Montreal Victoire Captain Marie-Philip Poulin Placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve
The Montreal Victoire has made significant roster moves this week, placing their captain and leading goal-scorer Marie-Philip Poulin on the long-term injured reserve list. The team simultaneously announced the signing of Italian national team defender Nadia Mattivi to a standard player contract.
Poulin's Injury Timeline and Impact
Poulin's placement on LTIR is retroactive to March 15, when she suffered a lower-body injury during a game against the Boston Fleet at Place Bell. The team confirmed this timeline on Monday, noting that the 35-year-old forward could potentially return to action as early as April 5.
"This is a significant loss for our team," said an unnamed team official. "Marie-Philip is not just our captain but our offensive leader. We're hopeful for her return in early April."
Poulin, who celebrates her 35th birthday this Saturday, has been the Victoire's most productive offensive player this season, leading the team with nine goals in just 18 games. Her absence creates a substantial void in Montreal's lineup that the team must address through their remaining roster.
Nadia Mattivi Joins Montreal Roster
To help compensate for Poulin's absence, the Victoire have signed 25-year-old Italian defender Nadia Mattivi. Mattivi brings international experience to Montreal, having served as Italy's captain at the recent Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where she recorded two assists in five games.
"Nadia is coming off an excellent season in Sweden and also performed very well at Milano-Cortina," said Victoire general manager Danièle Sauvageau, who coincidentally managed Italy's Olympic team. "We are happy to have her join our team and believe she can make an immediate impact."
Mattivi's most recent club experience was with Lulea HF in Sweden's SDHL, where she was named defender of the year for the 2024-25 season. She has already joined the Victoire in Minnesota, where the team is preparing for their upcoming game against the Frost on Wednesday.
Additional Roster Changes
The Victoire's roster adjustments extend beyond these two moves. On Sunday, the team placed forward Maureen Murphy on LTIR after she suffered an injury on March 19 against the Seattle Torrent. To fill that roster spot, Montreal signed rookie forward Maya Labad to a standard contract from their reserve player list.
These consecutive roster moves highlight the physical demands of professional hockey and the constant roster management required to maintain competitive teams throughout the season. The Victoire now face the challenge of integrating new players while managing the absence of key veterans during a crucial stretch of their schedule.
Mattivi's addition provides Montreal with defensive depth and international experience, while the team hopes for Poulin's return in early April to bolster their playoff push. The coming weeks will test the Victoire's roster depth and coaching staff's ability to adapt to these significant personnel changes.
