Even though it has all the characteristics, the Videotron Center still cannot be considered a National Hockey League arena for reasons that need not be specified. But when the time comes to step onto the ice rink of Quebec City’s main amphitheater on Sunday afternoon, it’s a safe bet that Marie-Philip Poulin, Ann-Renée Desbiens and Catherine Dubois will experience other intoxicating moments, and perhaps – even be moving.
The calendar of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (LPHF) having been shaped as it was, it was difficult for the three players of the Victoire de Montréal to describe on Wednesday everything they could feel in anticipation of this match in the Old Capital.
This is because before facing the Ottawa Charge in front of quite possibly 18,000 spectators, if not more, at the Videotron Center, a duel for first place in the standings – and a rematch – against the Minnesota Frost awaits them at Place Bell, Friday evening.
These two clubs will meet again five days after their confrontation in Denver, won 4-2 by the Frost.
“It’s rare that we have the opportunity [de jouer des parties consécutives contre une équipe]but it’s a great challenge for us to be able to clean up the aspects that we want to improve from this last match,” underlined Victory coach, Kori Cheverie, after Wednesday’s training session at the Auditorium of Verdun.
“That’s what we’re focusing on this week, to fix what needs to be fixed for the game against Minnesota, but also to grow our game as a whole,” added Cheverie, while knowing very well what Sunday’s match represents for its three players.
“We are focused on [le] match [de vendredi]in Laval. It’s going to be super important. We play again against Minnesota. We are all aware that we are playing in Quebec this Sunday, but, for now, we will have to concentrate on Friday,” Poulin also recalled.
But because they are fundamentally nice, Poulin, Desbiens, Dubois all agreed to comply with the little whims of journalists, especially when we know the origins of these three French-speaking hockey players.
For example, Dubois will literally play in her backyard and she will fulfill a desire that she perhaps no longer expected.
“Playing in Quebec is a dream. I didn’t think I would play in Quebec again after my minor hockey. I dreamed of this for a long time, of playing in front of my family, my friends. I have a lot of friends and family who can’t come to Montreal for whatever reasons. Of course, being able to play in front of them is really incredible,” admitted Dubois.
“I was born in Charlesbourg, maybe five minutes from the Videotron Center,” she then explained. I did the Pee-Wee Tournament. We were the little Remparts, the host team. We played our first game in front of a crowd of maybe 18,000 or 19,000 people. Being a pee-wee, at 10 years old, it’s a little impressive. It’s definitely a great memory, but also playing with my brothers. I had a brother who is a year older than me. So, we played together in Quebec. Coming back to Quebec is home. »
Dubois expects to hear a crowd making a commotion in the amphitheater.
“It’s quite simple; Quebec is a bit like Montreal. The fans are really there, and it’s going to be really loud. I don’t doubt it. They will support us, they will be there. It’s going to be complete. In Quebec, it’s hockey world. So, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be sold out and that the fans are going to be with us,” said Dubois, who has reserved a good hundred tickets for family and close friends.
We also know that around 150 members of Poulin’s family and friends will be there Sunday afternoon. This list includes his grandmother, Julienne, according to what we have been able to learn.
“It’s going to be very special to have people close to home who will come to Quebec, especially my grandmother. It’s been a while since she’s seen me play live. So, it’s going to be great fun,” admitted Poulin, with a smile on his face.
After everything she and her teammates experienced during the first season of the LPHF, Poulin remains impressed by these matches played in “foreign” markets. It was no different during the three Victory outings in the west of the North American continent between January 5 and 12.
“To see people traveling to Seattle, to Denver, to Vancouver with our Montreal jerseys… For us, it’s remarkable to see what’s happening with this women’s hockey movement, and to see what’s going to happen.” also go to Quebec. We create different communities, different cities, where people can get to know our teams. They can see each team perform, see the girls. I think it can give a spark to a little girl who has never seen that,” remarked Poulin, who is originally from Beauceville.
Desbiens, who, barring bad luck between now and then, will keep the Victory goals on Sunday, managed the distribution of tickets to members of his family and loved ones as well as possible.
“I stopped counting how many people were going to be there. I just arranged for them to get their tickets early enough. I think I managed 130. The rest, I let them manage themselves,” said the athlete from the Charlevoix region.
“I’m definitely looking forward to playing in Quebec. It’s close to home for me, easier for my family, my friends. And I’m going to go join them, too, after the game,” Desbiens said.
“It’s another opportunity to grow women’s hockey, to play in another city that doesn’t have the opportunity to have access to us. Every time we have this opportunity to leave an impact in a market, it is very important for us,” she concluded.
