Les Canadiennes de Montreal used Saturday as an opportunity to reach out to the community ahead of the 2017-2018 season.
Taking part in Testez le sport event on the grounds of Claude-Robillard Sports Complex, several Canadiennes players took part in ball hockey and signed autographs.
READ MORE: Les Canadiennes bring the Clarkson Cup home to Montreal
This season will mark a milestone for the Canadian Women’s Hockey League as it’ll be the first time players are paid to play.
“We’re no Montreal Canadiens by any means,” Karell Emard, Les Canadiennes player, said. “We don’t make millions, but we’re starting to make some kind of money this year.”
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The CWHL continues to grow and this past offseason, they added two teams in China.
“It’s headed in the right direction,” Kayla Tutino, Les Canadiennes player, said. “It takes time, but I think everybody has been really patient.”
Les Canadiennes will play a portion of their games at the Michel-Normandin Arena during the upcoming season.
The defending Clarkson Cup champions begin their schedule Oct. 14.
“Now they know we’re a professional league,” Emard said. “They know that we’re trying to develop something bigger and we’re kind of like the mimic of the NHL I guess.”