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 Montrealsa国际传媒 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.
鈥淵ou want to perform with them (Poulin and Gardiner),鈥 said Boreen. 鈥淥bviously, I wanted to do well, but they honestly make it really easy for me. I loved our game tonight.聽
"I thought we had a lot of good chances and possession down low and a lot of shots on net.鈥
Boreen opened the scoring for Montreal after a cross-ice feed from Gardiner about eight minutes into the opening frame.聽
Her second goal came midway through the third period on the power play. After Erin Ambrosesa国际传媒 shot hit the post, Boreen knocked in the loose puck in the crease.聽
鈥淚 liked what they brought, for sure,鈥 said Cheverie. 鈥淏oreen kind of adds that speed and tenacity. Itsa国际传媒 definitely something that helps with Poulin. I鈥檓 just proud of her.鈥
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 Victoiresa国际传媒 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 Minnesotasa国际传媒 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.
鈥淚t feels pretty good to do that against Minnesota,鈥 Boreen said of her offence. 鈥淗onestly, I just love this group here. We have something really special and I am really happy to be here. I can鈥檛 wait to keep going with them.鈥
Teammate Catherine Dubois is happy to have Boreen on her side, in what she described as a pure 鈥済ift鈥 from Minnesota.
鈥淎bby is a player who has all the tools to be an incredible hockey player,鈥 said Dubois. 鈥淪he works so hard and skates so fast. I鈥檓 really happy to have her and to see the success shesa国际传媒 having. The goals she has scored, she has deserved them.聽
"Theresa国际传媒 a bright future for Abby.鈥
Boreensa国际传媒 performance has helped alleviate the blow of Staceysa国际传媒 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.
鈥淲e never want to have a Laura Stacey out of the lineup,鈥 said Cheverie. 鈥淪he brings so much to our team and shesa国际传媒 not replaceable. Shesa国际传媒 just not. We have a deep team that can step up and help in those moments.鈥
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2025.聽
