Montreal Victoire Choose 2-Time Champion Frost In 2026 PWHL Playoffs

BusinessSportsMoneyMontreal Victoire Choose 2-Time Champion Frost In 2026 PWHL PlayoffsByCarol Schram,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Carol Schram is a Vancouver-based reporter who covers hockey.Follow AuthorApr 27, 2026, 07:06pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.After finishing first in the regular-season standings, the Montreal Victoire will open their 2026 Walter Cup playoffs against the defending champion Minnesota Frost. (Photo by Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images)Star Tribune via Getty ImagesIn the PWHL’s first three seasons, the Montreal Victoire have held first-round home-ice advantage every year. But they’re still looking for their franchise’s first playoff series win.After eking out top spot in the regular-season standings following a shootout win over the Seattle Torrent in the final game of the 2025-26 regular season, this year’s Victoire have elected to jump into the eye of the hurricane immediately.In the PWHL, the regular-season champion can choose its first-round opponent. This time around, the Victoire have elected to go up against the two-time defending champion Minnesota Frost. “There’s no team in this league that is easy to beat,” said Victoire coach Kori Cheverie in a conference call on Monday. “As a collective here in Montreal, we decided to continue with our internal process of where we were and different things that we looked at. We landed on Minnesota, and we’re looking forward to that opportunity.”As the two-time Walter Cup champions, the Frost have yet to lose a playoff series. But Montreal did hold a distinct edge in the regular-season series between the two teams, winning twice by shutout and twice in overtime.“We’ve had different games against them that have gone to overtime,” Cheverie said. “We’ve had games that ended in regulation. We’ve had six on five and fi...