On Wednesday, the Montréal Victoire released their full roster for next month’s training camp. As defending champions, the team enters the season with high expectations. For the ten players coming to camp without a contract, this means tough competition for one of the final roster spots.
Exact roster sizes are still to be confirmed, but under the PWHL’s current rules, the Victoire can sign four more players and up to three reserves following camp. Montréal will also have one additional spot, with captain Marie-Philip Poulin set to start the season on LTIR.
Six weeks out from camp, here’s a look at where the Victoire’s draft picks and invites may slot in this fall.
*Players marked with an asterisk are camp invites
LOCKS
F Petra Nieminen (Luleå HF, SDHL)
Montréal made a splash at the end of the first round of this summer’s draft, selecting Finnish forward Petra Nieminen. The 27-year-old has been one of the SDHL’s most consistent players over the last half decade, tallying at least 24 goals and 45 points for the past six seasons with Luleå HF. She is untested in the North American game, but will benefit from playing alongside national teammate Michelle Karvinen, who signed with the Victoire this summer. She also contributes to Montréal’s much needed centre depth. Already an established pro, she’s a lock for the Victoire this season.
G Hailey MacLeod (Ohio State, NCAA)
Hailey MacLeod is coming off a fantastic season with Ohio State University, posting a .932 SV% and a 26-4-0 record en route to an NCAA Finals finish. Ranked as one of the top NCAA goaltenders available in this summer’s draft, she was selected in the fourth round by the Victoire. With only three goaltenders invited to camp, the question for MacLeod is less about if she’ll make the roster, and more if she’ll earn Montréal’s open backup spot.
D Zoe Uens (Quinnipiac, NCAA)
With just five defenders signed entering camp, third-rounder Zoe Uens is a top candidate to slot into that open bottom pairing. Earlier this summer, she told The Ice Garden her strengths are her shot, skating, and ability to battle and defend hard. Her two-way talent will be key in getting the defensive group back on track.
F Avi Adam (Cornell, NCAA)
Drafted in the second round of this summer’s draft, Avi Adam may be the Victoire’s most exciting young winger this season. She put up solid numbers at Cornell University, including 12 goals and 17 assists in her senior year. She’s known for her strong shot, defensive prowess, special teams contribution, and ability to show up in crucial moments.
ON THE BUBBLE
D Erica Rieder (Luleå HF, SDHL – RFA)
Given how Montréal liked carrying seven defenders last season, Erica Rieder certainly has an opportunity to crack the Victoire’s rebuilding defensive group. The 29-year-old Regina native boasts five seasons of SDHL experience. Last year, she tallied seven goals and 20 points in 34 games. Now the fifth-round pick will look to carry that experience to Montréal, with an opportunity to slot in alongside former Luleå HF blue liner and teammate Nadia Mattivi.
F Samantha Isbell* (Montréal Victoire)
Samantha Isbell comes into camp as the only invite in the forward group, and the only unsigned returning player. Isbell appeared in 22 games with PWHL Boston and the Ottawa Charge across the last three seasons before signing a reserve contract with the Victoire earlier this year. Her experience and familiarity with the team make her a solid reserve option who could see time with the team depending on injuries.
D Maria Batalova* (Agidel Ufa, ZhHL)
Maria Batalova is a name to watch entering camp. The 30-year-old Russian defender has seem enormous success in the ZhHL with Agidel Ufa, powering the team to seven championships. Last season, she tallied 12 goals and 36 points in 36 games and earned the league’s defender of the year. A veteran of the Russian national team, she has competed in two Olympic Games and three World Championships. Batalova is still untested in the North American game, with her fellow Russians seeing varying degrees of success last season. But if she can elevate her game in a new environment, she could be one of the biggest surprises on the blue line.
CHASING A RESERVE SPOT
F Émilie Lavoie (Concordia, U SPORTS – RFA)
Émilie Lavoie boasts a solid hockey resume. The Beloeil, Québec native has two U Sports Championships through her five years at Concordia and tallied 21 points in 23 games with the Stingers last season. Selected with the final pick of the draft, she may have a tough time cracking this already deep forward group. But attending training camp will give her some great pro experience and keep her in the mix for a potential reserve spot –– whether now or down the road.
D Kianna Roeske* (Minnesota State, NCAA)
Kianna Roeske is one of the Victoire’s two NCAA camp invites. The 2025-26 Minnesota State assistant captain had 10 points in 38 games last year. She had a solid run en route to the school’s first WCHA semifinals appearance in nearly two decades. But given the competition on the blue line, she faces an uphill battle for a reserve spot.
D Meredith Jensen* (Dartmouth College, NCAA)
Meredith Jensen has been a consistent presence for Dartmouth through the past four years and is well deserving of a look with the Victoire. She had three goals and four assists with the Big Green last year.
