(Montreal) The misfortunes of some sometimes bring happiness to others, and it seems that this is the case with the Montreal team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (LPHF). With injuries within her club, general manager Danièle Sauvageau will have to turn to one of her reserves during Saturday’s match against the Boston team at the Verdun Auditorium.
However, this reservist who would become a regular player for a period of 10 days, and possibly four games, will probably be Mélodie Daoust.
The 32-year-old athlete participated in the Montreal team’s training session Friday morning. Then, she left hanging the very high probability that she would be in uniform for the first time of the year in the LPHF.
“Potentially, I think we’re looking at tomorrow,” she said with a big smile when asked by a journalist when she thought she would play a first match.
It would be really great for me, but I also find it exciting to be able to be part of the league and to be part of the Montreal team.
Mélodie Daoust
A little later during the press scrum, Daoust clarified what his presence at Saturday’s match depended on.
“I think it will just be decided by a piece of paper with a little pencil. I just have to sign my 10-day contract,” she added, laughing.
Listening to Danièle Sauvageau on Friday morning, the chances are high to see Daoust on the ice on Saturday.
“As we speak, (the chances) are ‘unfortunately’ good, on the one hand, because that means we have injuries. We must not forget, this is the goal of the reserve players. As we speak, the odds are excellent. »
Daoust is aware that she could take advantage of the absence of other players to put on the uniform. It was also her only way to be able to play a match because she will not be able to sign a regular contract as was the case with Catherine Dubois recently.
Dubois first signed two 10-day contracts to replace injured players before being offered a regular contract.
“The team cannot activate us as long as there are no injuries,” recalled Daoust, who could later sign another 10-day contract, which would also be his last this season.
Obviously, you want your team to be healthy all the time. Unfortunately, at the moment, we have a lot of injuries, so that frees up a lot of places. For me, that’s definitely good, but I would have liked them to stay healthy, that’s for sure.
Mélodie Daoust
If Daoust is ever offered a small pencil and a piece of paper and she writes her name on it, the next step will be to play on the ice as part of a trio.
The one that Marie-Philip Poulin pivots perhaps?
” I don’t know. If I rely on (Friday’s) practice, maybe. We can’t sell punch. We will have to travel tomorrow (Saturday),” she said, with a mocking look.
On another note, Daoust, whose season at the helm of the Collège Bourget women’s hockey team is for all practical purposes over, ruled out the possibility of participating in the Women’s World Hockey Championship which will be held in April in Utica, New York.
Her priority is her boy, who will soon be six.
“I chose to really spend my time with my boy. I have shared custody, parents who have shared custody understand that. The time I have with my boy, I want to make sure I have it 100%.
“That’s really made it my priority. It was a difficult choice but at the same time not because I’m at the end of my career, I’m not very young anymore. To be able to choose to really follow my values, to think about my guy, to spend time with him, I find that to be something exceptional. I wouldn’t want to trade these moments for anything else. »