Context:

Marie-Philip Poulin, captain of the Montreal Victoire, played through a torn ACL and meniscus to help her team win the PWHL title, with surgery planned for late July and an indefinite absence thereafter. The 35-year-old Olympic legend carried on after an initial Olympic injury, aggravating it in March but still contributing in the knockout rounds and securing the playoff MVP honors during Montreal’s Walter Cup run. Her resilience came despite significant pain and uncertainty about a playoff return, as the team expressed confidence she would resume skating when ready. Poulin’s impact remains underscored by her record as one of the sport’s all-time greats, including leading the PWHL in goals and points and a prior streak of multiple Olympic golds; the focus now is on a careful recovery and a potential return in due time.

Dive Deeper:

• Poulin revealed she competed through a torn ACL and torn meniscus in her right knee to help Montreal clinch the PWHL championship, with surgery scheduled for late July and an indefinite absence planned afterward.

• She initially injured the knee during the Olympic Games and still played in the knockout rounds, later aggravating the injury on March 15 in a game against Boston, which led to a stretch of 10 missed games before the playoffs.

• Despite the pain, she served as playoff MVP for Montreal, contributing two goals and six assists in nine postseason games as the Victoire pursued their Walter Cup title.

• Team general manager Danièle Sauvageau described Poulin as extraordinary, noting the extraordinary risk and commitment involved and expressing confidence in her return once recovery progresses.

• Poulin’s career includes three Olympic golds, a reputation as one of the greatest players, and as the PWHL’s all-time leading scorer with 38 goals and 67 points in 70 games, plus league MVP honors in 2025, with the latest season tallying nine goals and nine assists in 19 games.