They dance, they dance, they dance! The Montreal players danced to the rhythm of Masked ball of the Compagnie Créole at center ice after their 3-2 victory against the New York team. A moment of pleasure after a robust match. And not just a little.
Marie-Philip Poulin finally got it, her winning goal. “Pou, Pou, Pou,” chanted the 6,334 people gathered at Place Bell, after the captain broke the tie with 6:14 left in the match. Poulin also seemed emotional at the host’s microphone, after receiving the first star. “I don’t know if it’s with age, I become more emotional! “, she said at a press conference a little later.
We knew the LPHF game was physical and intense. This robustness reached another level several times on Tuesday evening. Notably when Abby Roque attacked Poulin during a faceoff in the second period, while Montreal led 2-0. Roque, the chief agitator of the New York team, went there with a double-check in the face of the Beauceronne, who nevertheless kept his calm, a smile on his face. Both players were sent off, to everyone’s surprise. Later, we saw Tereza Vanisova defeat Chloe Aurard at the limit of legality, even if said limit is still vague…
However, we got an idea of what is not accepted when Kati Tabin applied a solid check on Jessie Eldridge, who wanted to enter offensive territory. The kind of sequence we see in the National League. The crowd liked it, but not the officials, who sent Tabin to the dungeon for two minutes.
The head coach of the Montreal team, Kori Cheverie, did not hide her dissatisfaction about the “lack of consistency” from the officials after the duel. She was responding to a question about a collision between an opposing player and goalkeeper Ann-Renée Desbiens, which did not result in a penalty. However, a period earlier, Tereza Vanisova had been punished for the same kind of contact, she pleaded.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Goalkeeper Abigail Levy and Tereza Vanisova
I think we will have to make things more clear and consistent. Because once again, it was another inconsistent evening.
Kori Cheverie, head coach of the Montreal team
“I understand shoulder-to-shoulder contact when you tackle a player and she falls, but full body checks, nose to nose, is a penalty in women’s hockey. Just because it’s near the boards, doesn’t mean it’s no longer a penalty in the rule book. I think there needs to be consistency in this area. If [les officiels] don’t call things like that at the start of the match, they’ll slip away. »
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Abby Roque attacked Marie-Philip Poulin during a faceoff in the second period.
The opposing head coach, Howie Draper, had said much the same thing a little earlier, affirming that “at a certain point”, we will have to “find the balance”. “I think there should have been one or two more calls. But [cet équilibre]that’s something we’re all trying to find,” he added.
The players admitted to liking the robustness of the game. “It’s the first time that women’s hockey is more physical, so it’s about finding the right balance between what can be a penalty and what can not. be, mentioned Gabrielle David. It’s just being on the same page across the league. »
“There are still questions about what we can do, what we can’t do,” added Poulin. But as a player, we like it to be fast, physical. At the end of the day, I think people like it. »
Evening of premieres
One by one, the LPHF players scored their first goal. This was the case for two players from the Montreal team, Gabrielle David and Leah Lum, Tuesday evening.
David was the first to score at the end of a very good first period for Montreal. The Drummondvilloise, at full speed, avoided a clearance denied to her team before passing the puck behind the goal. Jillian Dempsey, who was passing by, picked it up and handed it to David in the crease. The latter launched on reception, triggering euphoria in the place. Lum added just 17 seconds later to make it 2-0 for Montreal at the end of the first period.
This goal from David is all the more significant since the young attacker was left out for the team’s inaugural match last Saturday at the Verdun Auditorium.
“It was sad for me [de rater le match inaugural], but I have to move on and do it for the team, suggested the main interested party. I played for the logo on the front of the sweater. »
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Kori Cheverie, head coach of the Montreal team
The 24-year-old athlete explained that she was encouraged by her captain last Saturday. “She told me to keep my beautiful smile,” she recounted under the eyes of Poulin, sitting at her side. The latter took the opportunity to take over:
“We build a culture, we get along well and you always want everyone to play in a home opener,” she explained. Unfortunately, there are players who did not play. [Gabrielle] has stepped up Today. To see her come to the arena with a big smile… Her work ethic on and off the ice is a big part of our team. »
Kori Cheverie also appreciated David’s work, saying that “it’s what you want in response from a player.” “She could have gone in another direction, but she chose to play with intensity and aggressiveness. She is a good player and she will continue to be. »
The visitors scored in the second period, then at the start of the third period, creating suspense for the end of the match. Poulin – obviously! – was responsible for giving Montreal its first home victory.