A fresh start for pro women’s hockey in North America 

MONTREAL -- “Buckle up, because this is going to be an incredible journey.”

Erin Ambrose’s message for fans is clear: the Montreal defender and assistant captain wants you to get excited about the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

That is, if you aren’t already.

The PWHL rang in the new year with a bang as they set a new attendance record in pro women’s hockey not once, but twice; the first time in Ottawa (8,318) and the second in Minnesota (13,316). 

Both times against Montreal.

It’s not often that fans get to witness the beginnings of a new team, let alone a new league.

In total, the women’s “Original Six” clubs (Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa and Toronto) will each play 24 regular season games through May, with four squads eligible for the playoffs. For the league’s inaugural season, the teams have no custom names or logos, and while the PWHL’s rulebook is largely based on the NHL’s, there are a few notable differences that set the league apart, like the 3-2-1-0 points system.

So far, Montreal has a regulation win, an overtime win and a regulation loss for five points in three games.

Following the conclusion of their three-game road trip on Jan. 10 in New York, Kori Cheverie’s squad returned home in anticipation of a raucous crowd on Jan. 13 at the Verdun Auditorium when they host Hilary Knight and Team Boston.

While the home opener is sold-out, fans can still get a front row seat to watch Montreal’s historic season unfold on familiar ground soon after; captain Marie-Philip Poulin and her teammates are set to play four games at Place Bell, the first of which is slated for Jan. 16. PWHL Montreal will return to the Laval Rocket’s barn three more times during the season, on Jan. 27, Feb. 18 and Mar. 10, while the remainder of their home calendar will be played in Verdun.

TICKETS JAN. 16: New York @ Montreal

“I’ve had the chance to play a couple of games at Place Bell, and just the energy in the building and having fans in a big venue gets a player emotional,” said Poulin, a three-time Olympic gold medalist. “Playing four games there will be really exciting and we hope that people will come out to support us and the great product on the ice.”

She’s not the only one boasting about the quality of the game; Habs forward Alex Newhook is already a big fan.

Poulin, who also serves as the Canadiens’ player development consultant, and Ambrose are among some of the stars on a team that features many familiar faces including homegrown talents Ann-Renee Desbiens and Ann-Sophie Bettez, all of whom have been members of the Canadian women’s national team and have repped the 514 under different circumstances with either the CWHL’s Les Canadiennes, the PWHPA’s Montreal contingent or the PHF’s La Force.

Led by general manager Daniele Sauvageau and head coach Cheverie, the 23-player roster (and three reserves) has been working hard since training camp to build their own team culture and chemistry on the ice.

The quick turnaround between the league’s creation this past summer and the start of the season has been a challenge for every team in the PWHL, and according to Ambrose, it's proven to be quite the balancing act for Montreal in their efforts to create that very culture and cohesion.

“That's been a big conversation with Poulin, Laura [Stacey] and I,” said the 2022 Olympic gold medalist. “And I think it's... kind of the top priority. Obviously, we want to perform on the ice, and we want to make sure that we're ready to go come [the start of the season]. But at the same time, I don't think we can be at our best unless we're putting in the time and the effort off the ice. It's a tough thing because it's something that you don't want to force by any means. It also needs to be genuine; it needs to be authentic, but at the same time, you have to put the effort in. So, it's about finding a balance.”

Each day presents a new opportunity to strike that balance, but time and patience are key. Success this season will come in many forms, and while winning is among them, progress will be the main factor for Sauvageau.

“If we progress, the sky is the limit,” she said. “We want to progress in the right direction, and that means being better tomorrow than we are today.”

With a team that features arguably the best goaltender in the world in Desbiens, strong leadership and players with a ton of pro experience, it shouldn’t be long before the they find their groove.

They’ll work hard and play hard, and as this inaugural PWHL season unfolds, everyone from players to staff to fans will play a part in making this campaign one for the books.

“There's nothing more exciting than a first anything,” said Ambrose. “So, I think that this is something that we're going to take a lot of pride in to make sure that this is a special one, and a memorable season at that.”

For tickets to Montreal’s four games at Place Bell (Jan. 16 and 27, Feb. 18 and Mar. 10), click here.

All stats are as of Jan. 12 inclusive.