Montreal Axion

The Montreal Axion were a National Women's Hockey League team (2003 to 2007) located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Axion represented Quebec at the 2005 Esso Women's Nationals.[2] They were previously known as Bonaventure Wingstar (1998–99) and Montreal Wingstar[3][4] (1999–2003). This team was succeeded as the women's professional hockey team of Montreal by the Montreal Stars in the Canadian Women's Hockey League, starting with the 2007–2008 season.

Montreal Axion
CityMontreal, Quebec
LeagueNational Women's Hockey League
DivisionCentral/Eastern
Founded1998
Home arenaCentre Étienne Desmarteau
ColorsDark blue, red & white
Owner(s)Robert Vegiard and France St-Louis[1]
General managerSylvain Dutil
Head coachYanick Evola
CaptainLisa-Marie Breton
Alternate captains:
Annie Desrosiers, Catherine De Abreu and Cathy Chartrand

History

The team evolved in the National Women's Hockey League starting in the 1998–99 season. During the inaugural season, they were named the "Bonaventure Wingstar", then the following season, they became the "Montreal Wingstar". Five years after its creation, in 2003, the team was renamed the Montreal Axion.

Season-by-season
Year by year
Season GP W L T GF GA Pts
1998–9934131651049131
1999–200035187101166246
2000–014030641636364
2001–023011145667827
2002–033618153838139
2003–0436201151138446
2004–0536241021408551
2005–06361419310012233
2006–0713670665613

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points.

1998–99

The team takes gains the first championship of its division. During the playoff rounds, the Wingstar manages to steal in the first tour by winning its 2 matches[5] and to consider for championship finale.[6] The team loses the finale match 2–5 against Brampton Thunder which is crowned champion.[6]

1999–2000

The second season is more difficult and the Wingstar escapes from a single point the first position to the Division classification.[7] In playoffs, St-Julie's panthers eliminate Wingstar from the first round:[8]

On Saturday, March 4th, 2000: St-Julie Panthers 6–0 Montreal Wingstar
On Sunday, March 5th, 2000: Montreal Wingstar 2–1 St-Julie Panthers
in Extra time): Montreal Wingstar 0–1 St-Julie Panthers
2000–01

The big addition of the 2000–01 season is the arrival of the goaltender Manon Rhéaume.[9] Rhéaume performe indeed and help the team to finish at the top of the East Division. The team's attack is not outdone by the presence of Caroline Ouellette and France St-Louis. Behind the bench, Julie Healy acts as coach. Healy sees furthermore in the supervision of Concordia Stingers.

2004–05

Several new players come lent strong hand to the team, among others Gina Kingsbury, Angela Ruggiero, Jenny Lavigne and Annie Desrosiers.[10] For Goaltender, Charline Labonté replaces Manon Rhéaume.[11] The Axion ends in the 1ier Division rank and 3th in the league. Gina Kingsbury score 31 goals and has 29 assist. She finish the season of 30 matches with more than 60 points contributing to the Axion'successes.[12] In the Playoff rounds, Montreal Axion goes to finale game but loses in barrage 5–4 against Toronto Aeros. Also Montreal Axion represents Quebec to the 2005 Esso National Championships.[10]

2005–06

Axion of Montreal wins the National Women's Hockey League Championship by a victory 1–0 against Brampton Thunder in front of 6 000 supporters at Brampton, Ontario.[13] The victorious Goal is scorer by Lisa-Marie Breton and the Shutout goes to Charline Labonté.[14] Axion beforehand finished in the second rank) of its division, behind Ottawa Raiders. It is about the only championship taken gained by Montreal Axion in the history of the National Women's Hockey League.

2006–07

Less fortunate, this season, Montreal Axion ends in the Division 5th rank of the regular season but recovers serial eliminating heats: at first by gaining the East Division Championship[15] then by participating in Championship Finale of National Women's Hockey League. Brampton Thunder triumphs 4–0 against Montreal Axion.[16] Bramton Thunder so takes gains the championship. In the grip of grave difficulty financiers, the National Women's Hockey League stops its activities a little time after[17][18]

Season standings
= Indicates First Place finish
= Indicates championship
Year Regular Season Playoffs
1998–99 1st place, Eastern Division lost in final (Silver Medal)
1999–2000 2nd, Eastern Division eliminated in first round
2000–01 1st place,Eastern Division eliminated in first round
2001–02 2nd, Eastern Division eliminated in first round
2002–03 1st place, Eastern Division eliminated in first round
2003–04 1st place, Eastern Division eliminated in first round
2004–05 1st place, Eastern Division Finalist, lost in Final game
2005–06 2nd, Eastern Division NWHL champions
2006–07 5th,in one division finalist, lost the final game

NWHL Championships
  • 1998–99 finalist and lost the final game again Brampton Thunder[19]
  • 2004–05 finalist and lost the final game again Toronto Aeros
  • 2005–06 won the championship[20]
  • 2006–07 finalist and lost the final game again Brampton[21]

2006–07 roster
Goalies
Number Player Former Team Hometown
54 Sabrina Patenaude Montreal Axion (2005–06) Pierrefond, Quebec
53 Jenny Lavigne Montreal Axion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec
20 Sophie Courtemanche Montreal Axion (2005–06)
20 Krystel Boutin Montreal Axion (2005–06) Longueuil, Quebec
Defense
Number Player Former Team Hometown
77 Caroline Laforge Montreal Axion (2005–06)
73 Roxanne Dupuis Montreal Axion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec
55 Catherine Ward Montreal Axion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec
24 Catherine De Abreu Montreal Axion (2005–06) Roxboro, Quebec
19 Leanne Martell Montreal Axion (2005–06) Trenton, Nova Scotia
13 Jessica Finlayson Montreal Axion (2005–06) Seaforth, Ontario
9 Chantal Guevremont Montreal Axion (2005–06) St-Laurent, Quebec
7 Cathy Chartrand Montreal Axion (2005–06) Nomininque, Quebec
5 Meghan Maguire Montreal Axion 2005–06 Amherst, New Hampshire
Forwards
Number Player Former Team Hometown
96 Dominique Thibault Montreal Axion (2005–06) Boucherville, Quebec
48 Annie Desrosiers Montreal Axion (2005–06) St-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
27 Catherine Bertrand Montreal Axion (2005–06) Sherbrooke, Quebec
26 Lisa-Marie Breton Montreal Axion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec
25 Melanie Mantha Montreal Axion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec
23 Jesse Scanzano Montreal Axion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec
22 Erika Pouliot Montreal Axion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec
16 Valerie Hamel Montreal Azion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec
16 Karell Emard Montreal Axion (2005–06) Richelieu, Quebec
12 Kelly Sudia Montreal Axion (2005–06) Pointe-Claire, Quebec
11 Anouk Grignon-Langlais Montreal Axion (2005–06) Outremont, Quebec
7 Veronique Sanfacon Montreal Axion (2005–06) Beauport, Quebec
6 Sarah Smiley Montreal Axion (2005–06) Toronto, Ontario
5 Cynthia Morin Montreal Axion (2005–06)

[22]

Notable players

Several former players of Montreal Axion become famous in the new Canadian Women's Hockey League, among others[23] Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux, Caroline Ouellette, Kim St-Pierre, Nathalie Déry, Angela Ruggiero, Dominique Thibault, Emmanuelle Blais, Charline Labonté, Sabrina Harbec, Jesse Scanzano, Kelly Sudia and Jenny Lavigne[24]

Coaching staff
  • General Manager: Sylvain Dutil
  • Head Coach: Yanick Evola,[28][29] Julie Healy (for Montreal Wingstar, season 2000–01)[30]
  • Assistant Coach: Alain Hénault
  • Assistant Coach: Patrick Larivière

Reference[31]

See also

References
  1. (french) Denis Lalonde – Le dévouement a ses revers, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2011-01-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "The Official Website of Hockey Canada". www.hockeycanada.ca. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  3. Montreal Wingstar Roster 2000–2001: http://www.canoe.ca/HockeyNWHL/ros_mtl.html
  4. Montreal Wingstar 2000 Preview, http://www.canoe.ca/HockeyNWHL/pre_mtl.html
  5. "Wingstar Beats Jofa-Titan, Captures 1st NWHL Eastern Division Playoff Championship". www.dgp.toronto.edu. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  6. "Brampton Thunder Capture Central Canadian Championship". www.dgp.toronto.edu. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  7. Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, pages 545, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6
  8. "1999-2000 NWHL Playoffs". www.dgp.toronto.edu. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  9. "Montreal Wingstar 2000 Preview". www.canoe.ca. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  10. (in French) Hockey Canada
  11. (in French) Hockey Canada<
  12. Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, page 550, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6
  13. Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, page 551, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6
  14. (in French)Hockey Québec page 31
  15. (in French) L'Axion, Championne dans l'Est
  16. (in French) Thunder de Brampton remporte le Championnat de la LNHL
  17. (in French) Le hockey féminin en mode séduction
  18. Sharing the hockey dream Archived 2011-06-28 at the Wayback Machine
  19. "Brampton Thunder Capture Central Canadian Championship". www.dgp.toronto.edu. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  20. "BramptonThunder.com". www.bramptonthunder.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  21. (French) Le Thunder de Brampton remporte le Championnat de la LNHL. http://wnp.typepad.fr/sports/2007/04/le_thunder_de_b.html , 24 April 2007.
  22. "Montreal Axion - National Womens Hockey League - on Pointstreak Sports Technologies". Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  23. (in French) Axion de 2006–07
  24. (in French) Historique de l'Axion
  25. Gina Kingsbury played the 2004–05 season with the Montreal Axion. She led the team with 31 goals and added 29 assists, finishing the 30-game season with 60 points.Source: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/team-canada/athletes/athlete=3263/competitive-history/index.html
  26. "The Official Website of Hockey Canada". www.hockeycanada.ca. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  27. (French) LHNF – L'Axion, championne dans l'est, http://wnp.typepad.fr/sports/2007/03/lhnf_laxion_cha.html , 22 march 2007
  28. (in French) Y a-t-il de l'avenir dans le hockey féminin ?
  29. (in French) l'emporte sur l'Axion on march 18, 2007
  30. (in French) Denis Lalonde, Le dévouement a ses revers Archived 2012-07-22 at Archive.today
  31. (in French) L'équipe de direction
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