The Montreal Stars or Montréal Stars[1] (French: Stars de Montréal) are a professional women's ice hockey team that plays in Montreal, Quebec. The team was awarded the Clarkson Cup in 2009,[2] 2011 [3] and 2012 for winning the highest honour in North American women's hockey. The team has played in the Canadian Women's Hockey League since 2007 its inaugural season. The team plays its home games in Centre Étienne Desmarteau in Montreal.[4]
The Montreal Stars have played in the CWHL since its formation in 2007. The team was formed from players from the Montreal Axion a team that played in the National Women's Hockey League before its demise.[5] Through the team's young history they have seen success in every season that it has played. In their first season, 2007–08, Montreal won 23 games out of 30 regular season contests and finished first overall in the regular season,[6] but lost to Mississauga Chiefs in the playoffs that year in a two game contest. In 2008-09 the Stars won the Clarkson Cup on March 19, 2009 in Kingston Ontario, the first year that the Clarkson Cup was openly played for between competitive professional women's hockey clubs rather than National teams such as before with Team Canada and Team Sweden in 2006. The Clarkson Cup was won by Montreal by defeating the Minnesota Whitecaps in the final. The game was competitive, with the score close. Initially the game was tied at one goal apiece until Montreal flared with offence scoring two goals. Sabrina Habrec ultimately scored the game winner, in a 3-1 final score. Former Canadian Governor General Adrienne Clarkson was on hand to present the trophy to team captain Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux.[7] It was Adrienne Clarkson's hope that The Clarkson Cup be the women's equivalent to the Stanley Cup.[8] That same season, three players were named to the First and Second team all stars; Caroline Ouellette, Kim St.Pierre and Sabrina Habrec.[9] In 2009–10, the team finished in first place but did not defend the Clarkson Cup in the playoffs.
The team has had much success with league awards to its players. Kim St. Pierre has won the CHWL's award for top goaltender two season's running (2008, 2009), Caroline Ouellette was the CWHL MVP for the 2008-09, Marie-Phillip Poulin was the CWHL's rookie of the year in 2007-2008 at the age of 16 scoring over 40 points in 16 games, and finally Sabrina Harbec lead's the CWHL in scoring with 54 points in 29 games this season.[10]
Montreal stars support the fight against breast cancer with a Breast Cancer Fundraising event.[14] For the occasion, the Montreal Stars played with pink jerseys.[15] Also Montreal Stars are committed to supporting amateur girl's hockey team and take their role as examples to the young girls growing up playing the sport, very seriously. The Trainings with the Stars players [16] is just one way that these athletes connect with young players. They are also available to meet the girls at the autograph sessions following most of their games, they are accessible through the team blog, and many of them are involved in various community and school girls’ hockey teams.
