Victory for the Victoire: Montreal’s Walter Cup win over Ottawa marks a historic moment

For most of the night, it felt like the Walter Cup might belong to the Ottawa Charge.

The crowd at Canadian Tire Centre never disappeared from the game. Ottawa controlled faceoffs, generated more shots, and carried the energy that can make championship games tilt unexpectedly.

But, the Montréal Victoire did what championship teams do. In a span of just over five minutes in the third period, they turned a tense, defensive battle into Canadian history.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy in this building when we showed up today, but we remained patient with our game,” captain and Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP Marie-Philip Poulin said in a press release.

Montreal defeated Ottawa 4-0 to capture its first Walter Cup, becoming the first Canadian team to win the PWHL championship and deliver another landmark moment for a league still in its infancy.

For two periods, neither team found much space. Ottawa’s pressure kept Montreal from finding rhythm and every shift seemed to reinforce the feeling that one bounce might decide the winner. 

Early in the second period, Poulin found Abby Roque entering the zone. Roque threw the puck toward goal from near the boards and watched it catch a stick before finding the net. 

The goal gave Montreal a 1-0 lead but not relief. It only arrived later with Poulin, serving a penalty midway through third period. Roque struck again, breaking free shorthanded, and gave the Victoire its second goal with a backhand.

Then, Maggie Flaherty scored from the point. Less than two minutes later, Lina Ljungblom added a fourth. Three goals in 5 minutes and 14 seconds is what it took to transform tension into celebration. 

“I mean the things we have battled through these playoffs, it was just out of this world. The amount of heart on this team, I love everybody and I couldn’t be prouder,” Roque said during an on-ice interview.

The PWHL’s first years have been filled with sold-out arenas, record audiences, and growing investment. Montreal’s victory becomes an early marker in that story.

Head coach Kori Cheverie became the first woman in league history to win the Walter Cup, another milestone in a sport that continues redefining what professional leadership can look like.

“There were highs, there were lows, and we were able to kind of get through all of those adversity moments as a team,” she said. “Whatever team we had on the ice was a team we were able to win with.”

Her words reflected the season Montreal lived. There was no perfect run — there were injuries, lineup changes, and difficult stretches. They simply found a way through. 

Behind all of it stood Ann-Renée Desbiens. Her 23-save shutout secured her second clean sheet of the postseason and ensured Montreal’s patience would be rewarded.

Across the hallway, the emotions looked different. Ottawa fell short of a title but not of belief. 

“Nobody gave us any credit coming into this season, nobody gave us credit halfway through the season,” said head coach Carla MacLeod. “You wish a better ending for the group, just because they’re such a special team.” 

In the end, Ottawa had to leave without silverware but the fulfillment for all that they achieved over the season.

Montreal left with history — and victory.