Marie-Philip Poulin has been the Canadiens’ player development advisor since June 2022 and spoke enthusiastically about the progress of Lane Hutson and Logan Mailloux and the first steps of David Reinbacher.

But the four-time Olympic gold medalist, three golds and one silver, also dropped a few words on another topic: the launch of a new women’s hockey league that will bring together the best female players from North America, with the possibility of also attracting the best from Europe and Asia.

“I’m very excited,” said the glorious Canada forward. This is very good news. We have long wondered when it would happen. I said it would happen. I can finally say it. In January there will be a league for women’s hockey. The PWHPA (Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association) served this league for several years.

“Little girls can now dream of playing in this league.”

The future women’s hockey league eliminated the competition with the purchase First Hockey Federation (PHF)a professional circle made up of seven teams, including the Force of Montreal.

The influence of Billie Jean King

For ages there has been a showdown between the PWHPA and the PHF. In the end there was no merger.

“We wanted to set up a collective agreement with the necessary resources: an attractive salary, physiotherapists, doctors and interesting amphitheatres. We’ve worked with good people like Billie Jean King. She has achieved great things for women’s tennis. She walked away with a blank sheet.”

The next women’s professional league will have six teams: three in Canada and three in the United States. The six cities chosen include Montreal and Toronto.

Among the investors in this circuit is Mark Walter, the president of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Professional ice hockey players cleared the last major hurdle on Sunday with the unanimous adoption of a collective agreement and statutes.