Montreal victory | When “life gets tough” on Catherine Dubois

“I’m going to be honest with the rest of you,” says Catherine Dubois, her voice wavering. It wasn’t easy. Sometimes you feel like life is getting to you. I am human. Yes, we are athletes. But it’s not easy. »

However, we expected that the Victoire striker, already holding a contract for the next season, would be all smiles on this day of formalization of the formation of 26 players who will make up the team. Her friend Alexandra Labelle, in particular, managed to carve out a place in the squad. We will come back to this below.

But in front of the media, Dubois, known for her good nature and friendly outspokenness, was emotional. This is because before the start of training camp, when she was thought to be injured, she had in fact fallen ill. She did not want to reveal what bothered her, but she stressed to us that it “affected her a lot”.

“Illness does not discriminate,” emphasized Catherine Dubois. It can happen to anyone, at any time. It’s just another challenge I’ll have to overcome. »

The Quebec player spent a good part of last season as a reserve, obtaining two 10-day contracts before finally signing a formal agreement in February.

This precarious status is now much less so with a view to the 2024-2025 campaign, even if his one-year contract remains unguaranteed.

“Emotionally, mentally, I had a roller coaster again this year. It’s just up to me to come out stronger. I tell myself that’s another lesson. Even if I didn’t control anything in there […] somewhere, someone thinks I can get through this. »

Catherine Dubois’ smile is never far away, her eyes light up when she mentions the support she received from her teammates, general director Danièle Sauvageau, and her coaches. Her family being in Quebec, it was her “other family” who was able to “supervise” her so that she could be on the ice faster than expected.

“Cath will always come out of everything,” points out Alexandra Labelle, interviewed a few moments later. The worst part is that she will come out of it positively, and with a smile. »

Brother Michel Lamarche, from La Presse Canadienne, asks Dubois if she is now ready to turn the page. Our interlocutor’s eyes glaze over, her chin trembles; she apologizes for this emotion, she doesn’t need to.

“I’m ready to turn the page,” she replies. I just want to play the sport I love, and be on the ice. »

A squad of 28 players

It is not known if Dubois will play Saturday, in the opening game of the Victory at Place Bell against the Ottawa Charge. “We’re going to see his energy level” after the last training session on Friday, Danièle Sauvageau said on Thursday.

What we do know, however, is who will make up this team made up of 23 players, in addition to 3 reserves.

We talked about Labelle, who played with the New York Sirens last season. The 28-year-old center had a strong training camp and stood out during the team’s two preseason games. LPHF observers know her defensive game, she said, but she is happy that Kori Cheverie “gave her the chance” to show her “offensive side” and her physical game.

When she heard the good news a few days ago, she was “up to her eyes”.

“I went in the car to chat with my parents and my brother,” Labelle told us. They were always there for me, and pushed me into it. »

The Montérégienne will be one of the four Quebecers officially part of the Montreal team with Marie-Philip Poulin, Ann-Renée Desbiens and Catherine Dubois.

Still among the attackers, the Americans Clair DeGeorge and Dara Greig also won their bet by obtaining one of the coveted places at Victory.

As for Quebecer Gabrielle David, who played for the main club last season, she is now part of the reserve team. Just like her compatriots Catherine Daoust and Kelly-Ann Nadeau.

New Brunswicker Sarah Bujold was placed on waivers on Tuesday and will not be back with Kori Cheverie’s troupe.

Among the defenders, 30-year-old Swede Anna Kjellbin obtained a one-year deal. A sixth-round pick in the last draft, Kjellbin has been part of the Swedish national team for several years.

The 25-year-old American Anna Wilgren, a fifth-round pick, is also among the players selected.

Among goalkeepers, German Sandra Abstreiter impressed enough to obtain a one-season deal. She will be the team’s third goalkeeper, behind Desbiens and Elaine Chuli, who will remain in place for their second consecutive campaign. Last year, the third goalkeeper, Marlène Boissonnault, did not keep goals in any game. The Montrealer was also placed on waivers on Tuesday.

Note that two players, forward Kennedy Marchment and defender Dominika Lásková, will be on the short-term injured list to start the season. The team therefore kept 28 players in its lineup rather than 26; this number includes 23 players on a standard contract, 3 players on a reserve agreement as well as the 2 players on the short-term injured list.

This therefore means that, when the injured return, two players who started the year with a standard contract will be cut or exchanged in order to make room for them.

With Katherine Harvey-Pinard, The Press