For the first time ever, a Canadian team has won the Walter Cup, presented to the Professional Women’s Hockey League champion. On Wednesday at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, the Montreal Victoire made Canadian hockey history as they defeated the Ottawa Charge 4-0. With the win, the Victoire won the best out of five series three games to one.
In game four of the series, the Victoire were led by Canadian Olympic gold medalist Ann-Renee Desbiens of La Malbaie, Quebec. Desbiens had 23 saves. She made five saves in the first period, five saves in the second period, and 13 saves in the third period. This was Desbiens’s second playoff shutout of her PWHL career. The first came on May 5, 2026, as Desbiens made 38 saves in a 1-0 Victoire win over the Minnesota Frost in game two of the 2026 PWHL semifinals.
Meanwhile, Canadian Olympic gold medalist Marie-Philip Poulin of Beauceville, Quebec became the first Canadian ever to win the Ilana Kloss Award presented to the PWHL playoff most valuable player. Poulin had two goals and six assists for eight points in eight games.
There were 10 Canadians who played for the Victoire in the final game on Wednesday. Joining Desbiens and Poulin, were Canadian Olympic gold medalists Erin Ambrose of Keswick, Ontario, and Laura Stacey of Kleinburg, Ontario. Other Canadians on the Victoire who played were Alexandra Labelle of St-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec, Kaitlin Willoughby of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Jessica DiGirolamo of Mississauga, Ontario, Kati Tabin of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Nicole Gosling of London, Ontario, and Catherine Dubois of Quebec City, Quebec.
Poulin won gold for Canada at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, and the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. Desbiens, Stacey and Ambrose also won gold at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
