LAVAL, Que. — With two-time Olympian Laura Stacey out of the Victoire lineup with an injury, coach Kori Cheverie was in search of the right fit to fill her spot on Montreal’s top line with captain Marie-Philip Poulin and Jennifer Gardiner.
Cheverie turned to Abby Boreen to fill the role Friday against the visiting Minnesota Frost. The move paid off as she scored two goals in a 4-2 win.
“You want to perform with them (Poulin and Gardiner),” said Boreen. “Obviously, I wanted to do well, but they honestly make it really easy for me. I loved our game tonight.
"I thought we had a lot of good chances and possession down low and a lot of shots on net.”
Boreen opened the scoring for Montreal after a cross-ice feed from Gardiner about eight minutes into the opening frame.
Her second goal came midway through the third period on the power play. After Erin Ambrose’s shot hit the post, Boreen knocked in the loose puck in the crease.
“I liked what they brought, for sure,” said Cheverie. “Boreen kind of adds that speed and tenacity. It’s definitely something that helps with Poulin. I’m just proud of her.”
It marked the first time in her PWHL career that Boreen scored twice in a single game. She now has five goals on the season, tied with seven others for the league lead, one-third of the way through the Victoire’s season.
Poulin and Claire Dalton had the other Montreal goals. Kendall Coyne Schofield and Michela Cava replied for Minnesota.
Boreen spent last season as a reserve player for the Frost, recording five points (4-1) over nine regular-season games. The Somerset, Wi., native also had one assist over five playoff games in Minnesota’s run to the Walter Cup.
After the title win last May, Boreen, a University of Minnesota product, entered the 2024 PWHL Draft with the hope of garnering a full-time contract.
Montreal selected her in the third round, later signing the 24-year-old to a three-year contract through the 2026-27 PWHL season.
Boreen played a season-high 19 minutes for Montreal, nearly two minutes more than her previous high against Toronto on Jan. 8.
“It feels pretty good to do that against Minnesota,” Boreen said of her offence. “Honestly, I just love this group here. We have something really special and I am really happy to be here. I can’t wait to keep going with them.”
Teammate Catherine Dubois is happy to have Boreen on her side, in what she described as a pure “gift” from Minnesota.
“Abby is a player who has all the tools to be an incredible hockey player,” said Dubois. “She works so hard and skates so fast. I’m really happy to have her and to see the success she’s having. The goals she has scored, she has deserved them.
"There’s a bright future for Abby.”
Boreen’s performance has helped alleviate the blow of Stacey’s absence to the Victoire lineup, at least temporarily. It remains unclear how long she will remain out, with the team only saying she'll be evaluated on a daily basis.
“We never want to have a Laura Stacey out of the lineup,” said Cheverie. “She brings so much to our team and she’s not replaceable. She’s just not. We have a deep team that can step up and help in those moments.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2025.
Jordan Stoopler, The Canadian Press