Montreal Victoire to open season December 5 at Place Bell vs Hamilton

Montreal Victoire now knows when it will finally hit the ice. The club will open its season on December 5 at Place Bell, hosting the new Hamilton franchise in its first home game. The matchup will also feature a familiar face, with former Victoire defender Nicole Gosling returning to Laval in Hamilton colours.

Busy opening weekend for the PWHL schedule

The Victoire’s debut is part of a full opening slate for the Professional Women’s Hockey League. The league announced that six games will be played over the weekend of December 5 and 6, officially kicking off the new campaign. The complete regular-season schedule is set to be released on Friday, giving fans a clearer picture of key dates and rivalries to circle.

Montreal’s first game carries added intrigue as it comes against an expansion club, offering an early look at how the new Hamilton team stacks up. The return of Gosling to face her former teammates should add an emotional layer to the night and give supporters in Laval an early storyline to follow.

Radio-Canada lands exclusive French audio rights

Alongside the schedule news, the league confirmed that Radio-Canada has obtained exclusive French-language audio rights for all Victoire games in Canada this season. Fans will be able to follow every Montreal contest on the public broadcaster’s radio and audio platforms, whether at home or on the move.

The deal strengthens the Victoire’s presence with francophone audiences and further anchors women’s professional hockey on national airwaves. For the league, it represents another step toward building a media footprint that aligns with other established pro circuits.

Hockey Night in Canada spotlights PWHL in prime time

The PWHL also announced the return of Hockey Night in Canada on CBC with a dedicated women’s hockey component. Under the iconic banner, CBC will provide full coverage of eight PWHL games in prime time, complete with pre-game and post-game analysis. Each broadcast will feature at least one Canadian team.

The first of those national television dates will be Montreal’s season opener on December 5 at Place Bell. Prime-time exposure on CBC is expected to broaden the league’s reach and help turn the Victoire’s inaugural home game into a marquee event, both inside the arena and for viewers across the country.