Return of Professional Women’s Hockey to Montreal “not a matter of if, but when”
This weekend’s Secret Dream Gap Tour stop at Verdun’s Centre 21.02 marked the return of professional women’s hockey action to the city for the first time in over two years. It was also the PWHPA’s fifteenth total Showcase event held since the PWHPA began staging such events across North America in the fall of 2019.
It may, however, have been the final one, as there is renewed optimism and hope a professional women’s hockey league will soon materialize.
“The business plan was built to have a professional team,” said Danièle Sauvageau, Montreal’s GM and head coach. “Montreal is ready to receive a professional team. It’s not if Montreal will have a team, but when. When is sooner rather than later, and I believe it is going to be soon. I’m very confident and I always have been.”
“The time is ripe to move forward with women’s hockey,” said Peter Smith, a member of Montreal’s coaching staff. “After the spectacular performances at the Olympics, it’s the time now to move on that. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that will hopefully produce a result we are all hoping for.”
“This year, with the Dream Gap Tour, there has been a ton of momentum,” said two-time Olympic medalist Sarah Nurse. “We have a very positive outlook for where…