The Montreal Axion were a National Women's Hockey League team (2003 to 2007) located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Axion represented Quebec at the 2005 Esso Women's Nationals. They were previously known as Bonaventure Wingstar (1998–99) and Montreal WingstarMontreal Wingstar Roster 2000–2001: Montreal Wingstar 2000 Preview, http://www.canoe.com/HockeyNWHL/pre_mtl.html (1999–2003). This team was succeeded as the women's professional hockey team of Montreal by the Montreal Stars in the Canadian Women's Hockey League, starting with the 2007–2008 season.
History The team evolved in the National Women's Hockey League starting in the 1998–99 season. During the inaugural season, they were named the "Bonaventure Wingstar", then the following season, they became the "Montreal Wingstar". Five years after its creation, in 2003, the team was renamed the Montreal Axion.
Season-by-season
+ Year by year Season GP W L T GF GA Pts 1998–99 34 13 16 5 104 91 31 1999–2000 35 18 7 10 116 62 46 2000–01 40 30 6 4 163 63 64 2001–02 30 11 14 5 66 78 27 2002–03 36 18 15 3 83 81 39 2003–04 36 20 11 5 113 84 46 2004–05 36 24 10 2 140 85 51 2005–06 36 14 19 3 100 122 33 2006–07 13 6 7 0 66 56 13
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points.
1998–99 The team takes gains the first championship of its division. During the playoff rounds, the Wingstar manages to steal in the first tour by winning its 2 matches and to consider for championship finale. The team loses the finale match 2–5 against Brampton Thunder which is crowned champion.
1999–2000 The second season is more difficult and the Wingstar escapes from a single point the first position to the Division classification.Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, pages 545, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, In playoffs, St-Julie's panthers eliminate Wingstar from the first round:
On Saturday, 4 March 2000: St-Julie Panthers 6–0 Montreal Wingstar On Sunday, 5 March 2000: Montreal Wingstar 2–1 St-Julie Panthers in Extra time): Montreal Wingstar 0–1 St-Julie Panthers
2000–01 The big addition of the 2000–01 season is the arrival of the goaltender Manon Rhéaume. Rhéaume performed indeed and help the team to finish at the top of the East Division. The team's attack is not outdone by the presence of Caroline Ouellette and France St-Louis. Behind the bench, Julie Healy acts as coach. Healy sees furthermore in the supervision of Concordia Stingers.
2004–05 Several new players come lent strong hand to the team, among others Gina Kingsbury, Angela Ruggiero, Jenny Lavigne and Annie Desrosiers. Hockey Canada For Goaltender, Charline Labonté replaces Manon Rhéaume. The Axion ends in the Eastern Division rank and 3rd in the league. Gina Kingsbury score 31 goals and has 29 assist. She finish the season of 30 matches with more than 60 points contributing to the Axion'successes.Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, page 550, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, In the Playoff rounds, Montreal Axion goes to finale game but loses in barrage 5–4 against Toronto Aeros. Also Montreal Axion represents Quebec to the 2005 Esso National Championships.
2005–06 Axion of Montreal wins the National Women's Hockey League Championship by a victory 1–0 against Brampton Thunder in front of 6 000 supporters at Brampton, Ontario.Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, page 551, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, The victorious Goal is scorer by Lisa-Marie Breton and the Shutout goes to Charline Labonté.Hockey Québec page 31 Axion beforehand finished in the second rank) of its division, behind Ottawa Raiders. It is about the only championship taken gained by Montreal Axion in the history of the National Women's Hockey League.
2006–07 Less fortunate, this season, Montreal Axion ends in the Division 5th rank of the regular season but recovers serial eliminating heats: at first by gaining the East Division Championship L'Axion, Championne dans l'Est then by participating in Championship Finale of National Women's Hockey League. Brampton Thunder triumphs 4–0 against Montreal Axion. Thunder de Brampton remporte le Championnat de la LNHL Bramton Thunder so takes gains the championship. In the grip of grave difficulty financiers, the National Women's Hockey League stops its activities a little time after Le hockey féminin en mode séductionSharing the hockey dream
Season standings = Indicates First Place finish = Indicates championship
YearRegular seasonPlayoffs1998–991st place, Eastern Divisionlost in final (Silver Medal)1999–20002nd, Eastern Divisioneliminated in first round2000–011st place, Eastern Divisioneliminated in first round2001–022nd, Eastern Divisioneliminated in first round2002–031st place, Eastern Divisioneliminated in first round2003–041st place, Eastern Divisioneliminated in first round2004–051st place, Eastern DivisionFinalist, lost in Final game2005–062nd, Eastern DivisionNWHL champions2006–075th, in one divisionfinalist, lost the final game
NWHL Championships 1998–99 finalist and lost the final game again Brampton Thunder 2004–05 finalist and lost the final game again Toronto Aeros 2005–06 won the championship 2006–07 finalist and lost the final game again Brampton(French) Le Thunder de Brampton remporte le Championnat de la LNHL. http://wnp.typepad.fr/sports/2007/04/le_thunder_de_b.html, 24 April 2007.
2006–07 roster
+ GoaliesNumberPlayerFormer TeamHometown54Sabrina PatenaudeMontreal Axion (2005–06) Pierrefond, Quebec53Jenny Lavigne Montreal Axion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec20Sophie Courtemanche Montreal Axion (2005–06)20Krystel BoutinMontreal Axion (2005–06)Longueuil, Quebec + DefenseNumberPlayerFormer TeamHometown77Caroline Laforge Montreal Axion (2005–06)73Roxanne Dupuis Montreal Axion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec55Catherine Ward Montreal Axion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec24Catherine De Abreu Montreal Axion (2005–06) Roxboro, Quebec19Leanne MartellMontreal Axion (2005–06)Trenton, Nova Scotia13Jessica FinlaysonMontreal Axion (2005–06)Seaforth, Ontario9Chantal GuevremontMontreal Axion (2005–06) St-Laurent, Quebec7Cathy ChartrandMontreal Axion (2005–06)Nomininque, Quebec5Meghan Maguire Montreal Axion 2005–06 Amherst, New Hampshire + ForwardsNumberPlayerFormer TeamHometown96Dominique ThibaultMontreal Axion (2005–06)Boucherville, Quebec48Annie Desrosiers Montreal Axion (2005–06)St-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Quebec27Catherine Bertrand Montreal Axion (2005–06)Sherbrooke, Quebec26Lisa-Marie BretonMontreal Axion (2005–06)Montreal, Quebec25Melanie Mantha Montreal Axion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec23Jesse ScanzanoMontreal Axion (2005–06)Montreal, Quebec22Erika PouliotMontreal Axion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec16 Valerie Hamel Montreal Azion (2005–06) Montreal, Quebec16Karell Emard Montreal Axion (2005–06) Richelieu, Quebec12Kelly Sudia Montreal Axion (2005–06) Pointe-Claire, Quebec11Anouk Grignon-Langlais Montreal Axion (2005–06) Outremont, Quebec7Veronique Sanfacon Montreal Axion (2005–06) Beauport, Quebec6Sarah SmileyMontreal Axion (2005–06)Toronto, Ontario5Cynthia MorinMontreal Axion (2005–06)
Notable players Several former players of Montreal Axion become famous in the new Canadian Women's Hockey League, among others Axion de 2006–07 Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux, Caroline Ouellette, Kim St-Pierre, Nathalie Déry, Angela Ruggiero, Dominique Thibault, Emmanuelle Blais, Charline Labonté, Sabrina Harbec, Jesse Scanzano, Kelly Sudia and Jenny Lavigne Historique de l'Axion Therese Brisson Defender Charline Labonte Goalie Caroline Ouellette Forward Gina Kingsbury ForwardGina Kingsbury played the 2004–05 season with the Montreal Axion. She led the team with 31 goals and added 29 assists, finishing the 30-game season with 60 points.Source: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/team-canada/athletes/athlete=3263/competitive-history/index.html Angela Ruggiero (2005–2006) Jesse Scanzano Forward (2005–06 and 2006–07) France St-Louis Forward (1998–99 and 1999–2000) Kim St-Pierre(French) LHNF – L'Axion, championne dans l'est, 22 March 2007 Goalie (2006–2007)
Coaching staff General Manager: Sylvain Dutil Head Coach: Yanick Evola, Y a-t-il de l'avenir dans le hockey féminin ? l'emporte sur l'Axion on 18 March 2007 Julie Healy (for Montreal Wingstar, season 2000–01) Denis Lalonde, Le dévouement a ses revers Assistant Coach: Alain Hénault Assistant Coach: Patrick Larivière
Reference L'équipe de direction
See also National Women's Hockey League (1999–2007) (NWHL) Montreal Stars
References
External links The official site of Montreal Axion NWHL website NWHL/COWHL website for 2000–01 Meg Hewings, Women got game Not just another pretty face-off in Hour.ca, 9 December 2004.