LPHF | La Victoire unveils its roster for training camp

La Victoire de Montréal unveiled on Friday the list of 31 players who will take part in its training camp starting November 12. A list whose depth excites the general director, Danièle Sauvageau.

The group will include 16 attackers, 10 defenders and 5 goalkeepers. Of the lot, 19 wore the uniform of the Montreal team last season and 18 of them signed an agreement for next season.

We obviously find veterans Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, Ann-Renée Desbiens, Erin Ambrose and Kristin O’Neill. Some players who played with the club, but did not sign a new contract, were invited to the camp; this is the case, for example, of Gabrielle David, Kennedy Marchment, Sarah Bujold, Catherine Daoust, Marlène Boissonneault and Kati Tabin.

Several players selected by the team in the last draft are also added. First-round pick, defender Cayla Barnes, will be there after signing a three-year deal this summer. There is also forward Jennifer Gardiner, a second-round pick, who has agreed to terms on a two-year contract. Dara Greig and Abigail Boreen, still without a contract, will also be there.

“The draft gave us a lot of depth in places where we needed it,” says Danièle Sauvageau in a call with The Press.

Here, the general manager talks mainly about defense, the team’s main weakness last season. “We know: last year, Erin Ambrose was named best defender in the League. We come to surround it with a beautiful depth. […] When we talk about Cayla Barnes, she has been playing with the American team for two Olympic cycles. »

During the first draft in the history of the League last year, Sauvageau wanted to select players who would suit the style of play she wanted to see within her club. At the second draft, a few months ago, she sought to “surround the heart with [l’] team and provide depth, for example in the numerical advantage.”

“A Jennifer Gardiner is someone who has a lot of future,” she adds. She is already in the Olympic program. [Dara] Greig is a big, strong player. [Le repêchage] came to refine in places where it is most needed. »

A significant absence

Looking at the list, some absences are obvious. Among others, that of Amanda Kessel. The 32-year-old American, one of the best players in the national program south of the border, was selected by Montreal in the 7^e and last round of the last draft.

At the time of the selection session, Kessel had not played a match since the 2023 World Championship due to injuries. She was the final selection of Montreal, at 41^e rank. All summer, we wondered whether the American would agree to return to the game first, and to play in Montreal second. In August, she accepted a promotion within the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey department.

Sauvageau claims to have had “several contacts” with Amanda Kessel over the last few months. “It was in the last days that I received correspondence to the effect that she would not come to the camp,” she said. This is where we are. »

When asked if she was disappointed, Sauvageau replied: “I’m going to rise 35,000 feet in the air; she is a player who is capable of playing an exceptional game. She’s the type of player we would like to have in our league. »

Nine Quebecois

In total, nine Quebecers will be at the Victoire training camp. Of this number, only three have an agreement with the team, namely Poulin, Desbiens and Catherine Dubois.

The six other Quebecers invited are Alexandra Labelle, who played with the New York group last year, Gabrielle David and Catherine Daoust, who were part of Kori Cheverie’s troupe last season, Kelly-Ann Nadeau, a former member of the Carabins from the University of Montreal, as well as goalkeeper Tricia Deguire.

Veteran Ann-Sophie Bettez, who missed nine season and three playoff games due to injury last season, will not be at camp because she is still rehabbing. She does not yet have a contract. “We will see, when it is 100%, where the situation will be,” says Sauvageau.

Remember that the team will take part in a mini-camp at the Verdun Auditorium, from November 19 to 22. The Victory, the Boston Fleet and the Ottawa Charge will face each other in three preparatory matches. The Montreal club is scheduled to play on November 20 and November 22, at 2 p.m. both times.