Montreal Force
Force de Montréal
CityMontreal, Quebec
LeaguePremier Hockey Federation
Founded2022 (2022)
Folded2023 (2023)
Home arenaCentre 21.02 (practice site only for 2022–23)[1]
ColoursBlack, maroon, white
     
Owner(s)BTM Partners
General managerKevin Raphaël
Head coachPeter Smith
CaptainAnn-Sophie Bettez
WebsiteOfficial website

The Montreal Force (French: la Force de Montréal) was a professional women's ice hockey team in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), based in Montreal, Quebec. The team was established in 2022 and debuted in the 2022–23 PHF season. The Force played only one season, as the PHF's assets were purchased, and the league dissolved, at season's end. This was part of the creation of a new, unified professional women's league, the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).[2]

History

Montreal was long planned as a location for a PHF expansion franchise, but uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic led the league to delay its plans.[3] An expansion franchise was announced by the league in July 2022, with the owners announced as BTM Partners, which also owns three other PHF teams.[4] The team's name, logo and jersey were revealed in a press release from the league the following month.[5][6] Three uniforms were used during the inaugural season, one maroon with white stripes, one black with maroon stripes, and one white with maroon stripes, all with fleur-de-lis shoulder patches.[5]

The team announced in September 2022 that Peter Smith would be the team's first head coach, with Pierre Alain as associate coach and Katia Clement-Heydra as assistant coach.[7]

The team's first goal was scored in its inaugural match, a 5-4 shootout win against the Buffalo Beauts, by captain Ann-Sophie Bettez.[8]

The Force did not have an official home, but instead played home games at select rinks across the province of Quebec, including the Aréna Raymond-Bourque in Montreal, the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, the Aréna régional de la Rivière-du-Nord in Saint-Jérôme, and the Centre Premier Tech in Rivière-du-Loup; the team was also expected to play at venues in Gatineau, Quebec City, and Sept-Îles.[1][9]

In June 2023, the PHF's assets were purchased and the league was ultimately wound down as part of the creation of the Professional Women's Hockey League, the first unified women's professional league in North America.[2] In August, it was announced that Montreal had been awarded one of the six charter PWHL franchises.[10] PWHL Montréal made its debut on January 2, 2024.[11]

Team

2022–23 roster

As of January 20, 2023[5][12][13][14]
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
4 Canada Taylor Baker D R 26 2022 Toronto, Ontario
24 Canada Ann-Sophie Bettez (C) F L 36 2022 Sept-Îles, Quebec
12 Canada Catherine Daoust (A) D R 28 2022 L'Île-Bizard, Quebec
23 Canada Gabrielle De Serres D R 25 2022 Mont-Royal, Quebec
18 Canada Deziray De Sousa F L 25 2022 Montreal, Quebec
17 Canada Christine Deaudelin D L 26 2022 Beloeil, Quebec
33 Canada Tricia Deguire G L 26 2022 Sherbrooke, Quebec
9 Canada Kim Deschênes F R 32 2022 Saint-Quentin, New Brunswick
39 Canada Marie-Soleil Deschênes G R 29 2022 L'Île-Perrot, Quebec
27 Canada Jade Downie-Landry F L 28 2022 St.-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
28 Canada Catherine Dubois F L 28 2022 Quebec City, Quebec
64 Canada Maude Gélinas F L 31 2022 St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec
60 United States Sally Hoerr D L 27 2022 Colchester, Vermont
25 Canada Alyssa Holmes F R 24 2022 Hamilton, Ontario
8 Canada Kaity Howarth D L 25 2022 Thunder Bay, Ontario
5 Canada Samantha Isbell F L 25 2022 Thunder Bay, Ontario
29 Canada Laura Jardin F L 23–24 2022 Calgary, Alberta
13 Canada Alexandra Labelle F L 27 2022 St-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec
26 Canada Brigitte Laganière D L 27 2022 Anjou, Quebec
16 Canada Sarah Lefort (A) F L 29 2022 Ormstown, Quebec
Canada Autumn MacDougall F L 26 2023 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
7 Canada Kristina Shanahan F R 25 2022 Montreal, Quebec
3 Canada Brooke Stacey F L 27 2022 Kahnawake, Quebec

Coaching staff and team personnel

Front office

As of October 11, 2022[15]
  • President: Kevin Raphaël
  • Vice president: Emmanuel Anderson De Serres
  • Ownership group: BTM Partners

Awards and honors

  • Laura Jardin, 2023 PHF Foundation Award [16]

References

  1. 1 2 Kennedy, Ian (August 30, 2022). "New PHF Team in Montreal Named Force". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Wyshynski, Greg (June 29, 2023). "Sources: Premier Hockey Federation sale could unite women's hockey". ESPN. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  3. ↑ Wawrow, John (April 28, 2021). "NWHL delays Montreal expansion, doubles salary cap to $300K US". CBC.ca. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022. Our view is that it's a little better to take more time, build up better infrastructure for that new team, get the right people in place and really have a good go at that.
  4. ↑ Wawrow, John (July 12, 2022). "Montreal awarded PHF women's hockey expansion team after pandemic delay". CBC.ca. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Krotz, Paul (August 30, 2022). "PHF Montreal Named Force And Unveil New Logo And Jersey". Premier Hockey Federation (Press release). Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  6. ↑ Shilton, Kristen (August 30, 2022). "Montreal Force to enter as PHF's seventh team". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  7. ↑ Krotz, Paul (September 13, 2022). "Montreal Force Announce Inaugural Coaching Staff". Montreal Force (Press release). Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  8. ↑ Kennedy, Ian (November 6, 2022). "PHF Opening Day: Montreal Force Earn First Win". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  9. ↑ Burgess, Melissa (September 30, 2022). "PHF Notebook: Getting Ready for Season 8". The Victory Press. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  10. ↑ "PWHL unveils locations of first six teams, player selection process". Sportsnet. AP. August 29, 2023. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  11. ↑ Brennan, Don (January 2, 2024). "A Night to Remember: Montreal scores OT win in Ottawa's historic PWHL opener". Ottawa Sun. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Montreal Force, 2022-23 PHF > Roster". Premier Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Montréal Force, 2022-2023 Roster". Elite Prospects. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  14. ↑ La Force de Montréal [@laforcemontreal] (October 23, 2022). "Nos meneuses./Our leaders". Retrieved October 23, 2022 – via Instagram.
  15. ↑ Murphy, Mike (July 12, 2022). "PHF expanding to Montreal for upcoming 2022-23 season". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  16. ↑ Krotz, Paul (May 4, 2023). "PHF ANNOUNCES 2022-23 FOUNDATION AWARD RECIPIENTS". Premier Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
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