Montreal Victoire Win First Canadian Walter Cup

Paola Lara has been there since day one, and now she's watching her team make history.

The Montreal Victoire brought home the Walter Cup last week, becoming the first Canadian team to win the Professional Women's Hockey League championship. On Saturday, thousands of fans packed downtown Montreal to celebrate with a victory parade that turned into an unforgettable street party.

Captain Marie-Philip Poulin summed it up perfectly backstage. "Just so much love, so much excitement," she said. "This has surpassed all our expectations."

The celebration had everything you'd want from a championship party. Forward Abby Roque chugged her beer before pouring the rest over her face as she walked on stage. Defender Amanda Boulier honked a tuba throughout the event as part of a bet. The team grooved to Celine Dion and Queen while sipping from both beer cans and the silver trophy itself.

The victory was especially sweet after a challenging season. The Victoire topped the regular-season standings but faced illnesses during the playoffs and Poulin's knee injury at the Winter Olympics. On May 20, they sealed their championship with a 4-0 victory against the Ottawa Charge, the same team they beat in their very first game back in January 2024.

Fans came ready to celebrate. Red Victoire flags waved through the crowd at Quartier des Spectacles. One sign read "god bless Wife Line," honoring the team's first line made up of Poulin, assistant captain Laura Stacey (the two are married), and Roque, who scored the first two goals in the final game.

Season ticket holder Lara brought her niece to the parade, representing the multigenerational appeal of the team. "Everybody is accepted, everybody can come and we're like a big family," she said.

The Ripple Effect

Montrealer Heidi Van Regan has been following the team "since before they existed." She wore a jersey for forward Jade Downie-Landry, not one of the big stars but someone who represents all the players now getting opportunities that didn't exist before the league.

Fellow fan Ariana Winn pointed out what this means for the future. Young girls today "are never going to know a time when women's professional hockey was not a thing," she said, wearing a sequined coat in team colors.

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada sees the bigger picture. "It's going to give a lot of inspiration to the next generation, to young women, to know that they can thrive and win in a sport that for decades has been a man's sport," she said.

On stage, Stacey raised her glass and shouted to the crowd what everyone was thinking: "Let's do it again next year, Montréal!"