The members of the Montreal Professional Women’s Hockey League team dream of playing a game at the Bell Center. In the meantime, eight players from the team were able to take to the ice in the almost full amphitheater during the RONA skills competition organized by the Canadian on Sunday morning.
Marie-Philip Poulin, Erin Ambrose, Sarah Bujold, Mariah Keopple, Sarah Lefort, Maureen Murphy, Laura Stacey and Tereza Vanisova were able to demonstrate the extent of their talent alongside the stars of the Habs.
“It was special to feel the love of the fans, to be on the ice with the guys and talk hockey,” Poulin said. You know, we play the same sport. We have the same passion. We were talking about the last matches. They follow our season. It’s special to see what’s happening in women’s hockey. »
According to journalist Jeff Marek of Sportsnet, the April 21 match between the Toronto and Montreal teams could be presented at the Bell Center. In an interview with Radio-Canada Sports earlier this week, the sports and entertainment president of Groupe CH, France Margaret Bélanger, said the Canadian was open to welcoming the Montreal LPHF team to the Bell Centre.
“I think we would all like that experience,” Ambrose said. To play at the Bell Center would be historic. Our fans are incredible and they followed us to Laval, Verdun and even abroad like Toronto. »
“I hope it can happen. I’m crossing my fingers, but I think it would be a huge moment,” she added.
Always a pressure
The players who participated in the Canadiens skills competition on Sunday looked good. Bujold completed a lap in just two tenths of a second more than Joshua Roy.
Alex Newhook won the competition with a lap of 13.372 seconds. Note that the nets were a little closer than during the NHL All-Star Game competition, when Connor McDavid completed a lap in 13.408 seconds.
Bujold also stole the show during an event where participants had to score goals “Michigan style,” that is, by lifting the puck on the blade of their stick behind the net and returning it to the upper corner of the goal.
“I don’t know if I could do that during a match,” exclaimed Bujold. I didn’t think I would take part in this event. I did well! »
Roy was the only Canadian delegate to participate in this event, which had nevertheless been chosen by the Habs players among four suggested by fans.
“There weren’t many people who wanted to do it and the guys all said they couldn’t do it,” Roy said. They asked Cole [Caufield], but he said I would be better. I said no, but I didn’t have a say. I had to go! »
During precision shooting, Ambrose needed seven shots and just over 15 seconds to hit all four targets. Cole Caufield won the competition by bursting all four targets in six shots and just 12.3 seconds.
The Canadiens’ goalkeepers also took part in the precision shooting test and took some. Poulin, too, experienced some problems.
“There is always stress,” Poulin said. You are at the Bell Centre, in front of more than 20,000 people. But I think today was really nice. I felt like people were happy that we were here. »
Family atmosphere
Mike Matheson was the first to hit the ice, accompanied by his son, just over two and a half years old. The young Hudson charmed the Bell Center crowd with a few shots that found the back of the net.
For a second year in a row, the children of player development consultant Paul Byron and assistant coach Alex Burrows took part in some events.
Brysen Byron, 9, stood out with a lap of the ice in 17.656 seconds. Jacob Burrows, 8, was the last survivor of the shootout.
“The mothers and fathers were happy to see the children on the ice. It’s the other guys’ future too. It was special,” said defender Arber Xhekaj.
The colossus defender brought the crowd to their feet with a shot at 107.2 miles per hour. Xhekaj will now have the mission to beat Zdeno Chara’s mark of 108.8 miles per hour.
“I didn’t think I would be so close to the record,” admitted Xhekaj. I guess that’s the next step! »
Even while recovering, Kirby Dach, Christian Dvorak and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard attended the event from the players’ bench. Jayden Struble, dealing with a lower body injury, participated in the shootout.
The only absentee was striker Jake Evans, who was enjoying a day of treatment. He was hit in the abdomen by a skate in the third period on Saturday during the Canadian’s eventual 4-3 defeat against the New Jersey Devils.
The Canadian will return to training on Monday. He will then host the Arizona Coyotes at the Bell Center on Tuesday. The Habs will then try to end a series of five defeats.