What Happened to Montreal Victoire?

The history of professional women's hockey in Montreal is marked by significant transitions. The team referred to as "Montreal Victoire (CWHL team)" is a conflation of two distinct eras. The original Montreal franchise in the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) was founded in 2007 as the Montreal Stars. This team later rebranded as Les Canadiennes de Montréal in 2015, establishing an affiliation with the NHL's Montreal Canadiens, which provided crucial marketing and financial support. Les Canadiennes were a dominant force in the CWHL, winning the Clarkson Cup, the league's championship, a record four times.

However, this era came to an abrupt end on March 31, 2019, when the CWHL board of directors announced that the league would discontinue operations effective May 1, 2019. The primary reason cited for the collapse was an unsustainable business model, including financial instability and the fragmentation of corporate sponsorships between the CWHL and the rival U.S.-based National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). The sudden closure left approximately 150 players without a league and highlighted the ongoing challenges in establishing a viable professional women's hockey landscape.

In the aftermath of the CWHL's demise, many of the world's top players, including those from the former Les Canadiennes, formed the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) in May 2019. The PWHPA's mission was to advocate for a single, unified, and financially sustainable professional women's hockey league, boycotting existing leagues like the NWHL (later rebranded as the Premier Hockey Federation, PHF). The PWHPA organized a series of exhibition games and tours, known as the Dream Gap Tour, to showcase talent and build support for their vision. Montreal served as one of the regional training hubs for the PWHPA, hosting showcase events and featuring many former Canadiennes players.

This concerted effort by the players, in partnership with the Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises, culminated in the establishment of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). On August 29, 2023, it was announced that Montreal would be one of the six charter franchises of the new league. Danièle Sauvageau, a prominent figure in Canadian women's hockey, was appointed as the team's general manager, and Kori Cheverie as its inaugural coach. Key Canadian national team members like Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Ann-Renée Desbiens were among the first players signed to the Montreal franchise.

Initially operating without an official team name, the PWHL Montreal team played its inaugural season (2023-24) as 'PWHL Montreal'. The official name, Montreal Victoire (French for 'Victory'), was unveiled in September 2024, a nod to the city's rich history of success in ice hockey. The team quickly established itself as a powerhouse, drawing significant fan interest and setting attendance records, including a record-breaking 21,105 fans at the Bell Centre on April 20, 2024. The Victoire's roster for the 2025-26 season was announced on November 20, 2025, featuring a mix of returning stars and new talent.

As of May 21, 2026, the Montreal Victoire have achieved significant success, winning regular season titles in both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 PWHL seasons. Most notably, the Montreal Victoire are the reigning 2026 PWHL Walter Cup Champions, having secured their first league championship by defeating the Ottawa Charge 4-0 in the finals. Marie-Philip Poulin was named the Playoff MVP for her outstanding performance. This championship marks a triumphant return for professional women's hockey in Montreal and a significant milestone for the newly established PWHL.