{{Short description|Former women's professional ice hockey team in Montreal, Quebec}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox ice hockey team | current = | text_color = | bg_color = background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#AF3447 5px solid; border-bottom:#000000 5px solid; | team = Montreal Force<br />Force de Montréal | logo = Montreal Force logo.png | logo_size = | city = Montreal, Quebec | league = Premier Hockey Federation | conference = | division = | founded = 2022 | folded = 2023 | arena = Centre 21.02 (practice site only for 2022–23)<ref name="THN_Kennedy20220830">{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/new-phf-team-in-montreal-named-force |title=New PHF Team in Montreal Named Force |last=Kennedy |first=Ian |date=August 30, 2022 |website=The Hockey News |access-date=October 11, 2022 |archive-date=August 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831171050/https://thehockeynews.com/news/new-phf-team-in-montreal-named-force |url-status=live }}</ref> | colours = Black, maroon, white<br />{{color box|#000000}} {{color box|#AF3447}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}} | owner = BTM Partners | gm = Kevin Raphaël | coach = Peter Smith | captain = Ann-Sophie Bettez | media = | affiliates = | website = | reg_season_titles = }} The '''Montreal Force''' ({{langx|fr|la Force de Montréal}}) were a professional ice hockey team in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), based in Montreal. The team was established in 2022 and debuted in the 2022–23 PHF season. The Force played only one season, as the PHF's assets were purchased, and the league dissolved, at season's end. This was part of the creation of a new, unified professional women's league, the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).<ref name="phf-sale-espn">{{cite web |author=Wyshynski |first=Greg |date=June 29, 2023 |title=Sources: Premier Hockey Federation sale could unite women's hockey |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/37937093/premier-hockey-federation-sale-unite-women-hockey |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630015545/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/37937093/premier-hockey-federation-sale-unite-women-hockey |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=ESPN |publisher=}}</ref>

==History== Montreal was long planned as a location for a PHF expansion franchise, but uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic led the league to delay its plans.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wawrow |first=John |date=April 28, 2021 |title=NWHL delays Montreal expansion, doubles salary cap to $300K US |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nwhl-doubles-salary-cap-delays-montreal-expansion-1.6005352 |access-date=August 30, 2022 |website=CBC.ca |quote=Our view is that it's a little better to take more time, build up better infrastructure for that new team, get the right people in place and really have a good go at that. |archive-date=August 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830172102/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nwhl-doubles-salary-cap-delays-montreal-expansion-1.6005352 |url-status=live }}</ref> An expansion franchise was announced by the league in July 2022, with the owners announced as BTM Partners, which also owns three other PHF teams.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wawrow |first=John |date=July 12, 2022 |title=Montreal awarded PHF women's hockey expansion team after pandemic delay |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/montreal-premier-hockey-federation-expansion-franchise-1.6517758 |access-date=August 30, 2022 |website=CBC.ca |archive-date=August 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830172312/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/montreal-premier-hockey-federation-expansion-franchise-1.6517758 |url-status=live }}</ref> The team's name, logo and jersey were revealed in a press release from the league the following month.<ref name="logo-jersey">{{cite web |last=Krotz |first=Paul |date=August 30, 2022 |title=PHF Montreal Named Force And Unveil New Logo And Jersey |url=https://www.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/phf-montreal-force-unveil-new-logo-and-jerseys |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Premier Hockey Federation |type=Press release |archive-date=August 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830161634/https://www.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/phf-montreal-force-unveil-new-logo-and-jerseys |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ESPN_Shilton20220830">{{cite news |last1=Shilton |first1=Kristen |title=Montreal Force to enter as PHF's seventh team |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34488979/premier-hockey-federation-unveils-expansion-montreal-force-seventh-team |access-date=October 11, 2022 |work=ESPN.com |date=August 30, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013210442/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34488979/premier-hockey-federation-unveils-expansion-montreal-force-seventh-team |url-status=live }}</ref> Three uniforms were used during the inaugural season, one maroon with white stripes, one black with maroon stripes, and one white with maroon stripes, all with fleur-de-lis shoulder patches.<ref name="logo-jersey" />

The team announced in September 2022 that Peter Smith would be the team's first head coach, with Pierre Alain as associate coach and Katia Clement-Heydra as assistant coach.<ref>{{cite web |author=Krotz |first=Paul |date=September 13, 2022 |title=Montreal Force Announce Inaugural Coaching Staff |url=https://montreal.en.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/montreal-force-announce-inaugural-coaching-staff |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201134017/https://montreal.en.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/montreal-force-announce-inaugural-coaching-staff |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Montreal Force |type=Press release}}</ref>

The team's first goal was scored in its inaugural match, a 5–4 shootout win against the Buffalo Beauts, by captain Ann-Sophie Bettez.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Ian |date=November 6, 2022 |title=PHF Opening Day: Montreal Force Earn First Win |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/phf-opening-day-montreal-force-earn-first-win |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107011203/https://thehockeynews.com/news/phf-opening-day-montreal-force-earn-first-win |archive-date=November 7, 2022 |access-date=November 6, 2022 |publisher=The Hockey News}}</ref>

The Force did not have an official home, but instead played home games at select rinks across the province of Quebec, including the Aréna Raymond-Bourque in Montreal, the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, the {{Lang|fr|Aréna régional de la Rivière-du-Nord|italic=no}} in Saint-Jérôme, and the Centre Premier Tech in Rivière-du-Loup; the team was also expected to play at venues in Gatineau, Quebec City, and Sept-Îles.<ref name="THN_Kennedy20220830" /><ref name="TVP_Burgess20220930">{{cite web |last1=Burgess |first1=Melissa |title=PHF Notebook: Getting Ready for Season 8 |url=https://victorypress.org/2022/09/30/phf-notebook-getting-ready-for-season-8/ |website=The Victory Press |access-date=October 11, 2022 |language=en |date=September 30, 2022 |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209091325/https://victorypress.org/2022/09/30/phf-notebook-getting-ready-for-season-8/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2023, the PHF's assets were purchased and the league was ultimately wound down as part of the creation of the Professional Women's Hockey League, the first unified women's professional league in North America.<ref name="phf-sale-espn" /> In August, it was announced that Montreal had been awarded one of the six charter PWHL franchises.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 29, 2023 |title=PWHL unveils locations of first six teams, player selection process |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/pwhl-unveils-locations-of-first-six-teams-player-selection-process/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830074635/https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/pwhl-unveils-locations-of-first-six-teams-player-selection-process/ |archive-date=August 30, 2023 |access-date=January 5, 2024 |work=Sportsnet |agency=AP}}</ref> PWHL Montréal made its debut on January 2, 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Don |date=January 2, 2024 |title=A Night to Remember: Montreal scores OT win in Ottawa's historic PWHL opener |url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/a-night-to-remember-montreal-scores-ot-win-in-ottawas-historic-pwhl-opener |url-access= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104225658/https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/pwhl/a-night-to-remember-montreal-scores-ot-win-in-ottawas-historic-pwhl-opener |archive-date=January 4, 2024 |access-date=January 2, 2024 |work=Ottawa Sun |language=en}}</ref>

==Team==

===2022–23 roster=== {{Updated|January 20, 2023}}<ref name="logo-jersey" /><ref name="PHF_roster22/23">{{cite web |title=Montreal Force, 2022-23 PHF > Roster |url=https://www.premierhockeyfederation.com/stats#/100/team/207478/roster |website=Premier Hockey Federation |access-date=November 3, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=November 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107014003/https://www.premierhockeyfederation.com/stats#/100/team/207478/roster |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="EP_roster22/23">{{cite web |title=Montréal Force, 2022-2023 Roster |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/35822/montreal-force |website=Elite Prospects |access-date=January 20, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017030958/https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/35822/montreal-force |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite instagram |author=La Force de Montréal |user=laforcemontreal |postid=CkDutqoDozw|date=October 23, 2022 |title=Nos meneuses./Our leaders. |script-title= |trans-title= |language= |location= |access-date=October 23, 2022 |link=https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkDutqoDozw/ |ref=}}</ref> {{Ice hockey team roster}} {{Ice hockey team player | first = Taylor| last = Baker| dab = Taylor Baker (ice hockey)| num = 4| pos = D| nat = CAN| s/g = R| birthyear = 1997| birthmonth = 7| birthday = 30| acq = 2022| birthplace = Toronto, Ontario| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Ann-Sophie| last = Bettez| dab = | num = 24| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1987| birthmonth = 11| birthday = 14| acq = 2022| birthplace = Sept-Îles, Quebec| inj = | cap = C| fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Catherine| last = Daoust| dab = | num = 12| pos = D| nat = CAN| s/g = R| birthyear = 1995| birthmonth = 2| birthday = 21| acq = 2022| birthplace = L'Île-Bizard, Quebec| inj = | cap = A| fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Gabrielle| last = De Serres| dab = | num = 23| pos = D| nat = CAN| s/g = R| birthyear = 1998| birthmonth = 1| birthday = 29| acq = 2022| birthplace = Mont-Royal, Quebec| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Deziray| last = De Sousa| dab = | num = 18| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1998| birthmonth = 2| birthday = 22| acq = 2022| birthplace = Montreal, Quebec| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Christine| last = Deaudelin| dab = | num = 17| pos = D| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1997| birthmonth = 6| birthday = 13| acq = 2022| birthplace = Beloeil, Quebec| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Tricia| last = Deguire| dab = | num = 33| pos = G| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1997| birthmonth = 9| birthday = 14| acq = 2022| birthplace = Sherbrooke, Quebec| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Kim| last = Deschênes| dab = | num = 9| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = R| birthyear = 1991| birthmonth = 8| birthday = 7| acq = 2022| birthplace = Saint-Quentin, New Brunswick| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Marie-Soleil| last = Deschênes| dab = | num = 39| pos = G| nat = CAN| s/g = R| birthyear = 1994| birthmonth = 5| birthday = 9| acq = 2022| birthplace = L'Île-Perrot, Quebec| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Jade| last = Downie-Landry| dab = | num = 27| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1995| birthmonth = 10| birthday = 3| acq = 2022| birthplace = St.-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Catherine| last = Dubois| dab = | num = 28| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1995| birthmonth = 7| birthday = 29| acq = 2022| birthplace = Quebec City, Quebec| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Maude| last = Gélinas| dab = | num = 64| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1992| birthmonth = 2| birthday = 27| acq = 2022| birthplace = St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Sally| last = Hoerr| dab = | num = 60| pos = D| nat = USA| s/g = L| birthyear = 1996| birthmonth = 11| birthday = 21| acq = 2022| birthplace = Colchester, Vermont| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Alyssa| last = Holmes| dab = | num = 25| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = R| birthyear = 1999| birthmonth = 6| birthday = 16| acq = 2022| birthplace = Hamilton, Ontario| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Kaity| last = Howarth| dab = | num = 8| pos = D| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1998| birthmonth = 7| birthday = 30| acq = 2022| birthplace = Thunder Bay, Ontario| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Samantha| last = Isbell| dab = | num = 5| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1998| birthmonth = 2| birthday = 17| acq = 2022 |birthplace = Thunder Bay, Ontario| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Laura| last = Jardin| dab = | num = 29| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 2000| birthmonth = | birthday = | acq = 2022| birthplace = Calgary, Alberta| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Alexandra| last = Labelle| dab = | num = 13| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1996| birthmonth = 2| birthday = 27| acq = 2022| birthplace = St-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Brigitte| last = Laganière| dab = | num = 26| pos = D| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1996| birthmonth = 8| birthday = 1| acq = 2022| birthplace = Anjou, Quebec| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Sarah| last = Lefort| dab = | num = 16| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1994| birthmonth = 2| birthday = 9| acq = 2022| birthplace = Ormstown, Quebec| inj = | cap = A| fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Autumn| last = MacDougall| dab = | num = | pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1997| birthmonth = 7| birthday = 5| acq = 2023 | birthplace = Dartmouth, Nova Scotia | inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Kristina| last = Shanahan| dab = | num = 7| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = R| birthyear = 1998| birthmonth = 9| birthday = 2| acq = 2022| birthplace = Montreal, Quebec| inj = | cap = | fa = }}

{{Ice hockey team player | first = Brooke| last = Stacey| dab = | num = 3| pos = F| nat = CAN| s/g = L| birthyear = 1996| birthmonth = 6| birthday = 28| acq = 2022| birthplace = Kahnawake, Quebec| inj = | cap = | fa = }} {{end|Ice hockey team roster}} '''Coaching staff and team personnel''' * Head coach: Peter Smith * Associate coach: Pierre Alain * Assistant coach: Katia Clement-Heydra

===Front office=== {{Updated|October 11, 2022}}<ref name="TIG_Murphy20220712">{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Mike |title=PHF expanding to Montreal for upcoming 2022-23 season |url=https://www.theicegarden.com/platform/amp/2022/7/12/23204799/premier-hockey-federation-phf-to-expand-to-montreal-quebec-for-upcoming-2022-23-season-womens-hockey |website=The Ice Garden |access-date=October 11, 2022 |language=en |date=July 12, 2022 |archive-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016204101/https://www.theicegarden.com/platform/amp/2022/7/12/23204799/premier-hockey-federation-phf-to-expand-to-montreal-quebec-for-upcoming-2022-23-season-womens-hockey |url-status=live }}</ref> * President: Kevin Raphaël * Vice president: Emmanuel Anderson De Serres * Ownership group: BTM Partners

== Season record ==

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Season !! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! {{abbr|W|Wins}} !! {{abbr|L|Losses}} !! {{abbr|OTL|Overtime Loss}} !! {{abbr|SOL|Shootout Loss}} !! {{abbr|Pts|Points}}!! {{abbr|GF|Goals for}} !! {{abbr|GA|Goals against}} !! Playoffs |- |2022–23 |24 |5 |14 |2 |1 |23 |56 |70 |Did not qualify |}

==Awards and honors== *Laura Jardin, 2023 PHF Foundation Award <ref name="2023 Foundation Award">{{cite web |last1=Krotz |first1=Paul |title=PHF ANNOUNCES 2022-23 FOUNDATION AWARD RECIPIENTS |url=https://www.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/phf-announces-2022-23-foundation-award-recipients |website=Premier Hockey Federation |access-date=May 11, 2023 |language=en |date=May 4, 2023 |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512145552/https://www.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/phf-announces-2022-23-foundation-award-recipients |url-status=live }}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== <!-- {{Commons category}} Category does not exist. Unhide upon creation. --> * {{Official website|https://montreal.en.premierhockeyfederation.com/}} {{In lang|en}} * {{Official website|https://montreal.fr.premierhockeyfederation.com/}} {{In lang|fr}}

{{Montreal Force}} {{Premier Hockey Federation}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Montreal Force}} Category:Montreal Force Force Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 2022 Category:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2023 Category:Premier Hockey Federation teams Category:Defunct women's ice hockey teams in Canada Category:2022 establishments in Quebec Category:2023 disestablishments in Quebec Category:2020s in Montreal Category:Women's ice hockey teams in Montreal