(Quebec) There were 31 seconds left in the second period. La Victoire had not played its biggest match until then. On the power play, Kati Tabin sent the puck to the net. The goalkeeper awarded a return. Catherine Dubois didn’t ask for that much; she sent the puck into the net, before celebrating by pointing a finger at the crowd. His crowd. That of Quebec.
Published at 3:55 p.m.
Updated at 5:57 p.m.
In a Videotron Center filled to capacity with 18,259 fans, the Victory defeated the Ottawa Charge 2-1 on Sunday, solidifying its place in first place in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (LPHF) rankings. ).
Even in my wildest dreams, I didn’t think it could happen like this. The scenario I had today… I’m really lucky.
Catherine Dubois
Dubois had already experienced great emotions earlier in the day, before the meeting. Its head coach, Kori Cheverie, had made the decision to make a starting lineup almost entirely from Quebec. Dubois, Ann-Renée Desbiens and Marie-Philip Poulin, all natives of Quebec or its surroundings, lined up on the blue line. And all three were entitled to a heartfelt ovation.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Marie-Philip Poulin blocks the path to Aneta Tejralova.
“Let’s just say my heart rates shouldn’t be public at this point!” “, exclaimed Desbiens, who was one of the main architects of this victory by blocking 26 of the 27 pucks she received.
“I played my last five years of minor hockey here. I had a lot of parents, family, friends… My goddaughter. She’s four and a half years old and she started playing hockey because she saw us on television. […] The atmosphere is something I will remember for a long time. »
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Shiann Darkangelo of the Ottawa Charge deflects a puck into the net, scoring her team’s only goal against Montreal Victoire goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens during the third period of the game at the Videotron Center in Quebec, Sunday.
Even Emerance Maschemeyer, the Charge’s goalkeeper, was overcome with emotion when the starting lineup was announced, “specifically that of Poulin”. “I looked at Gabby Hughes next to me and said, I’m having chills right now. It’s incredible. »
Her head coach, Carla MacLeod, arguably offered the quote of the day, expressing amazement at what had unfolded earlier.
“When we were growing up, we had the big guys, like Wayne Gretzky. We had all these men we could look at. To see the response of that crowd at that moment… Poulin is Gretzky. How cool is that? »
-When this statement was mentioned to Poulin, she was true to herself, preferring to ignore the situation and instead talk about the experience she had just had. She also became emotional when discussing the presence of her 91-year-old grandmother in the stands. “She’s one of my favorite fans,” said the captain, her eyes in the water.
Character
As we said earlier, Victory did not play its biggest match of the season. She nevertheless found a way to escape with the winnings, her 8e in 11 games this season.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Amanda Boulier and Mannon McMahon brawl along the ramp.
The first period, among others, will not go down in history. The game was slow, the passes were imprecise and exits from the zone were difficult for Kori Cheverie’s team.
“Sometimes you can’t really explain it. […] I didn’t like our start to the match. But we have an agenda, we are on a mission, and good teams always find a way. »
The two Victory goals were scored on the power play. After spending the majority of the season in last place in the league in this regard, the team has just scored four goals in this situation in its last two duels.
The first was the work of Dubois at the end of the second period. The Charge, however, equalized midway through the third period. La Victoire took its game up a notch afterwards. The winning goal came from the stick of Tabin, who fired a powerful slapshot on the power play. Erin Ambrose, defensive pillar of Montreal, picked up two more assists, having collected three on Friday.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Kati Tabin celebrates her first goal of the season with teammate Erin Ambrose (23).
“As we said in the locker room, not all matches are perfect,” noted Desbiens. We showed a lot of character. It was perhaps not our best victory, but we managed to find important goals on the power play and build momentum on the penalty kill. »
“The community is ready”
All those who appeared in front of the numerous journalists in the press room at the Videotron Center after the match praised Quebec’s candidacy in the event of expansion.
“They have the infrastructure, the population, the fans who want a team,” argued Desbiens. The mayor offered his support too, he is very vocal at this level. When you put all those things together, I think they have a good candidacy to offer. I wish it to them with all my heart. »
“I would say the community is ready for a team. And what an impressive community! said Carla MacLeod. […] I’m glad I won’t be the one in the league who has to choose where expansion takes place. »
