Quebec City Welcomes Back Professional Hockey

Quebec, Canada — Today Quebec City welcomed back professional hockey to the Quebec province for the first time since 1995 when the Quebec Nordiques of the National Hockey League (NHL) left the province and city for Denver, Colorado in the United States of America becoming the Colorado Avalanche.

The Ottawa Charge and Montreal Victoire of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) will play at Videotron Centre. Videotron is home to the Remparts de Quebec of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) a junior hockey league.

The atmosphere inside the sold out (18,259) arena was electrifying, further proof the city is deserving of a professional franchise in both of the professional hockey leagues National Hockey League & Professional Women’s Hockey League.

The first period saw back and forth action between the two sides, seeing plenty of physical play and amazing saves by both tendy’s  Ann-Renée Desbiens for Montreal and  Emerance Maschmeyer for Ottawa. The two at times stood on their heads and stacked the pads to make some acrobatic saves to keep the scoreline even at 0-0. Montreal committed the first penalty of the game and Ottawa nearly made them pay for it but Desbiens rejected their attempts and Maschmeyer prevented a jail break goal.

The second period was just as electrifying, with a true goalie duel developing in Quebec between two of the top net minders in the league. Desbiens entered with a goals against average of 2.10 and Maschmeyer right there with her at 2.13. Only Schroeder (1.86) and Rooney (1.96) have been better this season, when it comes to wins Desbiens is tied for second with 5 trailing just Schroeder with 6 wins on the season, meanwhile Maschmeyer has 4 and tied for third in the league.

It is Catherine Dubois (2) who broke the tie with just :31 seconds left to the middle frame on the power play. Maschmeyer made the initial two saves before not being able to locate the rebound off her left pad, Dubois flipped the puck into the goal on the back side off assists from Kati Tabin (1) and Erin Ambrose (7). The building went crazy for rookie Dubois who is from Quebec City, Quebec, she acknowledged the crowds cheers after her team celly. The Victoire would see out the remaining seconds of the period to take the 1-0 lead to the locker room.

Catherine Dubois: “In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined such a scenario. It’s a really special game and I’m really lucky to live these moments. When I jumped on the ice, I couldn’t see anything because my eyes were full of tears. I tried to calm down a little. My legs were heavier and my heart was beating harder than usual.”  

Maschmeyer continued her stellar performance in goal stopping a fury of chances by Montreal in the first minute of the third period to keep the Charge in the game. Ottawa with great puck movement, however they’re allowing Desbiens see the shots clearly from the circle to the point. Desbiens after making an amazing diving save, Shiann Darkangelo (4) deflects one past her to get the equalizer. Desbiens was unhappy saying it hit her glove, however, replay shows it clearly hit her elbow and should be a good goal. The goal was assisted by Zoe Boyd (2) and Stephanie Markowski (3), 1-1 midway through the 3rd period.

Montreal made Ottawa pay with 6:01 left in the third period, Ottawa was called for an iffy interference penalty and Victoire quickly netted the go-ahead goal Kati Tabin (1) gets her first, assisted from Erin Ambrose (8) and Abby Boreen (3). Both goals have been on the power play for Montreal, their equal strength play has been good but not great. Maschmeyer was called on again to keep her team in the game making a sequence of high skilled saves to keep it 2-1 with five minutes remaining to the game.

The wave broke out during the game a few times as the fans have been into this one, the crowd has a lot of young faces getting to see some great puck today. The difference in the game to this point has been the tenders and the Montreal power play being 2 for 2, while Ottawa is 0 for 2. Maschmeyer has faced more shots than any tendy in the league (290), Schroeder is second with (229).

Ottawa would pull Maschmeyer with 1:30 left to play in the third period, but unfortunately, unable to find the equalizer. Montreal pinned the puck against the wall for large periods of time to help their net minder secure the 2-1 victory. Talk about an amazing hockey game this one had it all and both teams gave Quebec City an amazing performance. Let’s hope the game and crowd show the National Hockey League and Professional Women’s Hockey League that Quebec should have professional hockey again.

The atmosphere here in Quebec is indescribable, these fans have been missing hockey in their home city for a long time, there are tears, cheers, and a well deserved standing ovation for both teams after an amazing performance.

Press Conferences

Ottawa Charge

3 Stars

1.  Catherine Dubois (1 goal)
2. Emerance Maschmeyer (33 saves)
3. Desbiens, Ann-Renée (26 saves)