The Montreal Victoire locked in their three star players, captain Marie-Philip Poulin, forward Laura Stacey, and goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens to contract extensions until after the 2027-28 season.
All three players were the team’s foundational signings when the PWHL started, and were set to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season.
Poulin is the leading scorer in the PWHL’s history through two seasons, and was the league’s MVP last year. Desbiens was the league’s goaltender of the year, and Stacey has established herself as one of the best power forwards in the world.
“I am so proud to remain with the Victoire for the long run. It’s an honour and a privilege to wear this jersey and represent our city alongside my teammates,” said the Victoire captain. “I am thrilled for this upcoming season to get started and look forward to reconnecting with our great fans.”
“We are in the process of building something special in Montreal, and it’s great news to see that the three original players will continue the journey and work together for the next three seasons,” said Desbiens. “Our extraordinary fans have made this decision even easier, and we’re really looking forward to seeing them again next month.”
“I could not be more excited to be extending here in Montreal especially beside these two incredible players and even better people. When I first signed here in Montréal, I had no idea what to expect, but the last two years have blown me away and there is absolutely nowhere else that I want to be,” said Stacey. “Montreal is my home, and I could not be more thankful for the way this city, this organization and this team has welcomed me with open arms. I want to do whatever it takes to help bring the Walter Cup to Montreal! Je t’aime Montréal. I am very excited for the next three years!”
“These three players have been the heart and soul of our team since day one, and we wanted to make it absolutely clear that they will remain integral members of the Victoire for a long time to come,” said Victoire General Manager Danièle Sauvageau. “Their work ethic, determination, and attitude embody everything we want to see in our players, and their leadership in the locker room brings us immeasurable value.”
With 2026 being an Olympic year, having them locked in for two more seasons after the current one is something that will allow Montreal to continue to build around them in the hopes of winning their first Walter Cup.
The season gets underway on November 23 when the Victoire visit the Boston Fleet.
