A milestone for the league
The Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Montréal Victoire captured their inaugural Walter Cup on Tuesday, shutting out the Ottawa Charge 4‑0 in a performance that reverberated across the sport. The victory marks the first time a Canadian team has claimed the trophy, a competition that debuted in 2024, and it does so in front of a roaring home crowd in Montreal.
Team captain Marie‑Philip Poulin, already a two‑time Olympic silver medallist, lifted the trophy alongside her wife, forward Laura Stacey, whose own contributions helped seal the win. Their partnership, both on and off the ice, has become a focal point of celebration for fans and analysts alike.
Head coach Kori Cheverie made history as the first woman to guide a side to the championship, while goaltender Ann‑Renée Desbiens earned praise for her composure between the pipes. The triumph also signals a break from the Minnesota Frost’s two‑year reign, a team that had dominated the previous editions of the Walter Cup.
The win underscores a growing momentum for women’s professional hockey and signals a new era of visibility and investment in the league. As the sport looks ahead, the narrative is shifting from participation to dominance, with Canadian teams now leading the charge.