January has been a big month for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Not wanting to miss out on the action, The Tribune stepped out to watch PWHL Montreal take on PWHL New York on Jan. 16 at the Place Bell. And if you are wondering if it was worthwhile, going to watch a Montreal-based team with a winning record was a refreshing experience to say the least.
On Jan. 13, PWHL Montreal hosted their first home game at the Verdun Auditorium, their principal venue, where they sold out the 4,114-seat arena. Montreal will split their home games between the Verdun Auditorium and Place Bell––a 10,062-seat arena that is home to the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League. PWHL Montreal, like the other five teams in the league, is playing without a logo or unique name, a decision that was made so as not to rush the creative process and to use the time to build an identity that reflects the history of women’s hockey and each individual team.
On a cold Tuesday night, The Tribune arrived at Montmorency station, picked up a quick bite to eat at Five Guys, and walked over to the arena. Our tickets, which were $23 each, were midway up the corner section and offered a clear view of the entire ice. The crowd of 6,334 filled the lower bowl nearly to capacity.
The first period saw Montreal dominate play by controlling the neutral zone and limiting New York’s high-danger chances. The crowd was electric from the get-go but it reached another level nearing the end of the first period when Montreal scored twice in 17 seconds, setting a PWHL record for fastest consecutive goals. This is the second game Montreal has played against New York, after a 5-2 victory the week before, and it was noticeable, with players finishing their checks and more physicality than in Montreal’s previous games. The rowdy environment in the stands and on the ice lead us to think that a rivalry could be forming.
After the DJ kept the crowd excited during the intermission, the second period picked up right where the first left off, with lots of good chances for Montreal and strong defensive play before ultimately giving up a shorthanded goal in the final minutes.
We spent the second intermission walking around the concourse. The gin bar is lovely: It’s a great place to sit and relax before the period starts back up. There is a nice selection of merch available, but my Montreal Maroons sweater was slightly too similar to justify buying their the PWHL Montreal crew neck. Maybe next year, when their new logo adorns the front, I will reconsider.
Early in the third period, New York scored to tie the game at two, but a dancing competition, the wave, and one fan’s poster saying “Who runs the world?” kept the energy up. In the final five, Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin capitalized on a turnover and scored what was ultimately the game-winning goal. The crowd erupted and the noise didn’t wane from that point on. The team gave a salute to the crowd after the final buzzer and Poulin was honoured as the first star.
Going to a PWHL game is worth a trek to Verdun or Laval. From a hockey perspective, the players are skilled, and the game is fast, competitive and physical. The ambiance is exciting, especially when players like Poulin can rally the crowd every time she touches the puck. Sitting behind me was a group of girls from a youth hockey team, who were talking about their favourite players, waving their posters, and cheering every time Ann-Renée Desbiens made a save. The nicest part of the game is seeing these moments. With its strong financial backing,big sponsors, including historic broadcasting deals, and a proper collective bargaining agreement, it seems like the PWHL will be around for the long-haul. With the future laying in front of us, catching a game during the inaugural season in the league’s Original Six phase is a lovely feeling and The Tribune cannot wait for more to come.
