Montreal Victoire select Ottawa Charge as 1st-round opponent in PWHL playoffs
The Montreal Victoire are gearing up to face off against the Ottawa Charge in the opening round of the Professional Women’s Hockey League playoffs. Montreal general manager Daniele Sauvageau made the announcement of their opponent selection on the league’s “Jocks in Jills” podcast on Sunday.
As the regular-season PWHL champions, Montreal had the option to choose between the third seed or the fourth seed for their first-round series. Head coach Kori Cheverie expressed that they have been preparing for this moment all year and carefully considered their decision to face the third-seeded Charge.
Ottawa secured their playoff spot by finishing ahead of the fourth-place Minnesota Frost through a tiebreaker. Despite a slow start to the season, the Charge managed to clinch a spot in the playoffs for the first time in their franchise history.
The series between the Charge and the Victoire will kick off on Thursday at Place Bell at 7 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the second-seeded Toronto Sceptres will take on the Frost in the first round, with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday at Coca-Cola Coliseum at 7 p.m. ET.
Last season, the Sceptres chose to face the Frost in the first round, only to be upset by Minnesota, who went on to claim the Walter Cup. Montreal, on the other hand, was swept by Boston in the first round, providing a valuable learning experience for the team.
Captain Marie-Philip Poulin reflected on the challenges of playoff series, emphasizing the importance of being mentally and physically prepared for the tough competition ahead. With a Canadian team guaranteed a spot in the PWHL final, the stakes are high for all teams vying for the championship.
The PWHL playoff schedule is set with a series of games lined up between the Victoire and the Charge, as well as the Sceptres and the Frost. Fans can look forward to an exciting postseason filled with intense matchups and thrilling hockey action. Stay tuned for all the latest updates and results as the teams battle it out for the coveted Walter Cup.
