The victorious Montreal Victoire lifted the Walter Cup on house soil Thursday morning after winning the trophy for the primary time within the group’s historical past.
The Victoire defeated the Cost 4-0 in Ottawa on Wednesday evening to take the best-of-five Skilled Ladies’s Hockey League remaining in 4 video games, making them the primary Canadian group to win the Cup.
Ahead Alexandra Labelle stated it was the “cherry on prime” to win with a shutout.
“It’s wonderful and we’re champions,” she stated. “Final evening was fairly enjoyable … we drank from the Cup.”
A bunch of followers welcomed the group as they stepped off the bus in entrance of the Verdun Auditorium, the place they performed their first house video games when the league was based in 2023.
Followers clapped and cheered, “Let’s go Victoire!” to welcome the gamers donning caps and T-shirts with their group emblem.
The gamers, nonetheless on cloud 9, couldn’t assist however take part on the gang’s chants of “Olé! Olé! Olé!” as they huddled round group captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who carried the silver trophy.
“It’s fairly heavy,” Poulin advised reporters. “It’s been surreal … I’m so excited to return again house, see our followers, our buddies and our households. Having finished that with such unimaginable teammates, there’s nothing higher.”
Goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens, affectionately nicknamed “le mur” (“the wall” in French), stated she barely slept after an evening of celebrations.
She stated the group had dreamt of winning the Cup at house however had been happy that Montreal followers made the trek to Ottawa to cheer them on and watch them clinch the trophy.
“To see, to fulfill extra followers right now, to share a second with them is really particular. This league does not exist with out our followers and the media, so we’re fairly completely happy to share this,” she stated.
A bunch of excessive schoolgirls stopped by on their lunch break to catch a glimpse of the victorious group and congratulate their idols within the flesh.
Poulin, who was named the post-season MVP after placing up eight factors (two targets, six assists) in 9 playoff video games, stated it’s “unimaginable” to see the affect she and her teammates have had on younger ladies.
“Giving them one thing to dream about, it’s one thing that motivates us every single day,” she stated.
She added that gamers like Olympic gold medallists Kim St-Pierre and Caroline Ouellette — who coaches the Victoire — paved the best way for them.
Poulin stated she had her “ups and downs” this season — together with a knee harm through the Milan-Cortina Olympic Video games in February — however her teammates bought her by the lows.
“While you head to the world with teammates like these ladies, who raise you up day after day through the hardest moments, it’s simple to bounce again. While you placed on that jersey, it’s extra than simply us — it’s the entire metropolis, the followers, household and buddies who’ve been there from the beginning,” stated the group captain.
The Victoire say they plan to have a good time their title and relaxation earlier than the 2026-27 season begins up.
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