The Montreal team did well at the end-of-season trophy presentation of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Tuesday, during which Erin Ambrose was awarded the title of defender of the year, and Maureen Murphy received the Hockey for All award, recognizing community involvement.
Although prestigious, the honor bestowed on Ambrose was relatively predictable. Her reputation preceded her even before the first LPHF matches, and the inaugural season confirmed her offensive and defensive skills, coupled with unfailing durability.
No one, however, was expecting Murphy. Firstly because we had not announced any finalists for the Hockey for All prize. Then because she had never publicized the multiple volunteer commitments she has taken on since she settled in Montreal before Christmas.
“We don’t do it for recognition, but to have an impact,” humbly underlined the 24-year-old American by videoconference.
With a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and a master’s degree in public health from Northeastern University, Murphy wanted to put his knowledge to use in his adopted city.
Every week, she went to the CHSLD Maimonides, in Côte-Saint-Luc, and Saint-Andrew, in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. Accompanied by her dog, she spent time with elderly people mainly suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
She also joined McGill University’s Best Buddies program, which puts students in contact with adults with intellectual disabilities.
“My grandmother lives in a long-term care facility,” Murphy said Tuesday, explaining her commitment to the elderly. I’ll visit it when I can, and I hope someone visits it when I’m not there. »
The attacker also humbly admitted that she had sought an environment that did not require her to speak French, and that, due to professional training, she had wanted to familiarize herself with the Canadian health system.
Above all, she sought to “meet people”. To learn about his new environment, but also to counterbalance “the ups and downs” of a daily life dictated by hockey.
It’s a good reminder that before we are athletes, we are people first. There must be something else to do. And I wanted to find a way to give back to my community.
Maureen Murphy
Minor detail: in addition to her hockey career and her involvement as a volunteer, she also pursued distance studies in law during the winter. Only that.
On training days, “we were pretty much finished by 1 or 2 p.m.,” she explained. And classes only took place “two evenings a week”.
“It’s a program for professionals who work full time,” she continued. I imagine it’s much harder for people who work 9 to 5 and have to take care of their families afterwards. It was less trying than you might think…”
Erin Ambrose didn’t know Maureen Murphy before they became teammates in Montreal, but they quickly became close friends. Ambrose was delighted to see her young comrade recognized by the league “for the human being that she is and the impact she has on people’s lives.”
“Maureen says it’s her dog that makes the difference, but she really makes people’s lives brighter every day,” said the veteran.
We can indeed believe that it deserved a little tip of the hat…
PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE TWITTER ACCOUNT @PWHL_MONTREAL
Erin Ambrose, Marie-Philip Poulin and Maureen Murphy, a few minutes before the presentation of the LPHF end-of-season trophies
“Bittersweet”
Having just received an individual honor herself, Ambrose seemed to find it oddly convenient to answer questions about Murphy. Because his personal achievements are obviously not his favorite subject.
Crowned defender par excellence on the circuit, the quarterback of the Montreal team beat Megan Keller (Boston) and Ella Shelton (New York).
Ambrose, 30, played in all 24 games for his club during the season, regularly spending more than 25 minutes, even 30 minutes on the ice. On May 11, in the second game of the playoffs, she recorded a record ice time of 61:33 against Boston.
During the season, she also amassed 18 points, which placed her second in the league among defenders. His differential of +5, in eighth place on the circuit, also reflects his stability in defense.
Highlighting the “honor” done to him, Ambrose recalled that individual trophies sometimes left a “bittersweet” taste for those who win them.
“I would have preferred to win the Walter Cup,” she noted, still shaken by her team’s lightning defeat in the first round.
Consequently, “it will be easy to be motivated this summer!” “, she exclaimed.
On a personal level, she remembers two things from this inaugural season: she learned to be “a good pro” and found her “consistency” after a start to the campaign that fell short of her expectations.
In his eyes, the game at the Bell Center remains the highlight of the last few months. “A monumental moment for women’s hockey. »
“Twenty-one thousand people who come to support us, it’s difficult to sum up in words,” she concluded. I will remember it all my life. »
In the all-star team
Unsurprisingly, Ambrose found herself on the league’s first all-star team, alongside her teammate Marie-Philip Poulin. The latter was in the running for the titles of best attacker and most valuable player for her team, but Natalie Spooner, of Toronto, beat her in both cases. Toronto’s Kristen Campbell was named goaltender of excellence. Troy Ryan, also from Toronto, was preferred to Kori Cheverie, from Montreal, as head coach of the year. The title of best rookie went to Grace Zumwinkle of Minnesota.