Big crowds on PWHL tour 'a privilege' for Montreal Victoire star Marie-Philip Poulin
'I don't take it for granted,' hockey legend says about playing in packed arenas
Marie-Philip Poulin still gets a little emotional as she stands at centre ice in a packed arena, hearing O Canada.
The hockey legend knows her eyes may get misty on Wednesday before her Montreal Victoire line up to face the Toronto Sceptres in Vancouver.
"I think I'm getting old. I think I'm getting a little softer," Poulin said with a grin. "No, I think it's always very awesome. It's always such a privilege to be able to be in these buildings and big crowds. So I don't take it for granted."
Rogers Arena is where Poulin played her first Olympic hockey game back in 2010, helping Canada to a gold medal on home ice.
Now it will be the setting for another first as her league-leading Victoire (3-2-1-1) and the Sceptres (2-0-1-4) battle in the first Canadian stop of the PWHL's "Takeover Tour."
The nine-game expedition began at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, where the Victoire fell 3-2 to the Boston Fleet in a shootout on Sunday.
More than 12,000 fans took in the game. Merchandise was so popular it had to be stripped off mannequins before employees put up a "sold out" sign.
"The demand is real," said Jayna Hefford, the league's senior vice president of hockey operations. "I think we thought it was, and now we get to see it and feel it."
WATCH | Victoire edged by Fleet in Seattle:
Fans in both Victoire and Sceptres jerseys milled around the gates at Rogers Arena on Tuesday afternoon, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite players.
The fact that people living thousands of kilometres away from Montreal own Victoire gear shows the PWHL is a movement, Poulin said.
"Honestly, seeing kids wearing different jerseys with our names on with different logos, for us, that's what it's all about," she said. "We want to grow the league. We're doing this by playing our best. We're just putting our best product on the ice, and it's been amazing to see."
Other cities on the tour include Quebec City, where Montreal will take on the Ottawa Charge on Jan. 19, and Edmonton, where Toronto will face Ottawa on Feb. 16. Games will also be held in Denver, Detroit, St. Louis, Buffalo, N.Y. and Raleigh, N.C.
WATCH l Victoire captain Poulin mic'd up in win over Toronto:
