Vaughan's Laura Stacey signs with Professional Women Hockey League's Montreal team

Stacey, Marie-Philip Poulin, Ann-Renee Desbiens all signed 3-year contracts Sept. 7

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 8, 2023
Hunter Crowther

Three players from Canada's 2022 gold medal-winning Olympic team, including Kleinburg-native Laura Stacey, were signed by the Professional Women Hockey League's (PWHL) Montreal franchise on Thursday.

“It is an absolute honour to sign with Montreal and officially be a part of the PWHL,” said Stacey in a league press release. “This has been something we all have been dreaming about and collectively working toward for over four years now, and to be a part of the beginning of this new chapter is truly something I will remember forever."

The other two players signed were forward Marie-Philip Poulin, widely considered the best active player in the world, and goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens. All three players signed three-year deals through the 2025-26 season.

General manager Daniele Sauvageau called the trio, who were the first signings in the franchise's history, an "exceptional group of individuals and athletes." She went on to highlight what she thinks Stacey will bring to the table.

"Laura has become an offensive powerhouse in the women's game, consistently expanding and developing her craft," said Sauvageau. "Her speed remains the X-factor, consistently making her hard to play against."

The 29-year-old spent last year with Team Adidas in the Secret Dream Gap Tour, a league comprised of Professional Women's Hockey Players'

Association members. She scored nine goals and 21 points in 20 games.

Stacey has also earned two World Championships with Canada in 2021 and 2022, as well as a silver medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

The PWHL will begin play in January with teams in five other markets including Toronto, Ottawa, New York, Boston and Minnesota.