As the Professional Women’s Hockey League playoffs kick off, all eyes are on the Montreal Victoire and the Ottawa Charge, who are set to face each other in a highly anticipated best-of-five semifinal series starting Thursday evening at Place Bell in Laval. The Victoire, fresh off a dominant regular season where they finished first overall with a record of 19-8-3, are heavy favorites to capture the Walter Cup this year. However, head coach Kori Cheverie and her team are keenly aware that past successes don’t guarantee future victories.
"To be honest, we haven’t talked about last year at all this year," Cheverie said, referencing the Victoire’s disappointing playoff exit last spring where they lost three consecutive overtime games to the Boston Fleet. "We have a completely different team, so even if we were to talk about it, it would not land. So for us, all we need to focus on is what it is we need to do moving forward." Cheverie’s approach seems to resonate with her players, who are eager to exorcise the demons of last year.
The Victoire are led by their captain, Marie-Philip Poulin, who had a stellar season, finishing with a league-best 19 goals. Poulin, often referred to as "Captain Clutch" for her ability to deliver in crucial moments, is joined by teammates Laura Stacey and Jennifer Gardiner, who together contributed to 35 of Montreal’s 77 goals this season. "She’s a huge part of our team," Cheverie noted about Poulin. "She leads the way in so many different ways, and mainly in all the little things she does in the right way." With such firepower, the Victoire’s offensive threat remains formidable.
On the other side, the Ottawa Charge are entering the playoffs for the first time, having secured their postseason berth with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory against the Toronto Sceptres on the last day of the regular season. The Charge, who finished the season with a record of 12-2-4-12, are riding a wave of momentum after winning four of their last five games. Captain Brianne Jenner expressed the team’s determination, stating, "We’ve had a pretty good rivalry going with them all season. Our last game against them last week definitely felt like playoff hockey, with the physicality, the intensity, the emotion. I can only imagine what it'll be like Thursday night."
One of the key storylines heading into this matchup is how well the Charge can contain Poulin and her high-scoring line. Ottawa has had success against Montreal this season, winning their last two meetings, including a 3-2 victory on April 26. The Charge’s defensive strategy will likely revolve around their shutdown line, featuring Emily Clark, Gabbie Hughes, and Mannon McMahon, who have shown they can keep Poulin at bay. Clark noted, "We have coaches and people that specialize in those areas for a reason. We will be prepared for them. It’s a fun challenge. Everyone knows Marie-Philip Poulin and how amazing of a player she is. You want to play against the best, and you want to push yourself."
In addition to their strong defensive play, the Charge have also been scoring by committee, a strategy that has proven effective down the stretch. Rookie goalie Gwyneth Philips has stepped up in the net, providing a solid presence after taking over for the injured Emerance Maschmeyer. Philips and her teammates are ready to face the challenge posed by Montreal’s potent offense. "We’ve seen recently, Gwyn Philips is really good in nets, we’ll need to put a lot of traffic," Poulin acknowledged.
The excitement surrounding this matchup is palpable, not just among the players but also within the community. On Wednesday, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and city councillors joined the Charge for a special event to officially designate Bank Street as "Charge Avenue" in recognition of the team’s inaugural playoff appearance. "The City of Ottawa has been supporting us all season long, so I think this playoff run is more for them, just so that they can keep supporting us," McMahon remarked, underscoring the significance of local support.
As the teams prepare to face off, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Both squads have their sights set on the Walter Cup, and with the Victoire’s playoff experience and regular-season dominance, they are expected to advance. However, the underdog Ottawa Charge are eager to prove that they can rise to the occasion and challenge their rivals. "The playoffs are almost like another season, so we have to take it one game at a time," forward Alexa Vasko said. "It’s five games, anything can happen. So whatever happens in Game 1, we move on to Game 2."
With the series set to begin, the atmosphere at Place Bell promises to be electric as fans from both sides come out to support their teams. The Victoire will look to establish their dominance early, while the Charge will aim to pull off an upset and set the tone for the series. As the puck drops at 7 p.m. on Thursday, one thing is certain: this rivalry is set to reach new heights as both teams vie for a chance at the championship.
