Do you remember the last time you saw Marie-Philip Poulin at work in the metropolis? The best players in the world, including the national team captain, will be in action at the 21.02 Center this weekend for the PWHPA Showcase.
Posted at 3:20 p.m.
This showcase, which will showcase the players over four matches, is one of several organized as part of the Secret Dream Gap Tour. At the end of the annual tour, the team with the most points will win the Secret Cup.
This year, the Canadian and American players are spread across the four teams; in other words, the great rivals become teammates.
“To be able to work together towards a common goal is so much greater,” says Ann-Renée Desbiens. Even though we are rivals on the ice, it is an honor to come together and share our talents and our passion. »
This “common goal” of which the Charlevoix goaltender speaks is the establishment of a women’s professional league. In the meantime, the best players in the world must be able to play at a high level, and that’s what this tour allows.
“To have everyone here, in Montreal, on Canadian territory, in this magnificent center, we are all thrilled,” says Laura Stacey. It will be a very big weekend with four very good teams. »
Asked to know what she expects as a goalkeeper this weekend, Desbiens exclaims: “I hope to have more shots than with the national team! “. “It will be interesting combinations and trios, with a mix of Americans, Canadians, things that we don’t get to see often,” she adds. Communication is going to be key to having a higher level of execution. »
The Secret Dream Gap Tour was in Montreal last April. The Olympians showed up at the Verdun Auditorium to meet the youngsters, even though they weren’t playing. Many young girls and boys attended.
“We believe a lot [au principe que] if you can see it, you can be part of it. The little girls, the little boys who come to see us, I think it makes women’s hockey grow. It also makes them dream,” says Marie-Philip Poulin, who will be on the Harvey’s team with Desbiens.
Helping to “push in the next direction”
Regarding the professional league, the PWHPA has succeeded in securing an investor “who really wants to invest in women’s hockey”, according to Poulin. “I think it’s going to be in place [pour] next season,” she adds. The players, eager to finally be treated like professionals, are optimistic that the project is going in the “right direction”.
“The number of practices I’ve done over the past three years versus the number of games, it’s not easy,” said Desbiens. I look forward to having this schedule a little more predictable. We should have had it a long time ago, but I am confident that we will have it in the very near future. »
Showcases like this weekend are precisely the opportunity for supporters to “support” the players and help them “to push in the next direction”, believes the Cerberus.
Marie-Philip Poulin also recalls that she and her teammates train “very hard”. “It’s exceptional hockey on the weekend,” she continues. We are more than athletes, young people can connect with us on the human side. That’s the beauty of women’s hockey. We take the time to go see the little girls, the little boys. We like that. »