Victoire announce Caroline Ouellette as full-time assistant coach

One of the greatest players in the game will be behind the bench in the professional ranks, uninterrupted.

On Thursday, the Montreal Victoire announced that Hockey Hall of Famer Caroline Ouellette is now a full-time assistant coach. The Montreal native had worked with the Victoire during the first two seasons of the PWHL in a partial capacity while also serving as an associate head coach with U SPORTS power Concordia University.

“I’m extremely happy to continue my work with La Victoire,” Ouellette said in a release. “(The team) have set a standard of excellence, and I am happy to be able to contribute on a daily basis. We have a passionate and hardworking team, and I’m eager to begin our journey this season.”

General manager Danièle Sauvageau admits that the organization is excited to have Ouellette around the team on a regular basis.

“Caroline has been offering us valuable guidance since the beginning,” Sauvageau said. “We’re thrilled to have her on board full-time. Her experience, both on the ice and behind the bench, is a tremendous asset to our organization and our coaching staff.”

It almost goes without saying that Ouellette has the pedigree to work with the best players in the world. Along with her playing career, in which she won four Olympic gold medals and six IIHF Women’s World Championships with Team Canada, the 46-year-old has proven that she can help guide players to success as well.

As an assistant coach, the four-time Clarkson Cup champion helped guide Minnesota-Duluth to an NCAA Championship in 2008, a feat she accomplished as a player with the Bulldogs five years earlier. Ouellette was also on the staff at Concordia during the Stingers’ runs to the national championship in 2022 and 2024.

On top of her work in the college game, Ouellette has been an assistant on Troy Ryan’s staff at five of the past six Women’s Worlds, with Canada winning two gold medals, two silvers and a bronze in 2019.

Ouellette was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and IIHF Hall of Fame in 2023.

The Victoire is hoping the consistent presence of Ouellette will turn its fortunes around. Despite having talent like Marie-Philip Poulin, Erin Ambrose and Ann-Renée Desbiens in the fold, Montreal has bowed out in the semifinals in the first two editions of the PWHL Playoffs.