Barely born, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (LPHF) has already counted among the goals of the National Assembly. Thursday morning, parliamentarians unanimously adopted a motion presented by solidarity activist Vincent Marissal to salute the success of the LPHF – and express the wish to see it establish a team in Quebec.
Wherever it skates, the new professional hockey league attracts attention, enthusiasm or curiosity. In Quebec, it also arouses envy: the national capital, orphaned by a professional hockey club since the painful departure of the Nordiques in 1995, already wishes, less than three months after the creation of the LPHF, to welcome a team of expansion.
The National Assembly now shares his ambition. The 125 deputies supported, Thursday, a solidarity motion in favor of the arrival of a team in Quebec, hailing the “phenomenal success” of the new league and the sale “in record time” of all the tickets put on sale at Bell Center for the next clash between Montreal and Toronto, April 20.
“The National Assembly congratulates the pioneers of women’s hockey and those who are taking up the torch today, […] she wishes long life to the Professional Women’s Hockey League and expresses her wish to see a new team arrive here in the National Capital,” underlines the motion.
Dazzling success
The enthusiasm for the new women’s professional circuit seems to surprise the league itself. Its six teams have neither name nor logo, but they reach fans attracted by the quality of the game, the innovative aspect of the circuit and the affordable ticket prices which contrast with the expensiveness of the Bettman circuit.
In Quebec, the City says it is open to the arrival of a possible women’s team. The Videotron Center, built with public funds with the still unfulfilled goal of hosting a National League (NHL) team, serves instead as a home for the Remparts of the Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
Quebecor Sports and Entertainment is not closing the door to its amphitheater at the LPHF. “We are always studying new opportunities for the Videotron Center,” the organization reported to Duty last January. We note the interest of fans in women’s hockey and are observing the deployment of the League. »
The LPHF has already announced its intention to consolidate the current circuit before beginning its expansion. However, it has already dipped its toe into possible new markets by holding games in the arenas of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Detroit Red Wings and the Minnesota Wild last weekend.
No exploratory game has yet been announced at the Videotron Center.
With Isabelle Porter