Marie-Philip Poulin named first captain of PWHL Montreal

One of the greatest players in the history of the game will be wearing a ‘C’ in the professional ranks once again.

On Friday, PWHL Montreal announced that Marie-Philip Poulin will captaining the franchise during the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League season.

The team also announced that Laura Stacey, Erin Ambrose and Kristin O’Neill will be alternates for the 2024 campaign.

Kati Tabin and Ann-Sophie Bettez will also be part of the leadership team.

Poulin, better known as “Captain Canada”, has been the captain for her country ever since the 2015 World Championships, also wearing the ‘C’ for the Montreal Canadiennes in their final season in the defunct Canadian Women’s Hockey League. She also captained Boston University in her final two collegiate seasons.

The 32-year-old has done just about everything there is to do in the sport. From winning two Clarkson Cups (CWHL) to three gold medals at the Olympics and World Championships each, Poulin has been the star wherever she has played.

She is one of six players on Montreal that are signed through the end of the 2025-26 season.

The alternate captain duties will be split, as O’Neill will be an alternate for road games only. She, along with Ambrose and Stacey are also on three-year contracts.

Ambrose was an alternate captain under Poulin with Les Canadiennes in the 2018-19 season, while Stacey (Dartmouth) and O’Neill (Cornell) were both captains in their college days.

Poulin and Stacey were two of Montreal’s free agent signings before the draft, with goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens being the other. Ambrose was the team’s first-round pick (6th overall), while O’Neill was taken in the second round (7th overall).

Montreal begins their season on Tuesday, Jan. 2, on the road against Ottawa. Their first three games will be on the road, before holding their home opener against Boston on Jan. 13.