Stats that tell the Story: Victoire's star-studded lineup ready to take the next step

The Montréal Victoire had more individual award winners than any other PWHL team in 2024-25 led by Forward of the Year and MVP Marie-Philip Poulin, Goaltender of the Year Ann-Renée Desbiens, “hockey for all” award recipient Laura Stacey, and Coach of the Year Kori Cheverie.

The Victoire’s star-studded lineup has made them a top contender in each of the league’s first two seasons with each of its foundational players contributing heavily to its success.

That success starts up front with the dynamic duo of Poulin and Stacey who tied for first in the PWHL with 10 assist-to-goal combinations. Poulin, affectionately known as “Captain Clutch”, lived up to her nickname with a league-high 19-goal campaign which included six game-winners. Stacey tied for second with four GWG, second with four power play goals, and eighth overall in points. Through two seasons, no PWHL player has more goals (29) or points (49) than Poulin, while Stacey is tied for fourth in career goals (21) and points (40).

Montréal’s third foundational signing prior to the inaugural season was Desbiens who led all qualifying goalies with 15 wins, a 1.86 goals-against-average and a .932 save percentage last season. Perhaps most impressively, she made 14 consecutive starts allowing two or fewer goals against.

Not to be outdone, the team’s first inaugural season draft pick, Erin Ambrose, earned Defender of the Year honors in Season One and ranks fourth in all-time points from the blue line with 31.

It’s no surprise that these four veterans, all among the game’s biggest names, made up the Victoire’s protected list when it came time for the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft, showing how much coach Cheverie and GM Danièle Sauvageau value their leadership and consistent production.

With 32 wins through the first two regular seasons, tied with Toronto for most in the PWHL, the next step for Montréal is to deliver in the postseason after coming up short in each of their first two semifinal appearances.

To that end, the Victoire have been among the league’s most active in surrounding their foundational talent with fresh faces this offseason. They acquired Abby Roque from New York in a draft day trade, and signed fellow forwards Shiann Darkangelo, Jade Downie-Landry and Hayley Scamurra, and added defenders Jessica DiGirolamo and Maggie Flaherty.

Though this offseason saw some significant departures from Montréal’s 2024 draft class, the Victoire and their veterans remain poised to stay competitive in pursuit of their first Walter Cup title.