On Friday morning PWHL Montreal had their end-of-season press conference looking back on the inaugural season in the PWHL.
It’s never easy to navigate a league in its inaugural season but PWHL Montreal did it with style, and flair, and became one of the most popular teams in the league.
“We played three great hockey games in the playoffs,” Montreal’s general manager Danielle Sauvageau, told the media. “I think what we accomplished and the players accomplished is a success.”.
Montreal finished second in the league despite losing five players to major injuries and was ultimately swept by Boston in a three-game series where it looked like Montreal was the better team but ran into a hot goaltender Aerin Frankel who stole the series.
“It’s a professional league where things can change,” Marie Phillip Poulin said when asked about the fact the majority of the team now are free agents and whether the team would remain intact.
“I think there were a lot of surprises this season,” Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie said. “We are blown away with the inaugural season and we are happy with our first season despite the ending that we would have hoped or dreamed of and our fans were amazing and we had people show up regardless of where we played.”
Poulin preached patience and stated the goal remains the same for next season.
“Our goal is to win a championship,” she responded. “It still hurts and we are competitive but it is all part of the process and great things take time and I feel we have what it takes.”
Cheverie was asked if she had any regrets about how things went in the playoffs and she feels despite the result the team played to the best of their ability.
“Regardless of playoffs or regular season it’s our job as coaches to look back and see what worked and what didn’t and I am happy with the three games despite the outcome.”
“It”s been absolutely incredible,” Laura Stacey said when asked about her experience in her first year in the PWHL. “It really exceeded expectations and we knew the product was there but I don’t think we dreamed or believed it would be like this.”
Ann Renee Desbiens chimed in on the same question and in a similar answer though the season was exceptional and can’t wait for the next season to start.
“It’s quite exceptional,” she answered. “If you go back a year we didn’t know anything and everything improved greatly and honestly speaking I came in every day feeling like I was a professional.”
“At the end of the day we didn’t win so we need to look at what worked and what didn’t and move forward so we can try to do it next season,” Desbiens said.
Danielle Sauvageau confirmed the team’s next big focus is the PWHL draft next month in Minnesota before focusing on free agency before year two commences next fall.
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Featured Image ©️ Lori Bolliger Photography
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