Victoire sign Poulin, Stacey, Desbiens to two-year contract extensions
Three of the best players in the game are going to be staying in la belle province for a little bit longer.
On Thursday, the Montreal Victoire announced that the team has signed captain Marie-Philip Poulin, forward Laura Stacey and goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens to two-year contract extensions.
The trio of stars were Montreal’s original free-agent signings in 2023, prior to the league’s inaugural season. They each signed three-year contracts, with their new deals keeping them on the books through the 2027-28 season. All three have been important in establishing the Victoire as one of the top teams in the league.
“I am so proud to remain with the Victoire for the long run,” Poulin said in a release. “It’s an honour and a privilege to wear this jersey and represent our city alongside my teammates. I am thrilled for this upcoming season to get started and look forward to reconnecting with our great fans.”
Even before the introduction of the PWHL, Poulin was known as arguably the greatest player in women’s hockey history. With multiple Olympic and IIHF gold medals to her name, the Beauceville, Que. native immediately gave Montreal star status. Canada’s all-time leading scorer at the IIHF Women’s World Championship is the all-time leading scorer in league history, with 49 points in 51 games. She led the league with 19 points last year, taking home the league’s Top Goal Scorer Award, and was named the Forward of the Year, taking home the Billie Jean King MVP Award in the process.
Her longtime partner, Laura Stacey, has also been an important figure in Montreal’s success. The speedster potted a career-high 22 points in 27 games last season and has totaled 21 goals and 40 points in 50 regular-season contests. Last season, she was on one of the best lines in the PWHL alongside Poulin and rookie Jenn Gardiner.
“When I first signed here in Montréal, I had no idea what to expect,” Stacey said. “But the last two years have blown me away and there is absolutely nowhere else that I want to be. Montréal is my home, and I could not be more thankful for the way this city, this organization and this team has welcomed me with open arms.”
Desbiens has been part of the ride with Poulin and Stacey in terms of international success, and the Charlevoix, Que. native has turned that into a successful start in the PWHL. The all-world netminder has helped keep Montreal near the top of the standings, earning the title of Goaltender of the Year in 2024-25.
“We are in the process of building something special in Montréal,” Desbiens said. “It’s great news to see that the three original players will continue the journey and work together for the next three seasons. Our extraordinary fans have made this decision even easier, and we’re really looking forward to seeing them again next month.”
The signing of the three players gives Montreal four assets locked up through the 2027-28 campaign, as rookie defender Nicole Gosling is also on board for the next three seasons.