‘Years in the making’: Marie-Philip Poulin ready to start new women’s hockey competition

A woman destined to be a star player in the new North American women’s professional hockey league can’t wait to get started.

Canada women’s hockey team captain Marie Philip-Poulin was one of the members of the Professional Womens’ Hockey Players’ Association (PWHPA) who steadfastly pursued their vision of a professional league for women.

The PWHPA on Sunday voted to ratify a comprehensive collective bargaining agreement with the new league’s owners, long before the puck dropped in January.

For Poulin, dubbed “one of the greatest clutch performers this country has ever produced” when she was named the Canadian Press’ Female Athlete of the Year for 2022, it’s been a long road worth traveling to going to a league that met her threshold for professionalism. .

“It’s been years in the making,” she said Tuesday in Brossard, Que.

“The number of times we’ve said, ‘We’ll see, we’ll work, we’ll work’ and now we can finally say that something is going to happen in January that’s going to be a competition.”

CBA key for Poulin

The 32-year-old from Beauceville, Que., was asked Tuesday about the as-yet-unnamed women’s league at the Montreal Canadiens development camp. Poulin is a player development consultant for the Habs.

In addition to a salary range between $35,000 and $80,000 US, rosters for 23 players, per diem allowances, commercial rights, and trade protocols, the CBA includes game bonuses, a retirement plan, housing allowance, long-term disability, life and health insurance, workers’ compensation, maternity leave, and a dependent care tool.

The league will start with six teams in cities that have also yet to be named – three in Canada and three in the United States.

Montreal and Toronto are probably two of the three Canadian locations.

“I think once some teams are announced, once team names are announced, I think people will feel like they belong, bond with a team and really come out and support,” said Poulin.

‘For the next generation’

Walter, co-owner of the Dodgers and English Premier League club Chelsea FC, is a financier. The league’s board consists of tennis great Billie Jean King, sports director Ilana Kloss and Dodgers president Stan Kasten.

“If the Walter Group and the Billie Jean group come in and help us, I think that says a lot,” said Poulin, pointing to Jean founding the current WTA pro tour in 1973.

“You can see where it is now, women’s tennis. I think it’s pretty amazing. That’s what we want to create, a viable professional league for the next generation, for ourselves.”

The majority of Canada’s women’s team is PWHPA member, which gave the union clout in its pursuit of a professional league.

Poulin ranks fifth in all-time points for Canada behind Hockey Hall of Famers Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford, Caroline Ouellette and Danielle Goyette. Her 103 goals and 107 assists in 176 games is a pace of 1.2 points per game over her 14 years on the national team.

Poulin led Canada to world championship gold in both 2021 and 2022, as well as Olympic gold in Beijing last year. The US defeated Canada in the final to take the world title this year in Brampton, Ont.

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Poulin is the only hockey player in the world, male or female, to score goals in four consecutive Olympic finals with a total of seven in those matches.

She still wants to be pushed to the limit in hockey on a daily basis, which is what she believes the new league can offer.

“Prosport is not easy to be a part of. It’s a battle. You have to show up every day,” said Poulin.

“Unfortunately, not everyone can play. A lot is going to happen [of players] in women’s hockey who are going to graduate and maybe they’ll come and try and they won’t necessarily make it, but that’s the best part of it.

“Maybe next year one of the veterans, the next one coming up, can take your place. That’s what happens in the NHL. That’s what happens in pro sports. That’s what we want. That’s what we’re in going to begin.” January.”