Latest news with #DanieleSauvageau
Reuters
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Montreal re-signs F Alexandra Labelle for 2025-26
July 21 - The Montreal Victoire re-signed forward Alexandra Labelle for the 2025-26 season on Monday. The 29-year-old Quebec native had one goal and three assists in 19 games with her hometown club last season. "Alexandra's arrival last season gave us some much-needed offensive depth. Her attitude and work ethic are important elements that we will be happy to rely on once more," Victoire general manager Daniele Sauvageau said. Labelle played for New York during the inaugural PWHL season in 2023-24, tallying a goal and two assists in 24 games. --Field Level Media
Globe and Mail
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Botterill's Hockey Hall of Fame selection a full-circle moment
Jennifer Botterill was visiting her parents in Manitoba on Tuesday when the call came from the Hockey Hall of Fame. When she learned she had been inducted, she shed tears with her family, which includes three young hockey-playing daughters. 'My heart is full of gratitude,' Botterill, currently a studio analyst on NHL broadcasts for Sportsnet and TNT, said during a conference call with journalists. 'I am hugely honoured. Truly overwhelmed.' One of Canada's greatest women's hockey players, she was a member of national teams that won three Olympic gold medals and five International Ice Hockey Federation world championships. She was selected to the hall as a player along with Brianna Decker, a gold-medal winning member of Team USA, former NHL defencemen Zdeno Chara and Duncan Keith and forwards Alexander Mogilny and Joe Thornton. Daniele Sauvageau, a former national team coach, was inducted in the builder category. So was Jack Parker, who coached Boston University for 40 years. Sauvageau is the first woman ever elected in the builder category. When she led Canada to the 2002 gold medal in Salt Lake City, it was the first time in a half-century that a Canadian hockey team -- men or women -- had won an Olympic gold medal. 'It's an incredible honour,' Sauvageau said. 'I couldn't even talk when they called me.' Parker won three NCAA championships and took teams to NCAA tournaments 24 times. 'I was taking a nap when they called,' he said. 'I was absolutely flabbergasted. 'I kind of wonder what I am doing here.' Chara played 24 seasons in the NHL and served as captain of the Boston Bruins for 14. The 6-foot-9 Slovakian won the Norris Trophy and Stanley Cup once each during his career. In 17 NHL seasons, Keith won the Norris (2010, 2014) and Conn Smythe trophies (2015) and three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks. He retired as a member of the Edmonton Oilers in 2022. 'My goal always was to play in the NHL,' Keith said from his home in Penticton, B.C. 'I just took it one step at a time. When I look back at my journey as a hockey player, there are so many people I want to thank.' Mogilny was asleep in Russia when Lanny McDonald, the outgoing chairman of the board of the Hockey Hall of Fame, gave him a ring. After a thank-you, Mogilny went back to bed. He played for four teams over 16 seasons in the NHL and averaged more than a point per game. He tied for the league lead with 76 goals while with the Buffalo Sabres in 1992-1993 and in 2000 won a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils. In 1997 the Bruins selected Thornton with the first overall pick. Traded to the San Jose Sharks in 2005, he went on to lead the team in scoring eight times over his next 15 seasons. He also won Olympic gold with Canada in 2010. Thornton was about to board a flight when McDonald tried to call to inform him that he had been inducted. It took 15 tries for him to answer. 'He thought it was a scam call,' McDonald said. Botterill was inducted in her 12th year of eligibility. She grew up in Winnipeg and skated at a young age but did not play organized hockey until she was 12. She recalls carrying a bag of pucks about 500 metres to two outdoor rinks near her home. 'That's where I fell in love with the sport,' she said. 'I don't think that little girl could have imagined what would come to life.' She went on to play four exceptional years at Harvard University, where she won the Patty Kazmaier Award twice as the NCAA's top female player. The rest is history. 'I really love that women and girls now have a choice,' Botterill said. 'I think of the opportunities I have and the career I have now and I am grateful. 'It is great to see women getting these opportunities that they deserve.'
Reuters
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Victoire sign F Shiann Darkangelo to 2-year deal
June 17 - The Montreal Victoire signed forward Shiann Darkangelo to a two-year contract on Tuesday. Terms were not disclosed for Darkangelo, who recorded 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) and a plus-6 rating in 29 games with the Ottawa Charge last season. "A proven leader on and off the ice, Shiann brings the championship experience every team needs," Victoire general manager Daniele Sauvageau said. "A reliable two-way center, she excels in all three zones and contributes in every special team situation, making her a versatile player." Darkangelo, 31, began her PWHL career in Boston during the inaugural season before being traded to the Charge in March 2024. "I am thrilled to be joining Montreal and grateful for the opportunity to represent such a passionate city and fan base," Darkangelo said. "I'm looking forward to being part of a great group of teammates and can't wait for the season to start." --Field Level Media
Reuters
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Montreal Victoire re-sign Kati Tabin to 2-year deal
June 17 - The Montreal Victoire re-signed defender Kati Tabin to a two-year contract extension on Monday, the team announced. Tabin, 28, had four goals, four assists and 26 hits in 28 games last season after posting one goal and five assists in 24 games with the Victoire a year prior. "I am extremely happy to remain in Montreal and to keep representing this team and city that I love so much," Tabin said in a release. "We will continue to work hard as a group to bring a championship to this city." After losing four players in the expansion process earlier this offseason, re-signing Tabin became one of Montreal's top priorities. Monday was the first day teams could re-sign players on expiring contracts following the expansion draft. "Kati is an invaluable part of our team, both on the ice and in the locker room," Victoire general manager Daniele Sauvageau said in a statement. "Over the past two seasons, we've seen tremendous growth in her game, and she continues to elevate her play each year. "Her ability to contribute at both ends of the rink makes her a key piece of our lineup, and we're thrilled to have her back." The Winnipeg native was selected in the fifth round (30th overall) in the inaugural PWHL draft in 2023. After spending four collegiate seasons at Quinnipiac, the 5-foot-8 defender played for the Connecticut Whale and Toronto Six in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). The Victoire have eight players signed for the 2025-26 season and hold six picks in the upcoming PWHL draft, including the fourth overall selection. The draft will be held on June 24. --Field Level Media
Forbes
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
2025 PWHL Playoffs: Matchups Are Set, Walter Cup Quest Begins Wednesday
The first-place Montreal Victoire selected the Ottawa Charge as their first-round opponent in the ... More 2025 PWHL playoffs. (Photo by) It's a small thing, but a big thing. The Montreal Victoire took advantage of their opportunity to choose their first-round opponent in the 2025 PWHL playoffs. Rather than follow the bracket and play the Minnesota Frost in the best-of-five series, the Victoire will open against the Ottawa Charge. As a result, the Frost will meet the Toronto Sceptres in the other matchup. The league's playoff seedings came down to the final day of the season. On Saturday, Katerina Mrazova scored at 2:52 of overtime to give Ottawa the win over Toronto, and the two points they needed to punch their ticket to the playoffs. An hour later, Minnesota crushed Boston by a score of 8-1. Finally, Montreal finished out the year with a 3-2 win over the New York Sirens. When the dust settled, Montreal finished with a five-point edge over Toronto at the top of the standings. Below them, Ottawa, Minnesota and Boston all finished with 44 points. But because the Fleet had the fewest regulation wins (nine), they lost the tiebreaker and finished outside the playoff picture, along with New York. In 2024, Toronto finished first in the regular season and the same three teams battled down to the wire for playoff positioning. Boston and Minnesota squeaked in, then both teams upset their higher-seeded first-round opponents before an epic final that saw Minnesota capture the first Walter Cup. Montreal general manager Daniele Sauvageau announced that her team had selected Ottawa on a live edition of the PWHL's 'Jocks in Jills' podcast on Sunday. 'At the beginning of the year, what we have done is we put a process together,' she said. 'If we had the privilege to be in this situation, we were going to follow a process.' Good thing. Not only did Ottawa and Minnesota finish with the same number of points, but Montreal's record against both teams was the same, at 4-2. According to Savageau, the decision was made collaboratively between the players, the coaching staff and the front office. She didn't tip her hand on the factors that made the Charge the more attractive opponent, but a few details stand out. First, the travel will be easier. Montreal and Ottawa are just over 100 miles apart. Even NHL teams sometimes take the train between the two cities. That offers opportunity for fans as well. 'I think you're going to see some fans probably making the trek to the opposing arena,' said Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner of the PWHL's first-ever all-Canadian playoff matchup. 'I think it's going to be really cool for Canadian hockey fans across the country to tune into this.' Experience levels also may have factored into Montreal's decision. The Charge are in the playoffs for the first time, while the Frost aren't just returnees — they're the defending champions. And while it might not turn out to be much of an advantage, the Charge are also missing their No. 1 goaltender, Emerance Maschmeyer, who has been sidelined with a lower-body injury since mid-March. Ottawa Charge rookie goaltender Gwyneth Philips - (Photo by: Josh Kim / Ottawa Charge) But rookie Gwyneth Philips hasn't flinched in Maschmeyer's absence. She started the Charge's last eight games, going 5-3 with one shutout, and finished the year with a 2.11 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. 'She's been incredible,' said Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod. 'You never want to see injury for any of the players, but to see Gwen be able to step in, she's just been able to take the reins and settle in. Everyone's been seeing what we see, and it's just been her rising in these moments. This is just the next step for her.' The series is likely to be a goalie battle. While Montreal is led by Marie-Philip Poulin, who led the league with 19 goals this season, the Victoire are backstopped by Ann-Renee Desbiens in net. Appearing in 21 games this season, she finished with a record of 15-2-1-1 and a 1.86 goals-against average. The other series is a rematch from last season, with Toronto holding home-ice advantage over Minnesota. Last year, Toronto jumped out to a 2-0 series lead on home ice before losing the next three games — after Minnesota coach Ken Klee complained that his team wasn't given enough runway to make its travel plans and get settled in Toronto before Game 1. With that knowledge, the Frost took a different approach this year after finishing out the regular season in Boston. 'We were already on the road, so we had made the decision that if we got to where we wanted to be, we were just going to stay on the road and hang and wait and see,' Klee said. 'There's no sense flying all the way home to turn around and and fly back.' This season, the Frost were led by their captain, Kendall Coyne Schofield, who finished the year with 12 goals and 24 points. They also got big boosts on the blue line from Sophie Jaques, a mid-season trade acquisition in Year 1, new arrival Claire Thompson, and the steady presence of veteran Lee Stecklein. Toronto and Minnesota will meet for a second-straight year in the 2025 PWHL Playoffs. (Photo by ... More) Toronto went through half of its season without the 2024 league leading scorer and MVP, Natalie Spooner, and also missed Sarah Nurse for nine games. This year, Spooner appeared in 14 games and finished with five points, while Nurse had 14 points. But other Toronto players had strong seasons, including defender Renata Fast and forwards Daryl Watts and Hannah Miller. As the post-season unfolds, the league continues to evolve behind the scenes. Last Wednesday, the PWHL announced its second expansion team for the 2025-26 in Seattle, joining Vancouver. The business and hockey operations departments for those clubs will need to be staffed quickly: an expansion draft will take place to start stocking those rosters will take place sometime before the 2025 Draft, which is set for June 24 in Ottawa. Details are yet to be announced. Toronto and Minnesota will open the 2025 PWHL Playoffs on Wednesday at Coca Cola Coliseum (7 p.m. ET). Montreal and Ottawa will kick things off on Thursday at Place Bell in Laval, Que.
