Montreal Victoire activate Ann-Renee Desbiens from LTIR
The Montreal Victoire announced Thursday that the team has activated goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens from Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR).
DESBIENS EST DE RETOUR! SHE IS BACK IN ACTION!
Ann-Renée Desbiens est retirée de la liste des joueuses blessées à long terme
Ann-Renée Desbiens has been activated from long-term injured reserve (LTIR)
📰 https://t.co/LsIk4UVAyy pic.twitter.com/w6uF2grGTQ
— x – Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) April 10, 2025
Desbiens is currently representing Canada at the 2025 World Championship in Czechia. Toronto Sceptres netminder Kristen Campbell will start the team’s first game against Finland on Thursday.
The 31-year-old was placed on LTIR on March 31, retroactive to March 18, when she sustained a lower-body injury against the Boston Fleet.
“The results from the medical exams following her injury are encouraging, and we expect her to return in the near future,” Victoire General Manager Daniele Sauvageau said in a team statement. “This type of injury will require a weekly, if not daily follow ups.”
Desbiens was arguably the league’s best goaltender at the time of her injury, posting a .932 save percentage (SV%) and 1.85 goals against average (GAA) in 19 appearances this season. In two PWHL seasons, Desbiens, a native of Clermont, Que., is 20-11-2 with a .927 SV%.
The team also announced that goaltender Tricia Deguire, who signed a Standard Player Agreement with the club when Desbiens was initially placed on LTIR, will remain with the club through the duration of the international break. The 27-year-old played one professional season with the now-defunct PHF’s Montreal Force in 2022-23. In 15 appearances, she went 5-9-1 with a .918 SV% and 2.59 GAA.
The Victoire are 11-6-3-7 with 48 points, first in the league standings with three regular-season games to go. Marie-Philip Poulin leads the team in both goals (17) and points (23), while Erin Ambrose and Jennifer Gardiner are tied for the most assists with 12.