Top 4 takeways from Week 6 of the PWHL: Vive le Quebec!

Vive le Québec!

Well before the creation of the PWHL and the NWHL/PHF, there was a CWHL team, Les Canadiennes de Montreal, originally known as the Montreal Stars, showcasing hockey legends like Caroline Ouellette, Meghan Agosta, Kim St-Pierre, and of course, Marie-Philip Poulin.

I remember going to a few games while covering the CWHL for another platform and speaking with fans. I was always shocked at how far some were willing to travel to see the game. Whether they were from Chibougamau, Saguenay, Rimouski, or Baie-Comeau, there was a willingness to travel to see the women’s game I didn’t see in other regions – at least not yet.

That passion for the game was on full display this week, as the Montreal Victoire hosted the Ottawa Charge in front of 18,259 fans at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City. The Victoire won 2-1, but the real story was the excitement in the crowd, the loud pop released when hometown kid Catherine Dubois scored the game’s opening goal.

There’s been plenty of talk this season about which markets will receive an expansion team in 2025-26, and the PWHL’s Takeover Tour has given the league much to think about. But judging from Sunday’s crowd reaction and the excitement from the players and coaches, it seems inevitable that Quebec City will get a team, whether it’s next year or soon after.

Montreal find their power play

Going into Friday’s game against the Frost, the Victoire had a power play of 6.25 percent, which is a head-scratcher when you look at the talent their lineup possesses.

But five minutes into the second period, the Victoire had a 5-on-3 advantage, and Poulin buried her fifth of the season to give Montreal a 3-0 lead. But they weren’t done there…

Against her former team, Abby Boreen scored her second goal of the game and fifth on the season, again on the power play, to help seal the win for the Victoire.

Montreal would again produce on the power play against the Fleet, with Dubois and Kati Tabin’s goals coming with a player advantage. The Victoire’s power play is now at 19 percent, fourth in the league, and everything is right with the world.

Slumping Minnesota

Okay, two games isn’t exactly slumping, but the Minnesota Frost earned just one out of a possible six points this week with losses to the Sirens and Victoire. Kendall Coyne Schofield had goals in both games this week, snapping a five-game goalless drought, and both her and Claire Thompson are tied for the league lead in points with 11.

If there was anything to “worry” about, it was the less-than-stellar performance of Nicole Hensley, who gave up four goals on 24 shots against Montreal, dropping her save percentage to .870 and her goals against average to 3.37. Last season, the Olympic gold medalist took over the crease during the Toronto Sceptres series, then earned three wins against the Boston Fleet to help win the league’s first championship. But it’s a different story this season, as Hensley has given up at least three goals in all four of her appearances.

That’s not taking away anything from Maddie Rooney, who has looked great in her seven appearances, going 5-0-1-1 with a .921 SV% and 1.96 GAA. After losing the starting job in the playoffs last spring, Rooney has been one of the league’s best netminders through the first third of the season. But if the Frost want to stay among the league’s best, then depth in the crease is a necessity, and Hensley will have to step up in the second half of the season.

Toronto forwards step up

Just one game this week for the Toronto Sceptres, but a 4-2 win over the Charge helped snap a three-game losing skid. They’re still in last place in the standings, but I saw a few things that gave me some hope for the club going forward.

First, Savannah Harmon looked strong in her return to Ottawa, generating shots at the net and looking comfortable in her own end. It was also nice to see her get a standing ovation from the Charge faithful, as she grew to be one of their fan favorites.

The real takeaway for me was seeing Blayre Turnbull and Emma Maltais get on the scoresheet, each with their second goals of the season. Turnbull finished the game with eight shots and looked like a bull in a china shop, finishing checks and battling for pucks on every opportunity.

Hannah Miller also scored, giving her four on the season and continuing to provide the type of secondary offense this club needs. Sarah Nurse has just one goal in her last eight games, so if the Sceptres want to climb out of the bottom of the standings and get back in the playoff race, they’ll need more production from their top forwards, especially in Natalie Spooner’s extended absence.

But if Tuesday’s contest is any indication, then it looks like the team is on the right path going forward.

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