Stay out of the Montréal waters, because the Victoire just added another Finn to their deep pool of talent.
On Thursday, the Victoire announced the signing of veteran Finnish forward Michelle Karvinen to a one-year agreement. The 36-year-old spent last season with the Vancouver Goldeneyes after she was selected by the team in the first round of the 2025 PWHL Draft.
Karvinen’s first year in North America did not go according to plan. The accomplished goalscorer and playmaker tallied just three goals and six assists in 30 games in Vancouver. As the season rolled on, she began to see fewer and fewer minutes under head coach Brian Idalski.
Still, Karvinen has an accomplished resume and brings solid veteran presence to any locker room she joins. And as the Victoire work on building a championship defending roster, Karvinen feels like a natural fit in Montréal.
A Winner at Every Level
This year, the Victoire have the blessing and burden of coming into the season as the defending champions. Their successes will be expected, while every misstep will be heavily scrutinized. Every team, both new and returning, will see them as a threat.
After taking home the Walter Cup last season, Montréal proved they have a group that knows how to win. But after losses to expansion, and in the absence of Poulin, it doesn’t hurt to bring in another proven winner. Throughout her long, storied career, Karvinen has a record of winning just about everywhere she’s gone. She’s lead numerous teams to trophies across four different European leagues, including three SDHL championships.
On top of that, she boasts an impressive international resume. Karvinen is a three-time Olympic bronze medalist, and eight-time World Championships medalist. In 2019, she tallied seven points in seven games at the World Championships to lead Finland to a silver medal finish, the only time a team other than Canada or the United States has made the final.
The Finnish Connection
In June, the Victoire used their first-round pick in the PWHL Draft to select Finnish forward Petra Nieminen, someone Karvinen knows quite well. Nieminen and Karvinen have played together for over a decade on the Finnish national team, and the duo also spent two seasons together with Luleå HF in the SDHL, occasionally playing as linemates.
Karvinen knows all too well the challenges of transitioning to the North American game, and can help guide Nieminen as she does the same this upcoming season. Karvinen’s presence also gives Victoire coach Kori Cheverie some more flexibility to mix up her lines in Poulin’s absence, with the possibility of Karvinen playing on Nieminen’s wing.
Adjusted Expectations
After her first year in the PWHL underwhelmed, there were rumours this summer that Karvinen was considering retiring or returning to Europe. But in many ways, she wasn’t set up for success in Vancouver. Montréal is a different story.
Selected as the Goldeneyes’ first-ever draft pick, Karvinen bore the weight of expectations from day one. Her talent is undeniable, but her age and unfamiliarity with the North American game made her less primed to fill a top-six role. Especially on a team that struggled to find scoring as a whole. As she failed to live up to those expectations, her game suffered further.
In Montréal, Karvinen has the opportunity to take on a different role. Given the wealth of talent in the team’s top six, Karvinen will be well suited for a depth role. The Finnish legend is being brought in for her leadership and experience rather than the need to see her rack up points.
Karvinen still remains unproven in the PWHL. But now, the veteran forward has an opportunity to end her career on a better note, and show her true value in Montréal.
