Just over one year after its official launch, the PWHL and its six teams revealed the names and logos they will use heading into the league’s second season. Montreal’s team will be named the Victoire.
They join the Toronto Sceptres, Boston Fleet, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge, and Minnesota Frost.
The Victoire de Montréal speaks for itself, a powerful name that also links itself to the winning history of hockey in the city. The Canadiennes and Stars won the most Clarkson Cups of any team, and the Montreal Canadiens are the NHL’s winningest franchise.
From the official press release: “The team’s name ‘Victoire’ embodies Montréal’s joyously competitive spirit, acting as inspiration for the city to climb to even greater sporting heights. Win or lose, ‘Victoire’ is a mindset, celebrating the city’s pursuit of achievement. The logo features wing-like shapes, subtly alluding to the Goddess of Victory and symbolizing strength and agility. A hidden ‘M’ within the wings pays homage to Greater Montréal. Additionally, a fleur-de-lis, a national symbol of Québec, is gracefully integrated and evokes the rich cultural history of the province and the city. The colour palette is anchored by a deep burgundy, representing the city’s rich sporting heritage and its unwavering passion for victory, with complementary shades of stone and sophisticated blues adding depth and versatility.”
The PWHL’s second season will be 30 games, up from 24 last season. Training camps are expected to start in November. Two teams, Montreal and Toronto have announced they will be moving into bigger venues after demand for tickets necessitated more seats. Montreal will play at Place Bell in Laval, while Toronto will play at Coca Cola Coliseum. Both arenas are home to the cities AHL teams.
Montreal will bring back a lot of the players that led their team to a second place finish, and will add three highly touted players: SDHL MVP Lina Ljungblom, long-time Team USA defender Cayla Barnes, and fellow Ohio State graduate Jennifer Gardiner.
