Montreal Victoire Wins First PWHL Title in Historic Victory

The Montreal Victoire secured their first Premier Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) title with a commanding 4-0 win over the Ottawa Charge on Wednesday night. The match took place in Game 4 of the Walter Cup Finals. Abby Roque’s crucial contributions were key, as she scored twice in the victory, while goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens provided a solid defensive performance with 23 saves.

Maggie Flaherty and Lina Ljungblom also added to Montreal’s tally. The finals, structured as a best-of-five series, saw Montreal take an initial lead with two overtime wins at home. A loss in Ottawa on Monday night set the stage for a decisive game.

Just so much love for this group, said Abby Roque, reflecting on the team’s journey through the playoffs marked by resilience and determination. The amount of heart on this team was just out of this world, she added.

Previously, the Minnesota Frost held the first two PWHL titles, having bested Ottawa in last year’s four-game championship series. This season, Montreal overcame Minnesota in the semifinals to earn their spot in the finals.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged Montreal’s success on social media, stating, Congratulations to the Montreal Victoire, the 2026 PWHL Walter Cup champions! He noted the season as both incredible and historic for bringing the Cup to Montreal for the first time.

Captain Marie-Philip Poulin received playoff MVP honors, sharing the postseason lead with eight points, which comprised two goals and six assists. Poulin remarked on the league’s journey since the closure of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL), acknowledging the effort of those who established the PWHL and expressing her satisfaction with the team’s achievement.

The game saw Roque opening the scoring at 3:49 of the second period with a deflection assisted by Poulin. Roque capitalized again with a short-handed goal during a penalty against Montreal, showcasing her adroit play as she maneuvered around goalie Gwyneth Philips to score.

Further excitement unfolded as Flaherty expanded Montreal’s lead to 3-0 with a shot from the blue line, finding the net through a screen of players. Ljungblom finalized the scoring with a goal resulting from an Ottawa turnover with just over four minutes left in the game.

Montreal effectively managed penalties, maintaining a disciplined approach by killing penalties in each of the first two periods and avoiding any penalties themselves, whereas Ottawa went unpenalized during the match.

The PWHL continues to provide a platform for women’s hockey, building on the sport’s growing legacy and celebrating talents across competitive teams.