Latest news with #Cheverie
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
PWHL playoff notebook: Montreal Victoire in the driver's seat after 4OT win
Exactly a year ago Sunday, the Montreal Victoire battled over three overtime periods, only to come out on the wrong side of the game. The loss to the Boston Fleet put Montreal down 2-0 in the 2024 Walter Cup semifinal playoff series, a deficit the team couldn't come back from. This time around, the result was different. After an exhausting four overtime periods against the Ottawa Charge, Kristin O'Neill set up Quebec's own Catherine Dubois for the game winner in front of more than 7,100 fans inside Place Bell. The series is now tied 1-1. The 3-2 win was Montreal's first franchise playoff victory, after losing four playoff games over two seasons by just one goal each time. This Victoire team feels different than the one that was swept in the first round in 2024. For one, it's deeper. Montreal's fourth line played sparingly, if at all, during last year's series against the Fleet. This time, head coach Kori Cheverie is using her whole bench. Even in Game 1, which ended in regulation, the fourth-line players all logged more than 10 minutes each. The defence is deeper too. Defender Erin Ambrose played a stunning 61 minutes in triple overtime last year. In this year's marathon game, she still played nearly an hour. But first-round draft pick Cayla Barnes was there to put in more than 50 minutes of work on the blue line, which surely eased the load on the added depth, Cheverie pointed to another year of experience for many players and the Victoire's staff, who have worked hard on the mental preparation of what this year's playoffs could look like. They've been here before and they know what to expect. "[It was] being able to find a way to do the little things in a moment where one team is going to make a mistake and one team is going to capitalize on it," Cheverie said. "Keeping things as simple as possible within our own game plan, within our own individual abilities as well, was going to be crucial." Cheverie didn't like that her team gave up the game-tying goal to Ottawa Charge captain Brianne Jenner in the last minute of regulation in Sunday's game. But the team that gives up a last-minute goal like that doesn't usually end up on the winning side. Not so for the Victoire. The players didn't seem rattled, nor was goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens, who stood tall despite facing 65 shots. "You know when your team keeps doing the right things like we did today, especially in overtime, that eventually we're going to get one," Desbiens said after Sunday's game. "So just make sure I make the saves so that the girls can have the opportunity they worked so hard for all game long and all overtime long." The Charge, meanwhile, left Montreal with a split against the top-seeded team, which is not a bad result. The players who spoke to reporters after the game didn't seem deflated after losing in quadruple overtime. In fact, defender Jocelyne Larocque said she felt the Charge had the momentum. "There's so much to be proud of," Larocque said after the game. "We never gave up." The Victoire may disagree that the Charge have the momentum, but Ottawa has proven that it can't be counted out. That starts with the captain, Jenner, who comes up big when this team needs her most, and extends to rookie goaltender Gwyneth Philips, who doesn't look like she's playing in her first PWHL playoff series. "For us, it's just about staying true to our process and the game that we've been playing," head coach Carla MacLeod said. "I thought we made some nice adjustments from Game 1 to Game 2. I thought we actually played a heck of a hockey game. So I think it's less about the emotion of the momentum and more just the detail of our game that can lend itself nicely to the next game." The series moves to Ottawa for Game 3 on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. While the Victoire and Charge made history for the longest PWHL game, the Minnesota Frost's 7-5 victory over the Toronto Sceptres was the highest scoring game the league has seen yet. Minnesota took a 2-1 series lead with the win, and have the chance to advance to the final on Wednesday at home. The game is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Frost's offence is heating up at the right time. The team has now scored 25 goals in the last five games, dating back to the regular season. Many know Frost defender Lee Stecklein as one of the best defensive defenders in the world. She excels at using her long stick to break up plays, and did a lot of that on Sunday. "She's that stability on the blue line, but also is the top of our power play [and] out there playing major minutes," Minnesota forward Taylor Heise said on Monday. Stecklein has found an offensive touch over the last five games. In that time, she's put up nine points including six goals. Her goal on Sunday gave Minnesota a commanding 3-0 lead. She also added an assist on Michela Cava's goal in the third period, which put the game away for the Frost. With offence coming from up front and the blue line — defender Sophie Jaques has seven points in the last five games — Minnesota has become a difficult team for Toronto to stop. Fewer slot chances would help. But some of the issue has been leaky goaltending from Sceptres starter Kristen Campbell, who has now allowed 14 goals over three playoff games. There was discussion about pulling Campbell for backup Carly "CJ" Jackson on Sunday, but the coaching staff decided to keep Jackson removed from the game. "If we so choose to use her in Game 4, at least she can come in fresh with her own start, feeling good about where she is," Ryan said on Monday. Regular backup Raygan Kirk is on long-term injured reserve and not expected to return during this series. That means the team has to decide whether to turn back to Campbell or switch to Jackson for a must-win playoff game on the road. Ryan also said the team has confidence in Campbell, who has had an up-and-down season. With no room for another loss, it could be a series-deciding question. "She knows she has to be better and we know she needs to be better," Ryan said about Campbell. "But we're also not going to make any quick decisions. We'll go through some video. We'll have some discussion with some athletes and some staff members, and ultimately we'll come up with the decision that best fits our team at this moment."
Montreal Gazette
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Montreal Victoire coach focuses on second-season PWHL playoffs, not on the past
Montreal Victoire Montreal Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie isn't feeling nostalgic about last year's playoffs. In fact, she doesn't really want to talk about them, and who can blame her? With the Professional Women's Hockey League second-season playoffs starting this week, Cheverie is naturally focused on the present — as in the first game of the Victoire series versus the Ottawa Charge, which takes place Thursday evening at Place Bell in Laval (7 p.m., airing on TSN and RDS). The Victoire are entering the best-of-five series and the entire playoffs as heavy favourites, given that they finished first overall in the league this season. But though the coach doesn't want to hear about it, others can't help looking back to last spring and how the Montreal hockey team fared in its first venture into the post-season. The short version? Not so good. They lost three straight games to the Boston Fleet, all in overtime. Let's just say that's a tough way to go out. So when Cheverie was asked Wednesday what lessons the team learned from that playoff loss, she wasn't eager to look back in the rear-view mirror. 'To be honest, we haven't talked about last year at all this year,' said Cheverie, talking to reporters after practice Wednesday at the CEPSUM arena at the Université de Montréal. 'It's not a topic that we discuss. We made that kind of a thing at the beginning of the year, that we wouldn't even use the words 'last year.' To me, that's a very foreign term. We have a completely different team, so even if we were to talk about it, it would not land. So for us, all we need to focus on is what it is we need to do moving forward. 'And would we have done things differently last year? Not sure. Because we took what we had and we did what we did and we had the three best games we could have had in a row, and it just turned out that they scored one more than us in OT.' Because the Victoire finished first this season, the team was allowed to pick its opponent from the third- and fourth-place teams (which had the same amount of points), and they chose the Ottawa Charge. No one has said publicly why they picked Ottawa, though it would be a reasonable guess that they'd prefer a team that's just a two-hour bus ride away. The other choice would have been the Minnesota Frost, who started their series against the Toronto Sceptres at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in T.O. on Wednesday. The other reason the Victoire coach doesn't want to dwell on last year is because her team had a blockbuster second season. Montreal's record was 19-8-3, putting them at the top of the league. Marie-Philip Poulin, the team's captain, led the league in goals, with 19, and the team's first line — made up of Poulin, Laura Stacey and Jennifer Gardiner — is considered by many to be the best line in the league. Poulin is nicknamed Captain Clutch because she has scored three gold-medal-winning goals in women's Olympic hockey for Team Canada. 'She's a huge part of our team,' said Cheverie. 'She leads the way in so many different ways, and mainly in all the little things she does in the right way. She works extremely hard on the ice. She leads by example. She's going to be checked tightly this series and so it's really important for her, regardless of what happens in terms of how tight they're checking her, I know she's going to find a way. She's going to find those open-ice areas. She's going to find a way to get her shot away. For her, she's been so integral to this team and I know she's going to continue to bring those big moments for this group.' This is Gardiner's first PWHL playoff series, and the forward from Surrey, B.C., who played five years at Ohio State (garnering 171 points in 176 games), admitted she's going through a whole host of emotions this week. 'Obviously in playoffs, no matter where you are, you know a lot's on the line and every single game has so much weight on it,' said Gardiner. 'But obviously I've never had a playoff game in front of 10,000 of the best fans in all of North America, so to get to be able to do that is pretty special. 'There's a lot to look forward to. We know the building's going to be super loud. We know Montreal fans are going to show up for us.' This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM.
CBC
25-03-2025
- General
- CBC
Fishermen voted to remove this small P.E.I. bridge for safety reasons, but many want it to stay
Social Sharing There's a debate happening in a small northeastern P.E.I. community about the future of a century-old bridge that some say is a safety risk, but others consider a piece of history that should be preserved. A slim majority of fishermen in Naufrage recently voted in favour of removing the 15-metre wooden Bailey bridge that spans the narrow channel into the community's harbour. Nathan Cheverie, a fisherman and president of the Naufrage Harbour Authority, said the bridge is too low for larger modern fishing boats to pass under when there are larger swells. "It's a low clearance when we're trying to get in and out of the harbour and it causes issues throughout the season," Cheverie said. "We haven't seen a major catastrophe…. [But] it's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure." Meanwhile, hundreds of people have signed an online petition that argues replacing the old bridge with a new, higher structure is the way to go. "This bridge is more than just a structure — it's a piece of our history, our economy, and our way of life," a preamble to the petition stated. "It is also the last remaining crossing of the Old Queen's Road, an important piece of Prince Edward Island's heritage. "Removing it would sever a historic and necessary connection that has existed for generations." Wayne MacDonald, who fished out of Naufrage Harbour for many years, said he worries removing the bridge altogether could hurt tourism to the area. The harbour and nearby beach attract lots of visitors to during the summer, he said, so he thinks the bridge should be replaced and raised. Fate of bridge is a burning issue in P.E.I.'s Naufrage Harbour 9 minutes ago Duration 2:04 Some people in the northeastern P.E.I. community of Naufrage want a historic bridge that connects both sides of the harbour removed for safety reasons; others say it's a vital link and should stay. The CBC's Connor Lamont caught up with fishing crews and other people in the Naufrage area to discuss the future of the bridge. "If you wanted something on the other side, you'd have to go all the way around, which is pretty inconvenient," MacDonald said. "I'd like to see a new one put in, raised up four feet or five, whatever they need, which should be convenient for everybody." According to directions on Google Maps, the driving time from one side of the harbour to the other using Route 16 is about six minutes. Not considered essential Fisheries and Oceans Canada, or DFO, is responsible for maintaining bridges and other infrastructure in small craft harbours. After the Naufrage bridge was damaged by post-tropical storm Fiona, DFO made repairs in the spring of 2023 to keep it operational. In a statement to CBC News, the agency said the Naufrage bridge is not considered essential to the community's commercial fishery operations. "There are currently no plans to remove the bridge," the DFO statement reads. "However, given the aging infrastructure, its removal will eventually be required if it is deemed unsafe for use or is damaged in future storms." The harbour authority is seeking funding to have the bridge removed, in the wake of the fishermen's vote. Cheverie said the expected lifespan of the bridge will be up in about 10 years. Jerry MacDonald said he can see how the current state of the bridge might be unsafe for boats going in and out of the harbour. But he ultimately thinks it should be replaced and raised instead of removed. "The bridge is very important to the community. It's been here forever," he said. "I can understand both sides, big time. They need a new bridge, bottom line."
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Montreal Victoire's scoring depth instrumental in club's 6-2 PWHL win over Sirens
LAVAL, Que. — Much of the discussion surrounding the Montreal Victoire through the midway mark of the Professional Women's Hockey League schedule has revolved around captain Marie-Philip Poulin. The 33-year-old Beauceville, Que., native leads the team in scoring with 13 points in 15 games. Her league-leading 11th goal of the season led Montreal to a 6-2 win over the New York Sirens on Saturday afternoon but also surpassed the 10 goals she scored in 21 games last season. '(Marie-Philip) Poulin has obviously been playing really well lately,' said Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie. 'She always gives us her best but we do need other people to score. "Our team is not the Marie-Philip Poulin team.' The scoring depth preached by Cheverie was on full display Saturday, particularly in Montreal's four-goal first period. Three came from the team's newly-formed fourth line, including two from Swede Lina Ljungblom. The 23-year-old opened the scoring for Montreal, accepting a pass from linemate Clair Degeorge before beating Sirens starter Corinne Schroeder for her second goal of the season. She was credited with another before the period ended, deflecting a point shot from Amanda Boulier past Schroeder's glove with just over a minute remaining. However, Ljungblom said the goal wasn't hers. "First of all, I didn't score two goals,' said Ljungblom 'It's Amanda's goal. "I don't know where that came from. I scored one goal but I am good with that. It felt good to finally score again.' Added Boulier: 'I'm pretty sure Lina tipped it. It went off (someone's) stick. I'm pretty sure it was Lina's.' Despite not receiving credit for what would have been her first goal of the season, Boulier was rewarded with the game's first star after recording two assists and a plus-three rating. 'We need that type of depth in scoring if our team is going to be successful in the long run,' said Cheverie. 'All these little moments that these players are getting and contributions on the scoreboard are going to pay dividends as the season goes on.' Ljungblom's two goals came in a season-low 10:18 of icetime played alongside Degeorge and Maureen Murphy. Nevertheless, she was proud of her line's effort and contributions to the team's season-high six goals in just their second game together. 'I feel like we're just trying to do what we should do out there and what the coaches are telling us to do,' said Ljungblom. 'We're trying to have fun. "Today, it felt good for the whole line that we could score some goals. We're happy about that.' So is Cheverie. "I'm really happy with those roster adjustments that we made,' said Cheverie. 'Lina, (Clair) Degeorge and (Maureen) Murphy are really buying into that group of three. "This kind of adjustment has given them maybe a little more space and time. I really liked their response and was really happy with that line as a whole.' NADEAU MAKES HER PWHL DEBUT Defender Kelly-Ann Nadeau played her first-ever PWHL game for Montreal after signing with the team Friday. The native of Mont-Laurier, Que., who started the season on the Victoire's reserve player list, had a hit in six minutes of icetime. The 26-year-old University of Montreal Carabins' product became just the third player to play in the PWHL straight out of USports. The others were Toronto's Rylind MacKinnon and New York's Emmy Fecteau. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 15, 2025. Jordan Stoopler, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Montreal Victoire Return Refreshed After Bye Week, Face Busy Schedule Ahead
The Montreal Victoire returned to Verdun Auditorium for practice following a league mandated week off. The team experienced a lengthy roadtrip weeks prior, and used the open calendar for rest and recovery ahead of their three games this week. Here is an inside look at Victoire practice: In the span of two weeks, stretching from Jan. 5 to Jan. 19, the Victoire travelled from Seattle to Quebec City as part of the Takeover Tour, with stops in Vancouver, Denver, and a game at home in Montreal. Each PWHL team is thankfully granted a week off of practice and media availability during the season, and Montreal deservedly had theirs last week. Many players took the time to recuperate, while others spent time with friends and family. 'All the fans of the Victoire have been showing up with puzzles at games, so I've had a couple to do,' said defender Erin Ambrose when asked how she spent her time. She noted that one puzzle in particular has caused trouble. 'It's of flowers and it's a crazy design, and it's kicking my butt right now.' '[It's] a good reset, sort of a third of the way through the season,' said forward Claire Dalton. 'We have a few breaks here and there, but having one mandated by the league was nice.' Laura Stacey and Dominika Lásková have missed time dealing with injuries this season. Stacey sustained a lower body injury against Minnesota on Jan. 12 while Lásková has not played since January 2024. Both players have practiced, however, dawning red non-contact jerseys. The positive sign is that both players were seen engaging in special teams drills this week. Another spot of worry from Monday's ice time was seeing forward Claire Dalton practice in a red non-contact jersey. Yet, when Tuesday's practice rolled around, she was back in black and taking up her role on special teams. Dalton stated that it was for precautionary, stemming from a minor injury she sustained against Ottawa on Jan. 19, but that it is no longer an issue. There is still no clear timeline for Stacey and Lásková's returns, but head coach Kori Cheverie did speak on the plan for the two players' rehabilitation. 'Having three jerseys at practice in red is obviously something that you don't want to see,' said Cheverie. 'But we try to put our players in the best scenario to keep them engaged by making sure that they're not receiving the contact that they're not ready for.' Cheverie also spoke on how relieving it is that Dalton was back at full speed. 'She's been a big part of our team,' she said. 'She's been crucial for us. She's on the power play, the PK, she plays five-on-five. She's an unsung hero.' The Victoire must now transition from resting to racing, enduring a marathon of three games; today against the Ottawa Charge, tomorrow against the Toronto Sceptres and on Saturday in New York against the Sirens. Cheverie was asked about playing back-to-back games and any issues that may arise with having to do so after a week away from the rink. 'I think that anytime there's time off, we run the risk of a slow start,' said Cheverie. 'But, you know, that hasn't been an issue for us all year. I'm really looking forward to getting on the [Place Bell] ice and so are the players.' An additional topic of conversation was the upcoming Rivalry Series starting on Feb. 6. Ambrose was asked about representing Canada alongside players she faces throughout the PWHL season, such as Ottawa goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer, who the Victoire will face tonight. 'I think the best part about it is that we all understand and we respect each other,' said Ambrose. 'We've been through everything together on the National Team… But, at the same time, we understand that we're professionals, and we have to go out there and make sure that we're competing to put our [PWHL] team in the best position.' Stacey was named to the Team Canada roster, but as Cheverie detailed, the Victoire have first say on whether or not the veteran forward will compete given her injury. 'There's a big collaboration piece that has to happen there, and it depends on what the club team would want,' said Cheverie. 'It's prescribed by us, but there's collaboration. The national teams are great in terms of following that prescribed formula for each player.' The Victoire take to Place Bell tonight to face the Ottawa Charge. The puck will drop at 7 p.m. EST.
