place Bell and the Bell Centre and finishing the season at 17-5-2-6. They tied the Boston Fleet with 62 points and secured their second consecutive regular season title via a shootout victory over the Torrent in the final game of the season.
In the 2026 playoffs, the Victoire earned their first postseason series victory by defeating the Frost in five games to reach the Walter Cup Finals for the first time. Facing the Ottawa Charge in the finals, Montreal prevailed in a four-game series to become the first Canadian team to lift the Walter Cup.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2024-Present)
Under the leadership of General Manager Danièle Sauvageau and Head Coach Kori Cheverie, the modern Victoire program has emerged as the standard-setter of the PWHL. The team’s operational base at Place Bell provides a high-quality home environment, while marquee games continue to be hosted at the Bell Centre, allowing the franchise to access one of the largest arenas in North America. Ownership by the Mark Walter Group has given the franchise financial stability and the resources to invest in player development and infrastructure.
The 2024 unveiling of the Victoire name and logo, with its fleur-de-lis motif, cemented the franchise’s regional identity. The team retained its burgundy, sand, and storm color scheme and has continued to build its roster around the Canadian national team pipeline. Long-term goals include sustaining championship contention, expanding the fan base across Quebec, and reinforcing Montreal’s reputation as a cornerstone market for the PWHL.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
The Victoire’s identity is built on speed, skill, and Canadian national team experience, with a strong emphasis on defensive structure and goaltending. The team excels at controlling pace through its top forwards, particularly captain Marie-Philip Poulin, while leaning on the steady presence of defenders such as Erin Ambrose and goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens. Their strategy tendencies include strong home-ice performances, disciplined defensive play, and timely scoring from veteran leaders in high-pressure moments.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The franchise’s most significant milestones include the first win in team history, secured 3-2 in overtime against Ottawa on January 2, 2024, and the league-record crowds at Scotiabank Arena and the Bell Centre later that same season. In 2024-25, the Victoire captured their first regular season title, and Poulin became the franchise’s first PWHL Most Valuable Player. In 2025-26, the team won its second consecutive regular season title and its first Walter Cup, becoming the first Canadian franchise to claim the championship.
Montreal Victoire Achievements and Results
Since joining the Professional Women’s Hockey League, the Montreal Victoire have built one of the most accomplished résumés in the league, highlighted by back-to-back regular season championships and a Walter Cup title. The franchise has also produced individual award winners, including PWHL Most Valuable Player Marie-Philip Poulin and top defender Erin Ambrose.
PWHL Achievements
The Victoire have won two consecutive regular season titles, in 2024-25 and 2025-26, the latter secured via a shootout victory over the Seattle Torrent in the final game of the season. In 2025-26, Montreal won the Walter Cup by defeating the Ottawa Charge in four games, becoming the first Canadian franchise to claim the league championship. The team’s championship run included a five-game series victory over the Frost in the semifinals, marking the franchise’s first postseason series win.
Conference Achievements
Throughout the PWHL’s early seasons, the Victoire have consistently been among the league’s top-performing teams, finishing first overall in 2024-25 and tying for first in 2025-26. Their regular season success has translated into multiple playoff berths, including the inaugural postseason in 2023-24 and a run to the Walter Cup Finals in 2025-26.
Divisional Achievements
As one of the PWHL’s charter franchises, the Victoire have set a standard for sustained divisional performance. The team’s record-breaking crowds at Verdun Auditorium, Place Bell, and the Bell Centre have helped establish Montreal as a leading hockey market, while the franchise’s on-ice consistency has positioned it as a perennial contender in the league standings.
Series Achievements
The Victoire have competed in multiple playoff series, beginning with the inaugural 2024 postseason against Boston. After being eliminated in three overtime games in 2024, the franchise returned to the playoffs in 2025 and reached the Walter Cup Finals in 2026. Their first playoff series victory came in 2025-26 with a five-game win over the Frost, followed by a four-game victory over the Ottawa Charge to capture the Walter Cup.
