After the inaugural match between the clubs of New York and Toronto, on this first day of January 2024, the Montreal team of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) will play its first game, Tuesday evening, in Ottawa
“We are finally giving female hockey players the structure, support and sport they deserve,” proclaims loud and clear the great lady Billie Jean King, first a tennis legend, then a formidable ambassador for the place of women in professional sport. This is what hockey deserves. (…) And the best part of all this? We are only at the beginning. The PWHL is still in its infancy.”
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Bille Jean King, who serves as an advisor to the PWHL, had every reason to be filled with pride Monday afternoon when the puck was dropped onto the ice at the Mattamy Athletic Center, formerly called Maple Leaf Gardens, in Toronto. A feeling obviously shared by the athletes from the New York and Toronto teams, including Quebecers Jade Downie-Landry, Élizabeth Giguère, Alexandra Labelle, Maude Poulin-Labelle and Lauriane Rougeau.
Tuesday evening, it is captain Marie-Philip Poulin and her teammates who will experience this similar excitement when they step onto the ice to defend the colors of Montreal at the TD Place arena in Ottawa.
The first goal to Ella Shelton
Ontarian Ella Shelton, who plays for the New York team, scored the first goal in PWHL history on Monday as her team won 4-0 against Toronto. Jade Downie-Landry and Alexandra Labelle each obtained an assist in this match while goalkeeper Corinne Schroeder, author of 29 saves, signed the shutout.
Remember that the PWHL currently brings together six teams (Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, Toronto). Each club will play 24 regular season games before the playoffs.
After three games abroad, the Montreal team will present its home opener against Boston on Saturday, January 13, at the Auditorium de Verdun. We already know that this match will be sold out.