Victoire's Poulin hungry for championship glory in 2nd PWHL campaign

Marie-Philip Poulin's trophy chest is brimming with awards and medals, but there's one big piece missing now that the Professional Women's Hockey League is established.

Aware she's in the later stages of her career, the Montréal Victoire captain is fired up for PWHL championship glory after an early playoff exit in the inaugural season.

"The fire is quite there," the 33-year-old Poulin said Friday at Verdun Auditorium. "I still love what I'm doing, I'm passionate.

"We want to win that Walter Cup. And me saying that means five other teams are saying that. It shows it's going to be competitive; it's going to be a battle."

Poulin, who tied for second in scoring last season with 23 points in 21 games, knows she'll have more than one role to play if Montreal is to hoist the Cup.

"I need to produce, I need to be on the defensive side, but also help the young kids coming in, being by their side to know what they want," she said.

Poulin isn't counting the years left in her career, but also isn't taking any for granted because "sometimes I think about how there are less in front of me."

The three-time Olympic gold medallist leads the Victoire into the PWHL's second season against the Ottawa Charge on Saturday at Place Bell in Laval, Que., where they'll debut their new name, logo and jerseys for the 30-game campaign.

Poulin headlines a talented core that includes forward Laura Stacey, who married Poulin this fall, reigning PWHL defender of the year Erin Ambrose and Canadian national team goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens.

The question surrounding this team is whether the Victoire have enough depth behind them.

Ambrose famously logged 61 minutes 33 seconds of ice time in a triple-overtime loss to Boston while players deeper down the lineup