VICTOIRE: Montreal wins first Walter Cup
Montreal Victoire celebrate their OT goal in game 1 of the finals
The Montreal Victoire defeated the Ottawa Charge 4-0 in Game 4 of the 2026 Walter Cup final to clinch the franchise’s first-ever Walter Cup championship on Wednesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Abby Roque scored twice, including a shorthanded beauty in the third period to provide the buffer the team needed. Ann-Renée Desbiens made 23 saves in the shutout win.
Maggie Flaherty also scored in the third period to make it 3-0 with a seeing-eye shot from the point. Flaherty is the first player to win three Walter Cups, having won two with the Minnesota Frost before coming over in free agency this summer. Lina Ljungblom added a fourth.
With 10:02 remaining in the third period and Marie-Philip Poulin in the penalty box, Roque broke free on a breakaway before moving to the backhand and roofing the puck over Ottawa goaltender Gwyneth Philips.
She opened the scoring with a goal 3:49 into the second period with a turnaround shot that hit off of the stick of Ottawa defender Rory Guilday before beating Philips.
Poulin was named the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs.
It is the first professional women’s hockey championship in the city since Les Canadiennes won the 2017 Clarkson Cup, also at the Canadian Tire Centre.
More to come.
