MONTREAL — The Montreal Victoire have won the PWHL’s Walter Cup, ending an excruciating three-year period where the championship resided south of the border.
“I’m honoured to have helped bring a championship back to Canada,” said Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin. “Although it turns out it’s actually not that hard. Not sure what Maple Leafs fans are always complaining about.”
Montreal’s victory has returned Canada to hockey prominence at a time when the nation was weary of watching the Oilers biff it.
“Before this win, there was no one with a living memory of a Canadian team hoisting the Walter Cup,” said sports historian Katie Bennett. “It just goes to show you how fast time passes.”
Ecstatic Montreal fans, who are still coming to terms with the Canadiens being kinda good again, were eager to celebrate the Victoire’s historic win.
“I never thought I would see this day come,” said one Victoire fan. “My parents didn’t see it happen, and my parents’ parents didn’t either. They were all busy.”
“I’ve followed this team through the dark days of 2024, when we were pretty good but couldn’t quite go all the way, right through to 2025, when we were pretty good but couldn’t quite go all the way,” another fan said. “Finally, my patience has been rewarded.”
While fans of the defeated Ottawa Charge are disappointed, they’re hopeful the team can build on the experience.
“I’d only followed the Senators before this season,” a Charge fan said, “so I had no idea that Ottawa hockey teams were allowed to advance in the playoffs.”
The Victoire are already planning to defend their title with novel ideas like not turning to a disgraced GM and not wildly overpaying third-line players for their “grit.”
“With some of Canada’s men’s teams starting to show signs of development, I’d be happy to share my ideas,” said Victoire GM Danièle Sauvageau. “You can do it, boys!”
