PWHL Montréal Goalie Shines on World Stage | Ann-Renée Desbiens

Ann-Renée Desbiens, goaltender for the Montreal Victoire of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), is receiving international recognition following a standout performance in a recent game, according to a post on the PWHL’s official social media account.

Desbiens, 31, originally from Clermont, Québec, signed with Montréal as one of the team’s foundational players in September 2023. She is currently representing Canada at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, marking her third Olympic appearance. She previously won a gold medal with Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and a silver medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

Beyond her Olympic success, Desbiens has a decorated international career, having participated in six IIHF Women’s World Championships. She has earned three gold medals (2021, 2022, 2024) and three silver medals (2015, 2023, 2025) with Canada in the tournament.

Prior to joining the PWHL, Desbiens played collegiate hockey at the University of Wisconsin, where she achieved numerous records during her four years with the Badgers. She was the first female player drafted to the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League, though she was later cut from the Loups de La Tuque.

In 2024-25, Desbiens was named PWHL Goaltender of the Year and selected as a First Team All-Star. She previously participated in the 2015 and 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championships, as well as the 2021 and 2022 Winter Olympics.

Desbiens’s journey to professional hockey included a period where she took a break from the sport, later returning as an coach before re-establishing herself as a competitive athlete. She has spoken about the evolution of women’s hockey since her first appearance on a podcast in 2021, noting the significant changes including the establishment of a professional league.