After two disappointing consecutive semifinal losses in the PWHL playoffs, the Montréal Victoire finally climbed the proverbial mountain, defeating the Ottawa Charge in four games to win the club’s, and Canada’s, first ever Walter Cup championship.

After three narrow games, with the Victoire taking the first two games at home in overtime before Ottawa forced a fourth game with a 2-1 game three victory, this game was all Victoire, despite being outshot throughout the game. It was a pair of goals from Abby Roque, first a fluke tip-in, followed by a beautiful one-on-two shorthanded jailbreak goal, paired by a stellar 23-save shutout by Ann-Renée Desbiens, was enough to seal the deal, although insurance goals from Maggie Flaherty and Lina Ljungblom locked in the final 4-0 victory.

Montreal saw thirteen IHLC champions from six countries (Canada, Czechia, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the United States) on the roster hoist the Cup, including captain and playoff MVP Marie-Philip Poulin, goaltender Desbiens, forwards Laura Stacey and Hayley Scamurra, and defender Erin Ambrose, who become the seventh through twelfth members of the women’s unofficial Triple Gold Club, adding the Walter Cup to their World Championship and Olympic titles for both Canada and the United States.

Our congratulations go out to the players, management and fans of the Montréal Victoire, with those on the roster that have also held the IHLC highlighted in bold:

Photo Credit: TSN – IIHF – HHOF – IOC