The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced the first seven players who have officially signed contracts with the new Montreal expansion team for the 2022-23 season, headlined by former Canadian national team player Ann-Sophie Bettez.
Forwards Kim Deschênes, Jade Downie-Landry, Alexandra Labelle, Sarah Lefort, and Kristina Shanahan, and defenceman Brigitte Laganière have also all committed to join the league with Montreal, the seventh team in the PHF.
Bettez, Deschênes, and Labelle all previously played as members of the PWHPA with Bettez and Deschênes also having CWHL experience under their belts. Downie-Landry, Lefort, Shanahan, and Laganière have all played at the university level for NCAA and U SPORTS teams.
“This is a very exciting step forward for the foundation of the PHF in Montreal and across the province of Quebec,” said Kevin Raphaël, Montreal’s team president, in a statement. “This group is a great mix of exuberant youth and veteran experience, players with character, and who have led their previous teams to success. This is the start of a team that is going to be willing to work hard every week to win games and be role models for the next generation. We’re not just building a hockey team, we’re building a family, and I’m extremely proud.”
The PHF Montreal expansion began operations on July 12.
