Desbiens, Tabin Play Heroes For Montreal Victoire In Quebec City Takeover Tour Win

Quebec City — A sold out crowd of 18,259 participants flooded the Videotron Centre on Jan. 19. The attendees took in the most recent stop of the 2024-25 PWHL Takeover Tour, a game between the Montreal Victoire and the Ottawa Charge in the first ever PWHL neutral-site game held in Quebec City.

Victoire defender Kati Tabin scored the game winner on the powerplay in a 2-1 win for her team. Hometown forward Catherine Dubois, and Ottawa Charge forward Shiann Darkangelo scored for their respective teams.

The game was an elite exhibition of quality goaltending, with Team Canada’s best Ann-Renée Desbiens and Emerance Maschmeyer combining to stop 60 of the 62 total combined shots. Machmeyer has faced 290 shots, the most shots of any goaltender in the league.

“These women (Maschmeyer and backup goaltender Gwyneth Phillips) have had too much work,” said Charge head coach Carla MacLeod. “Now, we’re grateful they’re as great as they are at their jobs, but certainly, the objective has been to eliminate high-end chances.”

This was the first Takeover Tour game for Ottawa this year. Machmeyer took the time to speak on the lineup intros and the atmosphere.

“I had chills standing on the line,” said Maschmeyer. “When they announced the roster, and specifically, when they mentioned [Marie-Philip] Poulin, I was like, ‘Oh. This is insane.’ The energy was so incredible.”

Sunday’s matchup had a major significance for the slew of players hailing from Quebec City and the surrounding area. Players such as Montreal’s Poulin, Dubois, and Desbiens had over 100 tickets set aside for friends and family to attend. Poulin’s 91-year-old grandmother attended the game, while Dubois was seen pointing up to the stands following her goal.

“It was just unbelievable,” Dubois said, speaking on the game overall. “That crowd in front of us in Quebec City, where I’m from – I had chills the whole time.”

“That was an important decision for us as a team to start our Quebec players,” said Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie. “I’m not surprised at all [by the atmosphere], and I know the importance that those players mean to this province.”

During the player introductions, Poulin was visibly emotional when her name was announced and following the warm ovation the crowd showered the team with. She was asked about what the moment meant for her.

“I think a lot of us had a lot of special people in the stands,” said Poulin. “Especially my grandma making the tips here. It’s always very special, and it makes those games very enjoyable.”

Montreal now holds onto sole possession of first place in the PWHL, advancing to a record of 6-2-1-2, and remain undefeated against the Charge for the 2024-25 campaign.

The Victoire now have a week off, and won’t return to action until Wednesday, Jan. 29, when they face the Charge once more. The game will take place at home at Place Bell, and puck-drop is set for 7 p.m. EST.