This summer, Emma Maltais made a splash when she signed with the Montréal Victoire in free agency. The decision to leave the Toronto Sceptres after three years surprised many. But for Maltais, it offers an opportunity to write the next chapter of her hockey career.
Earlier this month, Maltais spoke with The Ice Garden from Team Canada training camp. Part one of that interview saw Maltais give an inside look into the changing national team program. This week, we’re back with part two of the interview, as Maltais dives into an inspirational summer running camps of her own, as well as what’s ahead with the Victoire.
Becoming a Victoire
Maltais had a strong rookie season with the Sceptres in 2024, tallying 19 points in 24 games. However, her numbers dipped slightly on an increasingly struggling Sceptres team in the two years following. Now in Montréal, Maltais joins what looks on paper to be one of the league’s most dangerous forward groups.
“I’m really excited to get started with the Victoire,” Maltais said. “I think that we have a very skilled roster with a lot of different types of players. I’m really looking forward to trying to play with these different players. I think that’ll be something really new and exciting.”
One new teammate for Maltais in Montréal is Abby Roque. Both known as some of the league’s chirpiest players, excitement is already building from Victoire fans to see the two play together (especially after the first teaser of Roque in Maltais’ offseason TikToks).
“I’ve played against Abby a lot and she’s a harsh competitor,” Maltais said. “I’ve always really respected her for her play and how she’s maintained that on the ice throughout all her playing career. But yeah, getting to know her has been fun. I mean, she’s really close with some of my best friends, so I think that’s also really cool to have those connections and get to know her as a person before I even really got to know her. I feel like right away we had a a connection, making each other laugh, and I think that’ll be really fun.”
Beyond Roque, Maltais will look to find comfort and chemistry with a number of other high-profile players in Montréal.
“Obviously, there’s some other free agency signings around that help me get in the mix, too — like Jessie Eldridge,” she added. “I have familiarity with her, she’s already close with a lot of the girls because she’s been around. So I feel like that helps me a lot to just adapt kind of quicker.”
Ahead of the PWHL season, Maltais and Eldridge will play together on Team Canada at November’s World Championships. This will be alongside Montréal’s Laura Stacey, Kati Tabin, and Ann-Renée Desbiens. Coached by Victoire bench boss Kori Cheverie, the team will be a first glimpse at some of what Montréal looks to build this season.
Camp Counsellor
Maltais’ participation in Team Canada training camp this month followed a summer of running camps of her own, including in her hometown of Burlington, Ontario.
“This was my fifth year running the Burlington camp, I believe, with Renata (Fast),” she said. “That one is definitely huge. It’s getting huge, and it’s really cool because Renata let me join that camp. She’d already had it going before, she’s been doing it for so long. It’s so organized, has everything set up, so it’s very easy for me in that regard.”
Beyond a longtime clinic in Ontario, Maltais has also started running a camp in Saguenay, Québec. Taking on a leadership role in her new home province has been a difficult but rewarding experience.
“My Québec camp, that was a new challenge,” Maltais said. “This is my second time doing it. My dad helps me a lot with it because obviously it’s a very French area, but I try my best. That was a very big success this year. We had a lot more girls, and yeah, I love connecting with young girls. I think it’s a really cool opportunity we have with our position. I think being accessible like that is a way to inspire the young generation to be the same. Giving back in that way, it’s a good feeling, it’s something that brings me joy.”
All-Star
Maltais is laser-focused on a busy Fall that includes Worlds, moving to a new city, Victoire training camp, and the start of a new PWHL season. But on the horizon, there’s another big event on the way.
In September, the PWHL announced that it will hold its first All-Star Game in March at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The PWHL previously put on a 3-on-3 Showcase as part of the NHL All-Star Thursday celebrations at Scotiabank Arena during the league’s inaugural season. But now, the PWHL will have an All-Star Game of its own. And Maltais, who was not featured in that showcase nearly three years ago, will now have an opportunity to take part in it.
It’s exciting,” Maltais said. “To have an All-Star Game just like really takes us in another step of solidifying our league. Every major sports league has an All-Star Game, and I think for us, that was the next step. And I think our fans will go crazy for it. So it’s really cool that it’s in Toronto. It’ll be really cool to watch and a really cool event to follow.”
An All-Star Game also means an opportunity for a little less competition, and a little more content. Over the past couple of years, the WNBA was able to capitalize on the attention of All-Star weekend with a 72-hour livestream from the StudBudz, a popular social media duo of WNBA players Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams.
Could we see a similar behind-the-scenes look from Maltais, the GTA native and content queen herself, around All-Star weekend in Toronto next year?
“Yeah, I have to be an All-Star first, though,” Maltais said, laughing. “So we’ll see.”
Given the opportunity Maltais will have in Montréal, consider her an early favourite for the Team Canada roster at PWHL All-Star in February.
