Les Canadiennes de Montréal

Team history and origins

The Montreal Stars were a founding member of the Canadian Women's Hockey League when it launched in 2007, formed primarily from players of the defunct Montreal Axion of the National Women's Hockey League. The team experienced immediate success, finishing first overall in the 2007-08 regular season with 23 wins in 30 games, though they fell in the playoffs to the Mississauga Chiefs. The following season, the Stars captured the inaugural Clarkson Cup as a professional club trophy, defeating the Minnesota Whitecaps 3-1 in Kingston, Ontario on March 19, 2009. Sabrina Harbec scored the game-winning goal, and team captain Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux received the trophy from its namesake, former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. That season also saw goaltender Kim St. Pierre win her second consecutive CWHL Top Goaltender award, while Caroline Ouellette was named league MVP.

Individual excellence was a consistent feature of the franchise from its earliest days. In the 2007-08 season, a 16-year-old Marie-Philip Poulin was named CWHL Rookie of the Year after scoring over 40 points in just 16 games. Sabrina Harbec led the entire league in scoring with 54 points during the 2009-10 campaign. The 2013-14 season was historic as three Stars players, Lisa-Marie Breton, Vanessa Davidson, and Emmanuelle Blais, each recorded the 100th point of their CWHL careers, marking the first time three players from one franchise reached the century mark in the same season. The team continued to be a regular season powerhouse, finishing first overall again in 2009-10, though they were unable to defend their Clarkson Cup title that postseason.

Partnership with the Montreal Canadiens and rebranding

In March 2015, the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL entered a formal resource-sharing and marketing partnership with the Stars, a move described by Canadiens CEO Geoff Molson as a concrete step to support professional women's hockey. CWHL commissioner Brenda Andress noted the partnership offered a chance to grow the women's game alongside one of sport's most storied franchises. For the 2015-16 season, the team unveiled a new identity as Les Canadiennes de Montréal, adopting a logo featuring a rounded 'C' with a star and the blue, white, and red colour scheme of the NHL Canadiens. This affiliation provided significant visibility and resources, culminating in Les Canadiennes playing the first CWHL game at the Bell Centre on December 10, 2016, where they defeated the Calgary Inferno 1-0 in front of nearly 6,000 spectators. The partnership era saw several major individual milestones, including Noemie Marin's 200th career point in December 2015 and Caroline Ouellette's 300th point a year later.

Caroline Ouellette, the league's all-time leader in points and assists, recorded her 300th career point on December 11, 2016. She later tied Jayna Hefford's league record of 130 career goals on January 29, 2017, finishing that season with 309 career points. For the 2018-19 season, the team moved its operations to Place Bell in Laval, the home arena of the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, scheduling several home games at the newer venue. The affiliation fundamentally changed the team's profile and operational capacity until the CWHL's closure, providing a model for collaboration between men's and women's professional hockey.

On-ice achievements and records

Les Canadiennes and their predecessor, the Montreal Stars, established themselves as the most decorated franchise in CWHL history over twelve seasons. The team's trophy case includes a record four Clarkson Cup championships, won in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2017. They also captured the CWHL's regular season championship, the Chairman's Trophy, an impressive eight times. The team's consistent success was built on a foundation of elite talent, with numerous players earning the league's highest individual honours across more than a decade of competition. This collection of team and individual awards confirms the sustained dominance of the Montreal franchise throughout the CWHL's existence.

• Clarkson Cup Championships: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2017.
• Regular Season Championships (Chairman's Trophy): 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2015-16.
• CWHL Most Valuable Player (Jayna Hefford Trophy): Caroline Ouellette (2008-09, 2010-11), Sabrina Harbec (2009-10), Meghan Agosta (2011-12), Ann-Sophie Bettez (2013-14), Marie-Philip Poulin (2015-16, 2016-17).
• Angela James Bowl (Scoring Champion): Sabrina Harbec (2009-10), Caroline Ouellette (2010-11), Meghan Agosta (2011-12, 2012-13), Ann-Sophie Bettez (2013-14), Marie-Philip Poulin (2015-16, 2016-17 co-winner).
• CWHL Top Goaltender: Kim St-Pierre (2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11), Charline Labonté (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17).

The franchise was a leader in developing defensive talent, with awards going to Annie Guay, Catherine Ward, and Cathy Chartrand. Annie Guay was named CWHL Top Defender for the 2009-10 season. Catherine Ward was named CWHL Top Defender for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. Cathy Chartrand was named CWHL Top Defender for the 2013-14 season and was also the leading scorer among CWHL defenders in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Coach Dany Brunet was named CWHL Coach of the Year for the 2014-15 season.

Historic games and milestones

Les Canadiennes were central to several landmark events in women's professional hockey. The most notable was their participation in the 2016 Outdoor Women's Classic on December 31, 2015. Playing against the Boston Pride of the rival National Women's Hockey League at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the game was the first outdoor professional women's hockey game ever held. It served as an undercard to the NHL's 2016 Winter Classic between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins, bringing unprecedented mainstream attention to the women's game. Another major milestone was the game at the Bell Centre on December 10, 2016, which set a new standard for attendance and atmosphere for a CWHL regular season contest with captain Marie-Philip Poulin scoring the only goal.

The team's history is filled with significant personal achievements that also marked league milestones. Marie-Philip Poulin's rookie season in 2007-08, where she dominated as a teenager, announced the arrival of a future superstar. The trio of 100-point milestones reached in the 2013-14 season by Breton, Davidson, and Blais was a unique accomplishment in CWHL history. Caroline Ouellette's pursuit and eventual tying of Jayna Hefford's goal record cemented her legacy as one of the greatest players the league ever saw. These moments, both collective and individual, defined the franchise's role as a trailblazer and a consistent source of historic performances that pushed the women's professional game forward.

Olympians and notable players

The roster of Les Canadiennes and the Montreal Stars consistently featured many of the world's best players, including numerous Olympic medalists. The core of the Canadian team that won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, forwards Caroline Ouellette and Sarah Vaillancourt, and goaltender Kim St. Pierre, were key members of the Stars. For the 2014 Sochi Games, the team was represented by Ouellette, Haley Irwin, Charline Labonté, and Catherine Ward on Team Canada, while Julie Chu competed for the United States. This pipeline of world-class talent continued after the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, when American star Hilary Knight signed with Les Canadiennes as a free agent on March 8, 2018, joining the team for that season's Clarkson Cup playoffs.

Beyond Olympians, the franchise was home to many other award-winning players who defined eras of the CWHL. Sabrina Harbec was an early scoring champion and MVP, while Meghan Agosta brought her elite talent to Montreal, winning MVP and scoring titles. Ann-Sophie Bettez emerged as a dominant offensive force in the mid-2010s, leading the league in goals multiple times and winning an MVP award. The defensive corps was anchored by stalwarts like Catherine Ward and Cathy Chartrand, both recognized as the league's top defender. This concentration of talent made Montreal the destination for elite players and a perennial championship contender throughout the league's history.

Community engagement and legacy

Les Canadiennes were deeply committed to community outreach and serving as role models, particularly for young female athletes. The team organized annual Breast Cancer Fundraising events, for which they wore special pink jerseys, aligning the team with an important cause. A central part of their mission was supporting the growth of girls' amateur hockey through various initiatives like the 'Canadiennes Camps', which provided direct coaching and mentorship from the professional players to young participants. Players made themselves accessible to fans, especially young girls, by holding autograph sessions after most home games and engaging through social media platforms and various community outreach events.

The team's legacy extends beyond trophies to its impact on the sport's visibility and infrastructure in Canada. The partnership with the Montreal Canadiens provided a blueprint for how NHL teams could support women's professional hockey, offering resources and a massive marketing platform. By playing in major venues like the Bell Centre and participating in the Outdoor Women's Classic, Les Canadiennes helped bring women's hockey to larger audiences. Their commitment to excellence on the ice and community engagement off it made them a beloved institution in Montreal and a standard-bearer for the CWHL until the league's dissolution in 2019, which also ended the team's operations as the CWHL directly owned all its teams.

Season-by-season results

The team won the CWHL Chairman's Trophy for the regular season championship in the 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2013-14, and 2015-16 seasons. In their first season in 2007-08, they won 23 games out of 30 and finished first overall. They also finished in first place in the 2009-10 regular season. Les Canadiennes won a total of eight regular season championships in their 12 seasons. The team never had a losing record and demonstrated consistent regular season excellence.

The team won the Clarkson Cup four times, which was the most of any CWHL team. They won the Clarkson Cup in the 2008-09 season, defeating the Minnesota Whitecaps in the final. They also won the Clarkson Cup in the 2010-11 season. Marie-Philip Poulin won the Jayna Hefford Trophy as league MVP for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The team remained championship calibre, winning the Clarkson Cup in the 2016-17 season. The CWHL ceased operations in 2019, which included Les Canadiennes.

Questions about Les Canadiennes de Montréal

Why did Les Canadiennes de Montréal cease operations?

Les Canadiennes de Montréal ceased operations in 2019 when the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) abruptly folded. The CWHL directly owned all of its teams, including Les Canadiennes, so the dissolution of the league meant the end for all its member clubs. The closure was due to the league's financial instability, despite the growth and success of franchises like Montreal. The team's final season was 2018-19, after which it, along with the entire CWHL, was discontinued.

What was the significance of the team's partnership with the Montreal Canadiens?

The partnership with the Montreal Canadiens, announced in March 2015, was a landmark moment for women's professional hockey. It provided the team with crucial resources, marketing support, and a massive platform from one of the world's most famous sports franchises. This affiliation led directly to the team's rebranding as Les Canadiennes for the 2015-16 season, adopting the Canadiens' colours and logo style. The partnership also facilitated major events, most notably the first CWHL game played at the Bell Centre in 2016, which drew a crowd of nearly 6,000 fans.

How many Clarkson Cups did Les Canadiennes win?

Les Canadiennes de Montréal and their predecessor, the Montreal Stars, won the Clarkson Cup four times, which is the most of any team in CWHL history. Their championship victories came in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2017. The 2009 win was particularly historic as it was the first Clarkson Cup awarded as a trophy for professional club competition, rather than between national teams. The team also appeared in several other Clarkson Cup finals, solidifying its status as the league's most successful playoff franchise.

Who were some of the most famous players to play for Les Canadiennes?

Key players included Caroline Ouellette, Marie-Philip Poulin, Kim St. Pierre, and Charline Labonté. Other notable players were Sabrina Harbec, Meghan Agosta, and Ann-Sophie Bettez. Catherine Ward and Julie Chu were also members of the team. Hilary Knight joined the team for the 2018 Clarkson Cup playoffs. Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux was the team captain when they won the first Clarkson Cup.

What was the 2016 Outdoor Women's Classic?

The 2016 Outdoor Women's Classic was the first outdoor professional women's hockey game ever held. It took place on December 31, 2015, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as part of the festivities for the NHL's 2016 Winter Classic. Les Canadiennes played against the Boston Pride of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). This historic event served as an undercard to the men's game between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins the following day, providing unprecedented exposure for the women's professional game on a major North American sports stage.

Where did Les Canadiennes play their home games?

Throughout their history, the team played in several Montreal-area venues. For many seasons, their primary home was arenas such as the Etienne Desmarteau Centre and Arena Michel Normandin. Following the partnership with the Canadiens, the team played a historic regular season game at the Bell Centre in 2016. For their final season in 2018-19, Les Canadiennes moved team operations to Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, which is the home arena of the Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, scheduling a number of their home games at that modern facility.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.