TORONTO – Laughter and camaraderie! The ice hockey players seemed to be in agreement when they were invited to the big stage, the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, on Thursday evening on the sidelines of the game for a three-on-three competition with 24 players from the Professional Women's Hockey League (LPHF) NHL -All Stars.

“I can say that I know all the girls on the different teams quite well,” said Quebec goalkeeper Ann-Renée Desbiens, who plays for Montreal. We often meet at international events, some of us went to school together or we have mutual friends. It really is a small world.”

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During the evening's game, Desbiens didn't want to give American Alex Carpenter such a nice gift when a missed clearance resulted in a goal for the latter. For the Charlevoix Region goalkeeper, who was defending the King team's colors at the start of the game, it was better to laugh it off. Nevertheless, the Quebecer continued to spice up the evening with some spectacular saves.

Marie-Philip Poulin, also on the King team, was the other Quebecer who took part in this meeting, which ended with a 5-3 victory for this club against “Team Kloss”. For his part, Poulin collected two assists, contributing to two of the three goals scored by Ottawa player Savannah Harmon.

Photo credit: Photo Cole Burston / Getty Images via AFP

A showcase for women's hockey

While it was a great opportunity to further promote women's hockey, this exposure at the All-Star Game was a logical extension of the emergence of the LPHF and certain rivalries that are quietly emerging in the professional game.

Photo credit: Photo Bruce Bennett / Getty Images via AFP

“We played Ottawa twice and it was intense, it's certainly at the top of the list of rivalries with Toronto,” said Poulin, captain of the Montreal team.

In Ottawa, captain Brianne Jenner played with Poulin on the Canadian team more often than against her. Despite everything, she also sees a rivalry emerging between Montreal and Ottawa.

“It's a question of proximity between the two cities,” Jenner concluded, recalling that the crowd even booed Poulin at the home opener in Ottawa on January 2nd.

Photo credit: Photo Benoît Rioux

“We created a league, people get behind their team and here we are,” noted Poulin with a smile about the unusual boos for them in Canadian territory. It made me laugh and it’s just fun.”

Montreal and Minnesota face each other

Before the evening drinks, the players were treated to a promotional event at the Nathan Phillips Square Skating Oval on Thursday morning. American Kendall Coyne Schofield, captain of the Minnesota team, also present, spoke of a growing rivalry with Montreal.

Photo credit: Photo Benoît Rioux

“There will be rivalries during the playoffs, but there is already a battle between Montreal and us in the table,” she said. We’re facing each other!”

One thing is certain: On Thursday, the girls from the different teams in attendance seemed to be on the same page.