As the PWHL prepares for its first-ever all-Canadian Walter Cup Final, the anticipation surrounding the matchup between the Montréal Victoire and Ottawa Charge extends far beyond the ice. Players and coaches from both teams spoke this week about rivalry, resilience, pressure, and the significance of competing for women’s hockey’s biggest prize at a moment when the league continues to reach new heights in popularity and visibility. Here’s some highlights of what the coaches and one key player from each team had to say ahead of Game 1.
Carla MacLeod, Head Coach, Ottawa Charge:
“There’s a presence in our room that understands what it’s gonna take to try to get this thing done.”
“These series are long, and they’re a grind. But our group, we’re excited about it. We’re built for that. Just looking forward to getting it going."
Brianne Jenner, Captain, Ottawa Charge:
“We know that there’s one step left, and it’s gonna be the hardest step.”
“As a Canadian, I think it's pretty exciting for Canadian hockey fans. You know there's a good rivalry between our fan bases with how close we are. Just really exciting, and we're looking forward to puck drop."
"To see the crowds that we have, the support that we have, the excitement around this playoffs it's...you know, I still have moments where I pinch myself, and I feel extremely lucky that I just get to be a part of it, and get to play in these moments."
Kori Cheverie, Head Coach, Montréal Victoire:
“I'm getting messages from people saying they're fans in Cleveland of the Victoire, in Japan, in all across the world. So, I think it's pretty cool that, that we're experiencing that, and, you know, that the Walter Cup will be in Canada."
"I'm lucky as a coach that I've gotten to coach in this era that a player like [Marie-Philip Poulin] exists, because they don't come around very often.
Ann-Renée Desbiens, goaltender, Montréal Victoire:
"We were really proud of how resilient we were as a group, how much character we showed.”
"I won't lie, I feel in this league, every game is a goalie battle. Every single team in this league has great goaltending, that's not something we lack, and every time you put the pads on, you know you're gonna have somebody on the other side that's gonna wanna beat you."
