Catherine Dubois “doubted”. Every day.
Gravitating around the Montreal team of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (LPHF) with two ten-day contracts this season – the maximum available – she wondered what more she had to do to get her chance to sign a standard contract. The Quebecer began to believe that she might not have her chance after all.
Bzzzt. Fast forward to Sunday afternoon. Dubois finished Montreal’s game against Minnesota, a 2-1 victory in front of a packed Place Bell, alongside Marie-Philip Poulin on Montreal’s first line.
Because she finally signed it, her contract. The general director, Danièle Sauvageau, contacted her the day before, after the team returned from Toronto, to tell her the news.
I immediately called my parents. It was an emotional moment. We all cried together. I come from a family of workers. Nothing is easy in life. But we succeed despite everything.
Catherine Dubois
When she talks about an “emotional moment”, we believe her. She will have a trembling voice throughout her ten-minute speech to the press.
“It’s a childhood dream,” she emphasizes. I am really happy and relieved. It was a lot of stress, not knowing where I was going, what was happening. »
And as the meeting progressed, not only was she on the ice in front of family and friends, but Kori Cheverie ended up pairing her with Poulin and Claire Dalton on the first wave. The impact was felt, with “Pou” getting some good chances in the third period. What did the head coach see at Dubois to offer her this promotion?
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Claire Dalton (42), Ann-Sophie Bettez (24) and Natalie Buchbinder (22)
“She’s just very predictable, in a good way,” she explained. We know that she plays with ferocity, that she is not afraid, that she will get the puck out of the corners. »
Cheverie juggled all her trios on Sunday. She wanted to “give space to a little bit of everyone”.
“Dubois is always there. She doesn’t have time to think about it, because I make these decisions without notice. So she just has to get on the ice, but she has the personality for that. »
The announcement of Dubois’ contract came in conjunction with the announcement that defender Dominika Lásková had been placed on the long-term injured list.
“It’s sad to see that one of our players won’t be able to play for a while,” said Claire Dalton. But I think Dubs has proven that she can be a great presence in our locker room and on the ice. »
A summit meeting
This meeting pitted two teams at the top of the general ranking against each other. With this victory, the Montrealers managed to consolidate their second position, reducing the gap to just one point with the Minnesotans, precisely. Claire Dalton and Sarah Lefort scored for the locals.
Montreal took an early lead in the first period, courtesy of Dalton on the power play, on a deflected shot at the mouth. The 10,172 fans at Place Bell were still percolating towards their seats at this time. At least most of them were sitting tight when Minnesota got their first shot 13 minutes into the game. Moments later, despite the visitors’ slow start, Kendall Coyne Schofield allowed them to tie the game by putting on his 4e of the season.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Coyne Schofield (26) and goalkeeper Elaine Chuli
This mark held for a good part of a well-contested second period. Minnesota even took the lead in the pace of the match, but Montreal goalkeeper Elaine Chuli brilliantly kept an eye on things.
Chuli and Ann-Renée Desbiens form one of the good goalie tandems on the circuit. Much to Cheverie’s delight.
“It’s good, because I don’t have to worry about it,” emphasizes the technician. I don’t lose any sleep over it. But I’m losing sleep over other things! »
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Head coach Kori Cheverie behind the bench of the Montreal team
Like the numerical advantage, precisely. It’s been the team’s Achilles heel so far. Dalton’s success in the first was the first time in 25 occasions that Montreal had scored in such circumstances.
The second goal came 15 seconds after the end of a penalty from the visitors. Sarah Lefort seized a return at the mouth of a completely open net and gave the lead back to the crowd favorites.
In the third, Montreal defended its lead with confidence. The best opportunity came when shorthanded: Poulin escaped, took a good backhand shot… and the puck hit the crossbar while we felt Place Bell ready to explode.
Chuli took care of the rest. His only nine saves in the third period allowed Montreal to maintain its slim lead.
And to allow the many supporters to dance to the rhythm of the Masked ball of The Creole Company.