Welcome back to our summer check-in on the Montréal Victoire roster ahead of training camp in November. After breaking down the team’s blue line and crease in early August, it’s time to take a look at what Montréal’s forward group has to offer entering next season.
This year, the Victoire will be without captain Marie-Philip Poulin for an extended period of time after the 35-year-old underwent knee surgery this summer. Still, with a strong offseason that saw notable offensive additions, Montréal is headed into their Walter Cup defence with one of the deepest forward groups in the PWHL.
Roster overview
On contract (returning): Marie-Philip Poulin, Abby Roque, Laura Stacey, Jade Downie-Landry, Catherine Dubois, Alexandra Labelle, Lina Ljungblom, Kaitlin Willoughby; On contract (new signings): Jessie Eldridge, Michelle Karvinen, Emma Maltais; Rights held: Skylar Irving (QO), Petra Nieminen, Avi Adam, Émilie Lavoie
Players lost in expansion: Natálie Mlýnková (PWHL San Jose), Shiann Darkangelo (PWHL Detroit), Hayley Scamurra (PWHL Las Vegas); Players lost in free agency: Maureen Murphy (PWHL Las Vegas), Dara Greig (Ottawa Charge)
The Victoire currently have 11 forwards signed heading into November’s training camp, with a qualifying offer extended to Skylar Irving. Additionally, Montréal selected three forwards in the 2026 PWHL Draft who will attend camp looking for one of the team’s remaining four roster spots and three reserve contracts.
Joining the group this year are free agent signings Jessie Eldridge, Michelle Karvinen, and Emma Maltais.
Centre depth
Things will look very different down the middle for the Victoire this season. Montréal essentially lost its top-three centres from last year this summer, with Poulin injured and Shiann Darkangelo and Hayley Scamurra signed elsewhere.
So what did Victoire GM Danièle Sauvageau do? She re-signed Abby Roque, brought in Maltais from the Toronto Sceptres, and selected Petra Nieminen in the first-round of this summer’s draft. Maltais played most of last season as a top-six centre for the Sceptres, Roque has proven she can step up in the middle when needed, and Nieminen is one of the most experienced international skaters at the position. All three boast strong faceoff numbers and an ability to drive play with the right linemates. Safe to say, head coach Kori Cheverie has plenty of options down the middle, even without Poulin for the foreseeable future.
Stacked Top Six
This year, Montréal’s top six will feature some real fire power. Laura Stacey and Roque led the Victoire last season with 22 points each. Add to that mix Eldridge, who finished last year tied for second in goals (14) and fifth in points (23), and Maltais, who is coming off a down season offensively, albeit with a Sceptres team that had trouble scoring from top to bottom.
A number of key offseason departures also means opportunities for different players to step into top-six roles this year. Lina Ljungblom is a player certainly primed for one of those spots. The 24-year-old Swedish sharpshooter has yet to break through offensively in the PWHL, but will look to hit the ground running after she got off to a late start last year due to a case of mono. Not to mention, an impressive goal in Game 4 of the Walter Cup Finals against the Ottawa Charge felt like a teaser of what she can do when her confidence is high.
Depth pieces
Montréal’s bottom six finally stepped up last season, and it led to the franchise’s first Walter Cup. Now with a lot of change, who will be the key depth pieces this season?
Nieminen will be a solid option to start as third-line centre, allowing her to play decent minutes without too much pressure as she makes the transition to North America. Fellow Finn Michelle Karvinen is another key add. After a disappointing debut season with the Goldeneyes, the 36-year-old winger has an opportunity to benefit from a lower pressure role to show the best of what her game still has to offer.
Additionally, expect Alexandra Labelle to continue to play as fourth-line centre, with options to keep Catherine Dubois, Kaitlin Willoughby, or Jade Downie-Landry playing alongside her.
