The Montréal Victoire’s roster heading into training camp is set.
While the team has only officially inked 18 of their permitted 19 pre-camp signings, Skylar Irving has a pending qualifying offer. This means the Victoire will not be signing any more players ahead of November. Accordingly, after another major summer of change due to expansion and free agency, what better time to check-in on Montréal’s roster?
This week, we’re starting with the defence and goaltending group. After major losses, the Victoire enter next season with a weakened blue line, albeit one with opportunities for different players to grow into bigger roles. Not to mention, they’re still backed up by one of the best goaltenders in the world.
Defence
On contract: Kati Tabin, Maggie Flaherty, Jessica DiGirolamo, Nadia Mattivi, Tamara Giaquinto; Rights held: Zoe Uens, Erica Rieder
Players lost to expansion: Nicole Gosling (PWHL Hamilton); Players lost to free agency: Erin Ambrose (PWHL Las Vegas), Amanda Boulier (Boston Fleet)
Montréal’s blue line is about to look a whole lot different entering this season. Expansion and free agency cost the team two of its best defenders in Nicole Gosling and Erin Ambrose, as well as another top-four blueliner in Amanda Boulier. All three were key in securing the team’s first Walter Cup, eating big minutes; playing hard, physical hockey; and contributing on both ends of the ice.
In their place, GM Danièle Sauvageau has restructured her blue line around a number of key returning players. Kati Tabin has shown solid growth each year and is poised to take on a bigger role this season after a big 2025-26 campaign that included making Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Sauvageau also signed Maggie Flaherty to a two-year extension after the defender mounted an impressive playoff performance.
Additionally, the Victoire extended Nadia Mattivi to a three-year deal. Mattivi was brought in late last season from the SDHL as a reserve, but quickly became a part of the team’s defensive group, impressing through the postseason. Mattivi is a hard worker who brings decent physicality, and has shown there is more room still for her game to grow.
The team also selected defenders Zoe Uens and Erica Rieder at the 2026 draft. Neither has signed yet, and will have to fight for a roster spot at training camp. Uens is coming off a breakout season with Quinnipiac, and could be a solid bottom-pairing option for the Victoire. Rieder, meanwhile, benefits from a past partnership with Mattivi with Luleå HF in the SDHL, though the Saskatchewan native is still untested in the pros in North America.
Goaltending
On contract: Ann-Renée Desbiens, Megan Warrener; Rights held: Hailey MacLeod; UFAs: Sandra Abstreiter
In between the pipes, the situation is much simpler for the Victoire. Veteran goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens is coming off yet another career year and will continue to take on the lion’s share of the workload in Montréal. Meanwhile, 2025-26 third goaltender Megan Warrener was re-signed to a one-year agreement.
After spending last season as back-up to Desbiens, it is rumoured that Sandra Abstreiter has a camp invite elsewhere and will not be back with the Victoire. Accordingly, Montréal selected Ohio State’s Hailey MacLeod in the fourth round of this year’s draft. MacLeod is coming off a stellar season in Ohio, posting a program-best 26-4-0 record, and tallying six shutouts. If MacLeod can reach that level in the PWHL, she is a strong option for Montréal’s open back-up slot, though she’ll have to prove her worth over Warrener.
For more on Montréal’s 2026 draft, view a full breakdown here.
