2023–24 PWHL Montreal season

The 2023–24 PWHL Montréal season was the team's inaugural season as a member of the newly created Professional Women's Hockey League. They played their home games at Verdun Auditorium in Montreal and Place Bell in the suburb of Laval. They also played one game at the Bell Centre on April 20.

2023–24 PWHL Montreal
2023–24 record10–3–5–6 (2nd)
Home record6–1–3–2
Road record4–2–2–4
Goals for60
Goals against57
Team information
General managerDaniele Sauvageau[1]
CoachKori Cheverie[1]
Assistant coachEric Houde[1]
CaptainMarie-Philip Poulin[2]
Alternate captainsErin Ambrose
Laura Stacey
Kristin O'Neill[2]
ArenaVerdun Auditorium, Place Bell
Average attendance6,881
Team leaders
GoalsLaura Stacey
Marie-Philip Poulin (10)[3]
AssistsErin Ambrose (14)[3]
PointsMarie-Philip Poulin (23)[3]
Penalty minutesSarah Bujold (18)[3]
Plus/minusMarie-Philip Poulin (+8)[3]
WinsAnn-Renée Desbiens (7)[4]
Goals against averageElaine Chuli (1.61)[4]

Montréal finished second overall in the league standings, clinching a playoff berth on April 24, 2024, with a 5–2 victory over PWHL New York.[5] Montréal faced PWHL Boston in the playoff semifinal. Montréal lost the series in three straight games, with all three decisions coming in overtime, including a triple-overtime loss in the second game of the series.[6] After the season, Erin Ambrose won defender of the year honours from the league.[7]

Offseason

On September 1, 2023, Montréal hired Daniele Sauvageau as its general manager.[8] The team then hired Kori Cheverie as its first head coach on September 13.[9] In November, it was announced that the team would split its home games between Verdun Auditorium and Place Bell.[10]

On September 5, Montréal announced the signings of its first three players, Canadian national team members Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Ann-Renee Desbiens.[11] Poulin was named team captain, with Stacey and Erin Ambrose named assistant captains.[12]

Standings
Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts
1 Toronto (Y) 24 13 4 0 7 69 50 +19 47
2 Montreal (X) 24 10 3 5 6 60 57 +3 41
3 Boston (X) 24 8 4 3 9 50 57 −7 35[lower-alpha 1]
4 Minnesota (X) 24 8 4 3 9 54 54 0 35[lower-alpha 1]
5 Ottawa (E) 24 8 1 6 9 62 63 −1 32
6 New York (E) 24 5 4 3 12 53 67 −14 26
Updated to match(es) played on May 5, 2024. Source: PWHL
(E) Eliminated; (X) Clinched playoff berth; (Y) Clinched first place
Notes:
  1. Greater number of games won, excluding games won by Shootout: Boston 11 wins, Minnesota 10 wins

Schedule and results

Regular season

Montréal played its first ever game on January 2, 2024, against PWHL Ottawa at TD Place Arena. In front of what was a women's professional record crowd of 8,318, Montréal won the game in overtime by a score of 3–2 on a goal by Ann-Sophie Bettez; Claire Dalton scored the first goal in team history in the second period.[13] Montréal hosted its first game on January 13, with PWHL Boston visiting Verdun Auditorium. In front of a sell-out crowd, Boston won 3–2 in overtime; Ambrose scored the first home goal in team history.[14] The team hosted its first game at Place Bell on January 16, defeating visiting PWHL New York by a score of 3–2, with Poulin scoring the game-winning goal.[15]

On February 16, 2024, Montréal played a match hosted by PWHL Toronto at Scotiabank Arena in a game dubbed "The Battle on Bay Street".[16] The game set a league and women’s hockey attendance record with a sell-out crowd of 19,285, beating the previous record of 18,013 at the 2013 IIHF Women's World Championship.[17] On April 20, Montréal hosted Toronto at the Bell Centre in a game dubbed the "Duel at the Top"—with the two teams vying for first place in the standings—and the sell-out crowd of 21,105 established another new attendance record.[18]

Montréal clinched a spot in the inaugural PWHL playoffs on April 24 with a 5–2 win over New York.[5]

Regular season schedule

The regular season schedule was published on November 30, 2023.[19]

Regular season schedule (Home: 6–1–3–2; Road: 4–2–2–4)
January: 3–2–2–1, 15 points (Home: 1–1–2–0; Road: 2–1–0–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
1January 2@ Ottawa3–2OTDesbiensTD Place Arena8,3180–1–0–02[Recap 1]
2January 6@ Minnesota0–3DesbiensXcel Energy Center13,3160–1–0–12[Recap 2]
3January 10@ New York5–2ChuliUBS Arena2,2011–1–0–15[Recap 3]
4January 13Boston2–3OTDesbiensVerdun Auditorium3,2451–1–1–16[Recap 4]
5January 16New York3–2DesbiensPlace Bell6,3342–1–1–19[Recap 5]
6January 20Toronto3–4SODesbiensVerdun Auditorium3,2322–1–2–110[Recap 6]
7January 24@ Minnesota2–1ChuliXcel Energy Center5,0013–1–2–113[Recap 7]
8January 27Ottawa2–1OTDesbiensPlace Bell8,6463–2–2–115[Recap 8]
February: 2–1–1–1, 9 points (Home: 2–0–0–0; Road: 0–1–1–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
9February 4@ Boston2–1OTChuliTsongas Center4,2103–3–2–117[Recap 9]
10February 16@ Toronto0–3DesbiensScotiabank Arena19,2853–3–2–217[Recap 10]
11February 18Minnesota2–1ChuliPlace Bell10,1724–3–2–220[Recap 11]
12February 21@ New York2–3SODesbiensUBS Arena2,1284–3–3–221[Recap 12]
13February 24Ottawa6–3DesbiensVerdun Auditorium3,2325–3–3–224[Recap 13]
March: 2–0–1–3, 7 points (Home: 1–0–0–2; Road: 1–0–1–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
14March 2Boston3–1ChuliVerdun Auditorium3,2326–3–3–227[Recap 14]
15March 6@ New York4–3DesbiensTotal Mortgage Arena7287–3–3–230[Recap 15]
16March 8@ Toronto0–3ChuliMattamy Athletic Centre2,5547–3–3–330[Recap 16]
17March 10Ottawa2–4DesbiensPlace Bell10,1727–3–3–430[Recap 17]
18March 17Toronto1–2DesbiensPPG Paints Arena8,8507–3–3–530[Recap 18]
19March 24@ Minnesota2–3SOChuliXcel Energy Center7,2687–3–4–531[Recap 19]
April: 3–0–1–0, 10 points (Home: 2–0–1–0; Road: 1–0–0–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
20April 18Minnesota4–3ChuliVerdun Auditorium3,0848–3–4–534[Recap 20]
21April 20Toronto2–3OTDesbiensBell Centre21,1058–3–5–535[Recap 21]
22April 24New York5–2DesbiensVerdun Auditorium3,2329–3–5–538[Recap 22]
23April 27@ Ottawa2–0DesbiensTD Place Arena8,45210–3–5–541[Recap 23]
May: 0–0–0–1, 0 points (Home: 0–0–0–0; Road: 0–0–0–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
24May 4@ Boston3–4DesbiensTsongas Center5,96410–3–5–641[Recap 24]

  Regulation Win (3 points)   Overtime/Shootout win (2 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)   Regulation Loss (0 points)

Playoffs
Main article: 2023–24 PWHL season § Playoffs

On May 6, 2024, PWHL Toronto, who finished first overall, elected to play PWHL Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs. Therefore, the Montréal drew a semifinal match-up against PWHL Boston[20]

Boston upset Montréal, winning the series in three straight games. All three games were decided in overtime, including two games in Montréal.[6] In the second game, which was settled in the third overtime period, Boston goaltender Aerin Frankel set a playoff record with a 56-save performance.[21] The series loss knocked Montréal out of contention for the Walter Cup as Boston moved on to the finals.

2024 PWHL Playoffs
First round vs. PWHL Boston: Boston won 3–0
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 9Boston1–2OTDesbiensPlace Bell9,1350–1[Recap 25]
2May 11Boston1–23OTDesbiensPlace Bell10,1720–2[Recap 26]
3May 14@ Boston2–3OTDesbiensTsongas Center2,7810–3[Recap 27]

Player statistics
As of 4 May 2024[3]

Skaters

Goaltenders
Regular season[4]
PlayerGPTOIWLOTGAGAASASV%SOGAPIM
Ann-Renée Desbiens16975:33752372.284780.9231002
Elaine Chuli8483:41610131.612530.9490000
Playoffs[4]
PlayerGPTOIWLOTGAGAASASV%SOGAPIM
Ann-Renée Desbiens3247:1100371.701020.9310000

Awards and honours

Milestones
Regular season
PlayerMilestoneReached
Claire Dalton1st goal in franchise historyJanuary 2, 2024[Recap 1]
1st career PWHL goal
1st career PWHL game
Laura Stacey1st career PWHL goal
1st career PWHL game
Ann-Sophie Bettez1st career PWHL goal
1st career PWHL overtime goal
1st career PWHL game
Jillian Dempsey1st assist in franchise history
1st career PWHL assist
1st career PWHL game
Kennedy Marchment1st career PWHL assist
1st career PWHL game
Tereza Vanišová1st career PWHL assist
1st career PWHL game
Marie-Philip Poulin1st career PWHL assist
1st career PWHL game
Kati Tabin1st career PWHL assist
1st career PWHL game
Kristin O'Neill1st career PWHL assist
1st career PWHL game
Mariah Keopple1st career PWHL game
Catherine Daoust
Gabrielle David
Brigitte Laganière
Leah Lum
Maureen Murphy
Sarah Lefort
Erin Ambrose
Sarah Bujold
Dominika Lásková
Ann-Renée Desbiens1st win in franchise history
1st career PWHL win
1st career PWHL game
Ann-Renée Desbiens1st loss in franchise historyJanuary 6, 2024[Recap 2]
1st career PWHL loss
Marie-Philip Poulin1st career PWHL goalJanuary 10, 2024[Recap 3]
1st career PWHL hat-trick
Catherine Dubois1st career PWHL goal
Kennedy Marchment1st career PWHL goal
Erin Ambrose1st career PWHL assist
Maureen Murphy1st career PWHL assist
Gabrielle David1st career PWHL assist
Elaine Chuli1st career PWHL win
1st career PWHL game
Erin Ambrose1st career PWHL goalJanuary 13, 2024[Recap 4]
Ann-Sophie Bettez1st career PWHL assist
Ann-Renée Desbiens1st career overtime loss
Gabrielle David1st career PWHL goalJanuary 16, 2024[Recap 5]
Leah Lum1st career PWHL goal
Tereza Vanišová5th career PWHL assist
Maureen Murphy5th career PWHL assist
Sarah Bujold1st career PWHL goalJanuary 20, 2024[Recap 6]
Marie-Philip Poulin5th career PWHL goal
Leah Lum1st career PWHL assist
Claire Dalton1st career PWHL assist
Ann-Renée Desbiens1st career shootout loss
Alina Müller1st career PWHL goalJanuary 24, 2024[Recap 7]
1st career PWHL power play goal
Jamie Lee Rattray1st career PWHL goal
Megan Keller
Maureen Murphy1st career PWHL goalJanuary 27, 2024[Recap 8]
Laura Stacey5th career PWHL goalFebruary 4, 2024[Recap 9]
Sarah Lefort1st career PWHL goalFebruary 18, 2024[Recap 11]
Madison Bizal1st career PWHL assist
Catherine Dubois1st career PWHL goalFebruary 21, 2024[Recap 12]
Claire Dalton1st career PWHL hat-trickFebruary 24, 2024[Recap 13]
5th career PWHL goal
Erin Ambrose5th career PWHL assist
Marie-Philip Poulin
Laura Stacey1st career PWHL assist
Sarah Bujold
Melodie Daoust1st career PWHL goalMarch 2, 2024[Recap 14]
1st career PWHL game
Mariah Keopple1st career PWHL assist
Jillian Dempsey1st career PWHL goalMarch 6, 2024[Recap 15]
Kati Tabin4th career PWHL assistMarch 10, 2024[Recap 17]
Kristin O'Neill1st career PWHL goalMarch 17, 2024[Recap 18]
Kati Tabin1st career PWHL goalMarch 24, 2024[Recap 19]
Marie-Philip Poulin10th career PWHL assistApril 18, 2024[Recap 20]
Erin Ambrose
Laura Stacey5th career PWHL assist
Maureen Murphy10th career PWHL assistApril 20, 2024[Recap 21]
Catherine Daoust1st career PWHL goalApril 24, 2024[Recap 22]
Kristin O'Neill5th career PWHL assist
Laura Stacey10th career PWHL goalApril 27, 2024[Recap 23]
Maureen Murphy5th career PWHL goal
Mélodie Daoust1st career PWHL assist
Ann-Renée Desbiens1st career PWHL shutout
Marie-Philip Poulin10th career PWHL goalMay 4, 2024[Recap 24]
Mikyla Grant-Mentis1st career PWHL goal
1st career power-play goal

Awards
Award winners
Award Recipient Ref.
Defender of the Year Erin Ambrose [7]

Transactions

Signings
DatePlayerPositionTermPrevious TeamRef
September 7, 2023Ann-Renée DesbiensG3 yearsTeam Harvey's[22][23]
September 7, 2023Marie-Philip PoulinF3 yearsTeam Harvey's[22][23]
September 7, 2023Laura StaceyF3 yearsTeam Adidas[22][23]
October 30, 2023Kristin O'NeillF3 yearsTeam Adidas[22][23]
November 7, 2023Kennedy MarchmentF2 yearsConnecticut Whale[22][23]
November 9, 2023Jillian DempseyF1 yearBoston Pride[22][23]
November 13, 2023Erin AmbroseD3 yearsTeam Sonnet[22][23]
November 14, 2023Claire DaltonF1 yearYale[22][23]
November 15, 2023Ann-Sophie BettezF1 yearMontreal Force[22][23]
November 15, 2023Sarah BujoldF1 yearMetropolitan Riveters[22][23]
November 20, 2023Elaine ChuliG1 yearToronto Six[22][23]
November 20, 2023Kati TabinD2 yearsToronto Six[22][23]
November 21, 2023Dominika LáskováD2 yearsToronto Six[22][23]
November 21, 2023Mariah KeoppleD1 yearPrinceton[22][23]
November 29, 2023Maureen MurphyF3 yearsNortheastern[22][23]
December 11, 2023Tereza VanišováF2 yearsToronto Six[22]
December 11, 2023Gabrielle DavidF1 yearClarkson[22]

References
  1. "Montreal Staff". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  2. Donkin, Karissa (December 29, 2023). "Marie-Philip Poulin, Brianne Jenner named captains of PWHL Montreal, Ottawa". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  3. "Skater Stats". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  4. "Goalie Stats". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  5. "O'Neill scores, assists as PWHL Montreal clinches playoff berth in win over New York". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. April 24, 2024. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  6. "Boston knocks Montreal out of playoffs in PWHL semifinal". Montreal Gazette. May 15, 2024. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  7. "PWHL Awards: Erin Ambrose named top defender for 2024 season". CityNews Montreal. June 11, 2024. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  8. "PWHL names six general managers as teams begin roster construction". Sportsnet. Rogers Media. September 1, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  9. Kennedy, Ian (September 13, 2023). "Kori Cheverie To Coach PWHL Montreal". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  10. Donkin, Karissa (November 30, 2023). "PWHL releases full 72-game schedule ahead of inaugural season". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  11. Laframboise, Kalina (September 7, 2023). "'Women's hockey is growing': Poulin, Desbiens and Stacey sign with PWHL's Montreal team". Global News. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  12. Donkin, Karissa (December 29, 2023). "Marie-Philip Poulin, Brianne Jenner named captains of PWHL Montreal, Ottawa". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  13. Brennan, Don (January 2, 2024). "A Night to Remember: Montreal scores OT win in Ottawa's historic PWHL opener". Ottawa Sun. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  14. Rainbird, Daniel (January 13, 2024). "Boston's Pelkey spoils Montreal's PWHL home opener in OT after Poulin's disallowed goal". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  15. "Poulin scores winner, PWHL Montreal beats New York for first win at home". TSN. The Canadian Press. January 16, 2024. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  16. "Scotiabank Arena to host PWHL's 'Battle on Bay Street' between Toronto, Montreal". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. January 25, 2024. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  17. Ibrahim, Abdulhamid (February 16, 2024). "PWHL Toronto tops Montreal 3–0 in front of record-setting crowd at Scotiabank Arena". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  18. Rainbird, Daniel (April 20, 2024). "Toronto beats Montreal 3–2 in OT before record crowd in PWHL". Global News. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  19. "Professional Wwomen's Hockey Lewague (PWHL) Announces 2024 Regular-Season Schedule". PWHL. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  20. Sadler, Emily (May 6, 2024). "Toronto chooses to face Minnesota in first round of PWHL playoffs". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  21. Hurley, Christopher (May 12, 2024). "Boston beats Montreal 2-1 in triple OT classic in Game 2 of PWHL playoffs". Lowell Sun. Archived from the original on May 12, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  22. "Montreal Signing Summary (Live Tracker)". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  23. Shircliff, Elaine (November 25, 2023). "2023 PWHL Montreal Player Signing Tracker". FullPressHockey.com. Full Press Hockey. Retrieved December 24, 2023. With each passing day, the rosters for each team in the PWHL begin to take shape.

Recaps
  1. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Ottawa". ThePWHL.com. January 2, 2024. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  2. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  3. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL New York". ThePWHL.com. January 10, 2024. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  4. "PWHL Boston @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  5. "PWHL New York @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  6. "PWHL Toronto @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  7. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  8. "PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  9. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Boston". ThePWHL.com. February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  10. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Toronto". ThePWHL.com. February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  11. "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  12. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL New York". ThePWHL.com. February 21, 2024. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  13. "PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  14. "PWHL Boston @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  15. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL New York". ThePWHL.com. March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  16. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Toronto". ThePWHL.com. March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  17. "PWHL Ottawa @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. March 10, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  18. "PWHL Toronto @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. March 17, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  19. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Minnesota". ThePWHL.com. March 24, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  20. "PWHL Minnesota @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  21. "PWHL Toronto @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  22. "PWHL New York @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  23. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Ottawa". ThePWHL.com. April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  24. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Boston". ThePWHL.com. May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  25. "PWHL Boston @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  26. "PWHL Boston @ PWHL Montreal". ThePWHL.com. May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  27. "PWHL Montreal @ PWHL Boston". ThePWHL.com. May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
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