Victoire sign Emma Maltais to two-year contract
One of the game’s most energetic players is joining a rival.
On Tuesday, the Montreal Victoire announced that the team has signed forward Emma Maltais to a two-year contract that will run through the 2027-28 season.
Maltais is the second big signing made by the defending Walter Cup champions during the Open Signing Period, as the Victoire also added former Boston Fleet forward Jessie Eldridge on a two-year contract on Saturday. The duo owns an already stacked roster that includes Laura Stacey, Abby Roque and captain Marie-Philip Poulin. While there has been a lot of change within Montreal’s core, they still possess a lot of talent that will make them a contender once again next season.
Maltais not only brings added offense to la belle province, but she also brings grit that a team needs to win a championship. Roque certainly gave the Victoire some of that last year, with Maltais only being another layer to a deep forward group.
The Burlington, Ont. native had spent the first three years of the PWHL with the Toronto Sceptres. On a team that featured Natalie Spooner, Sarah Nurse and Hannah Miller, Toronto was one of the top teams in the league early on. However, injuries and lackluster play hurt the team this past year, leading to the team missing the postseason for the first time, finishing with league-low 51 goals scored. Maltais scored three goals and 10 points in 30 regular-season games.
The 26-year-old had played in every game in Sceptres history, scoring 11 goals and 38 points in 84 regular-season games, adding six points in nine playoff affairs.
Maltais also has some significant international experience. She helped Canada win gold at the IIHF Women’s World Championship three times, as well as the 2022 Winter Olympics.
With the addition of Maltais, the Victoire have 16 of a possible 23 players signed to contracts for the 2026-27 campaign.