Marie-Philip Poulin will not wear the Trois-Rivières Lions uniform, she who respectfully refused the offer of the ECHL organization on Saturday.
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The striker, who won her fourth Olympic medal on Thursday, said in a statement that she wanted to “dedicate her career to the development and advancement of women’s hockey.”
“Marie-Philip has no intention of joining the organization of the Lions of Trois-Rivières, but invites them to join her and the hundreds of players who wish to promote female talent in Canada”, perhaps we read in the written statement of the Momentum group, which represents the 30-year-old Quebecer.
On Friday, general manager Marc-André Bergeron said he had contacted Poulin and his agent, Olivier Fortier, to let them know of his intentions. The former defender of the National Hockey League had confirmed to TVA Sports that his steps were serious.
“If there’s one who can try, it’s her,” he said.
Never has a woman worn the uniform of a professional hockey team in North America during the regular season. Poulin’s decision is reminiscent of that of Hayley Wickenheiser, who turned down Phil Esposito’s offer to join the Cincinnati Cyclones in the ECHL in the early 2000s.
