Victoire sign Dubois, Abstreiter to one-year contracts

The Montreal Victoire secured the futures of two players on Thursday, signing one-year contracts with forward Catherine Dubois and goaltender Sandra Abstreiter, bringing back two pieces expected to play significant roles in 2025-26.

Dubois, 29, has spent each of the last two seasons with the Victoire, scoring eight goals and seven assists in 45 regular-season games, helping her team to the top spot in the PWHL regular season standings in 2024-25. 

A native of Quebec City, Dubois has played her entire hockey career in Montreal, first as a standout with the University of Montreal Carabins, then with the Montreal Force of the now-defunct Premier Hockey Federation, and now with the Victoire. 

“Catherine plays an important role within our group, making an impact both with her on-ice performance and the relationships she builds with her teammates,” Victoire general manager Daniele Savageau. “She’s taken major steps forward in her game over the last two seasons, continuing to develop and consistently playing to her strengths. We’re excited to welcome her back and look forward to what lies ahead.”

Abstreiter, meanwhile, was also with the Victoire last season, but served as the third goalie in the rotation behind Team Canada goaltender Anne-Renne Desbiens and Elaine Chuli. However, with Chuli joining the Toronto Sceptres as a free agent, Abstreiter is expected to take on backup duties for head coach Kori Cheverie. 

The 26-year-old German has yet to suit up in a competitive game for Victoire, but played three games in the 2024 season with the Ottawa Charge, blocking 63 of 69 shots she faced. 

Over the last few years, the majority of her game time has come with the German national team, where she helped lead them to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. She kept a perfect 3-0 record in the qualifying tournament, while posting a shutout, 0.67 goals-against-average and .967 save percentage. 

“Sandra brings a strong presence in front of the net, is a great teammate and has the ability to start games in our league, coming off an outstanding international season,” Sauvegeau added. “This is a great opportunity for a goalie who has worked incredibly hard with our goalie coaches this past season.”

The two new signings join defenders Kati Tabin and Jessica DiGaralomo as free agent signings for the Victoire this season, as they look to build towards a Walter Cup run in the first eight-team PWHL campaign in 2025-26.