Olympic Gold Medalist Marie Philip-Poulin on PWHL Joining NHL 25, Representation in Women's Sports

Just one year after the inaugural Professional Women's Hockey League season began, all six PWHL charter teams have arrived in NHL 25. Despite women's hockey having a decades long history in North America and being part of the Olympic Games since 1998, it's been a long road to see these prolific athletes get recognition and a league of their own.

Marie-Philip Poulin has had a front row seat to the evolution of professional women's hockey for over 15 years, and we had the opportunity to speak to her about the latest milestone as the PWHL joins a franchise that has been the standard-bearer for hockey gaming since 1991. Poulin stressed the importance of representation and bringing the PWHL into so many homes through NHL 25, but this legendary player is ready for these landmark moments to become the norm.

Marie-Philip Poulin talks PWHL joining NHL 25

While it would be accurate to say Marie-Philip Poulin may be one of the greatest women's hockey players of all time, that still undersells the impact she's made since hitting the ice. Nearly becoming the CWHL MVP as a 16-year-old rookie in the same year she joined Team Canada for the inaugural IIHF Women's World U18 Championships certainly set the tone for Poulin's career, and since then she's become a four-time World Champion and three-time Olympic Gold Medalist.

Poulin has become one of many trailblazers throughout the history of women's hockey, but the PWHL and their arrival in NHL 25 is as much about the league's current players as it is about the future of this sport. Representation can make a huge impact, and Poulin stressed that when we spoke.

“Being part of [NHL 25], I think it’s a big testament to EA Sports [and] how they acknowledge women’s sports. For us, it’s quite amazing when you see little girls coming and watching us play. We truly believe that if you can see it, you can be it, and it can make a big difference," Poulin said. "When you play it and you get to know the names, you get to know the players, the teams, those are all little things that means a lot to little girls. If they’re able to watch their brother play NHL 25 and they can play it as a woman, it just says a lot about the respect for women’s sports. I think it’s pretty amazing for EA Sports and NHL 25 to create that environment and have women’s hockey in that game.”

Just having female players and teams in NHL 25 is a big step forward, but the PWHL arrival is also progress for queer and lesbian representation. Marie-Philip Poulin married her Team Canada and Montréal Victoire teammate Laura Stacey just over two months ago, and now both women are in NHL 25. When we spoke, joy permeated Poulin's voice as she talked about being an out queer woman in hockey and how little girls can now choose to be themselves in the game.

“It’s been pretty great. Honestly, it was not something that I ever looked for in the social media world. I think, along the last couple of years, it’s just being myself and being able to connect with the community around the hockey world makes me realize it’s more than hockey. I think it really opened my eyes to that, [and] that you can connect and be who you wanna be, who you are. It’s very important, and I think that just makes you perform even better. Honestly, if you’re trying to hide yourself, I think it can really not create a safe environment. Hockey really created a safe environment to be myself and be able to enjoy that with my wife," Poulin continued. "It’s great being open to who you are and being who you wanna be, and being part of NHL 25 is something that’s pretty amazing, having the six [PWHL] teams in NHL 25. Little girls [now] being able to choose their players, who they wanna be, it’s pretty amazing. I hope it keeps growing and it keeps getting the eyes of people playing that game.” 

Playing in the Bell Centre, Seeing Place Bell in NHL 25

The PWHL hit many milestones in their inaugural season, but one of the most significant was setting the world attendance record for women's hockey. The "Duel at the Top" between the Montréal Victoire and Toronto Sceptres on April 20, 2024 hosted 21,105 fans at the Bell Centre, breaking the previous record of 19,285 fans set when the same two teams went to the Scotiabank Arena just a few months earlier. Born just a few hours outside of Montréal, Poulin talked about just how special it was to play in the arena that has long hosted the NHL's Montréal Canadiens.

“It meant the world. It was a pretty emotional moment for me personally, but I think [also] for the whole organization of Montréal. It was so loud, and it wasn’t only about us players but also about the pioneers that had been there before us. [The pioneers] that worked so hard to make sure women’s hockey was recognized," she said. "And for little girls in the stands with signs, and parents, that was really a moment of belief in how it is possible to dream. It is possible to achieve that one day. It was amazing to play in that building, and it’s just pretty cool to be part of the city of Montreal and see how many fans we have here.” 

When the Victoire aren't making a detour to that larger stage, they regularly pack Place Bell in Laval, Quebec. Poulin talked briefly about the process working with EA Sports and seeing her team's home arena come to life in NHL 25.

“We’re able to meet at a hotel and get our face scanned [for NHL 25] and get that going. I’m sure there’s a lot more to it, but as a member of the PWHL [we are] seeing the excitement, that they wanted to work with us and have us on the game. Having our face getting recognized and scanned, it was pretty cool and I think it’s just the start of something very nice along the next year,” Poulin said. “For us, we’re lucky enough to see [Place Bell] live, but being able to get that on your TV as a video game and really play in that environment is very cool to see."

"We were so excited to start that year number two. We have three games under our belt now, it’s pretty awesome to see [that] we’re able to recreate that on NHL 25,” she said. “Honestly, we’ve been pinching ourselves for the last year and a bit to see everything that’s been happening. Having the people behind us, it’s been surreal. But when you truly see it through NHL 25 or on social media where people are aware, I think it goes a long way because visibility for women’s sports is huge.” 

PWHL's Second Chapter and the Endless Hunt For Gold

Marie-Philip Poulin already has a hall of fame worthy career, but it's no surprise that her competetive drive hasn't slowed down a single bit. When we spoke, I asked Poulin how she feels heading into the second PWHL season with some of those initial milestones of their inaugural season now in the books.

“It’s funny you say that, I feel like we’ve had this conversation a lot last year. How there was so many firsts. First game, first record breaking, and first in every situation of that league. Which was amazing, but now being able to really focus on hockey this year, and becoming the norms," she said. "If we’re packing rinks, it’s okay [that’s] it’s not a full-blown newspaper story that goes out. Us playing is becoming the norm, so I think it’s going to be very exciting to really focus on hockey. Having visibility for people to watch either at home or in the rink, it’s been a long time coming for year two so we’re really excited to get that going.” 

While she's been just one piece of Team Canada as they've sought World Championships and Olympic medals, there's a reason Poulin's nickname is Captain Clutch. In both the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, Marie-Philip Poulin scored the "golden goal" that won Olympic Gold for Canada. She repeated the feat again in the 2019 World Championship, and together it puts Poulin in uncharted territory with a "golden hat trick" of medal-winning moments. When asked about that acomplishment, Poulin immediately turned the spotlight towards her teammates.

“I mean, it’s pretty cool, but honestly hockey to me is a team sport. I have been pretty fortunate in my career to be in the right spot for those moments. It is pretty cool, not only for myself but I think for my teammates [and] the six teams that are part of the PWHL that are [now in NHL 25]. Those are all moments that I’ve been very, very fortunate, and I don’t take it for granted," she said. "I think this just reminds me why I wake up every day. Because I do love it, but I am very lucky and thankful, because without my teammates I don’t think that I would be where I am today. That’s for sure.” 

As our conversation wrapped up, there was one last question that had to be asked. Marie-Philip Poulin is currently a four-time IIHF Women's World Championship Gold Medalist and three-time Olympic Gold Medalist. Is that enough, or is she looking for even more gold?

“Nah, for sure looking for another one. I think that’s what drives me every day honestly. When you taste it one time, I feel like you want more. And I do wanna be there for another of those gold medals, but it takes a lot of work and we’ll see from there,” she said. 

The 2026 Winter Olympics are just over a year away, the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship is coming up in April, and the PWHL postseason is expected to begin in late May. The Montréal Victoire are seeking their third win of the season when they travel to face the Toronto Sceptres on December 21, but fans can jump into NHL 25 today and see what their first collision of the season could look like.